Charge fault
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Goldsboro NC
Charge fault
I have been raking my brain trying to come up with a fix! My 00 C5 kills the battery almost instantaneously. A new alt, and new battery, all connections seem legit. This problem arose after long tube header install. I am thinking the starter solenoid is fried? The connections to the starter are not touching the exhaust tubes and don't seem to be melted as far as I can tell. Could the increase in heat have taken a toll on the solenoid? The sad deal is the car is in a parking lot, and not home in the garage. Jumped it and it drains with in minutes. Any ideas?
Pro
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 718
Likes: 69
From: North Reading MA
You could put a VOM meter in series with the battery and see what kind of current is being pulled through. Then you can start pulling fuses and see if it goes away. This will help you narrow down the culprit. You may have to try with/without the key on.
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Goldsboro NC
The alt is factory refurbished, and this issue started before the new alt. Im going to get a multimeter and go through it this weekend. Put a back up battery in it and got it home. I noticed when installing the battery the headlights started making clicking noises, not sure if that is normal. Wouldn't it be crazy if all this drama came from a bad/dirty head light connection? But I am willing to guess it wont be that simple.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 4,558
Likes: 286
From: Houston Texas
C5 COTM Coordinator
I'm experiencing the exact same problem minus the battery draining. What codes are you currently running? Sometime after my header install I started getting the "charge fault" message also. 3 weeks from then the problem escalated greatly. On a trip I had last weekend I was surging voltages from 11 to 13.5 all through my trip. Until it dropped below 10 and I got the "low voltage" message. I pulled over turned the car off and checked my connections, everything seemed fine. Tried to turn on the car, all I heard was a click. Everything in the car still lit up and I put a meter to the battery it read 12.xx volts. So my car had the power to start but why wouldn't it. Jacked up the front of my car and checked the connections on the starter, they were also good. I got a small mallet and tapped on the starter, afterwards the car cranked over and I maintained a 13 volts the rest of my trip. After further reading I'm convinced my starter solenoid is bad therefore not letting the car start, also seems like my alternator may be on it's way out with surging voltages. I'm replacing both as soon as I receive my starter from AC DELCO. I'll give you the info to a thread I got some information that might help you.
Last edited by Maxx_Z06; May 21, 2013 at 07:56 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 4,558
Likes: 286
From: Houston Texas
C5 COTM Coordinator
Here's a good read on some symptoms I was experiencing.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...on-switch.html
Maybe they will help you out. I'm not sure if after I swap out the following up above will cure my electrical gremlins. But that's what I believe is the cause of my issues. I'm also going to get starter blanket to isolate some heat.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...on-switch.html
Maybe they will help you out. I'm not sure if after I swap out the following up above will cure my electrical gremlins. But that's what I believe is the cause of my issues. I'm also going to get starter blanket to isolate some heat.
Last edited by Maxx_Z06; May 21, 2013 at 07:58 PM.
Pro
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 580
Likes: 1
From: Chicago Suburb
St. Jude Donor '13
Charge Fault
Do you have any codes?
Also, double check your VIN with a dealer to make sure you have the right P/N alternator. I tried 3 different P/N's, all recommended for my 2001, until the last one worked
Last edited by tacman; May 22, 2013 at 01:41 PM. Reason: Added P/N statement.
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Goldsboro NC
update: grabbed a new starter solenoid, and went to the base hobby shop. I had to use a lift, laying on your back gets old. When we removed the starter the post for the positive leads was corroded and broke off with the turn of a wrench. Got her all buttoned back up and the car runs great. Start up volts average 14.1 and 13.8 - 13.6 while driving. Now all i need to address is a leaking valve stem in the rear driver side tire. I have been thinking of running a larger rear tire all together. I have nitto 315's on my trans am. Looks as though a tire that size may have clearance issues on the c5, Im guessing a 305 may work.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 4,558
Likes: 286
From: Houston Texas
C5 COTM Coordinator
update: grabbed a new starter solenoid, and went to the base hobby shop. I had to use a lift, laying on your back gets old. When we removed the starter the post for the positive leads was corroded and broke off with the turn of a wrench. Got her all buttoned back up and the car runs great. Start up volts average 14.1 and 13.8 - 13.6 while driving. Now all i need to address is a leaking valve stem in the rear driver side tire. I have been thinking of running a larger rear tire all together. I have nitto 315's on my trans am. Looks as though a tire that size may have clearance issues on the c5, Im guessing a 305 may work.
