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[Z06] Please HELP!!! Charging issue!

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Old May 3, 2015 | 04:56 AM
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Default Please HELP!!! Charging issue!

Hello,
I have a 2004 corvette Z06. To Make a long story short, the other night after work when I went to start my car I got the "Charging system fault" message on my DIC. The car started but barely. I watched the volt gauge steadily creep down to about 10.8 volts before I made it home. So today I replaced my alternator with a brand new one...No change, battery will still not charge beyond 11 volts. (I have a fairly new optima yellow top). I also checked my starter wires, which are fine and on tight. I also swapped my battery out and tried a battery from another car. Still not charging and running around 11 volts...Any suggestions. Ive read up on all the forums and still have found nothing that I didn't try already.

Thanks
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Old May 3, 2015 | 05:31 AM
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I may have solved my problem. Under further inspection, it looks as though autozone gave me an alternator for an auto tranny vette, the one with the clutch system built into it. Would this just not work at all on my car?

Originally Posted by mattsz06
Hello,
I have a 2004 corvette Z06. To Make a long story short, the other night after work when I went to start my car I got the "Charging system fault" message on my DIC. The car started but barely. I watched the volt gauge steadily creep down to about 10.8 volts before I made it home. So today I replaced my alternator with a brand new one...No change, battery will still not charge beyond 11 volts. (I have a fairly new optima yellow top). I also checked my starter wires, which are fine and on tight. I also swapped my battery out and tried a battery from another car. Still not charging and running around 11 volts...Any suggestions. Ive read up on all the forums and still have found nothing that I didn't try already.

Thanks
Reply
Old May 3, 2015 | 05:57 AM
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with a little more research looks as though all 2004 z06s have the alternator with the weird looking pully that comes on auto ones. Weird because when I pulled off my old alternator it didn't look the same. Looks like im back to square one.

Originally Posted by mattsz06
I may have solved my problem. Under further inspection, it looks as though autozone gave me an alternator for an auto tranny vette, the one with the clutch system built into it. Would this just not work at all on my car?
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Old May 3, 2015 | 08:27 AM
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I had this issue on my 04 last summer with a newish battery. I bought a battery tender and keep it plugged in at all times when im not driving it. C5's are notorious for heavy battery draw. I have not had this issue since.

Hope this helps.
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Old May 3, 2015 | 05:26 PM
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Old May 3, 2015 | 06:46 PM
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Just got a new battery today....No luck.

Originally Posted by 04silverZ06
I had this issue on my 04 last summer with a newish battery. I bought a battery tender and keep it plugged in at all times when im not driving it. C5's are notorious for heavy battery draw. I have not had this issue since.

Hope this helps.
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Old May 3, 2015 | 06:48 PM
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Tried everything in the video. Still nothing...PCM did have a little corrosion on the case, but all the plugs looked perfect. I sprayed everything with cointact clearer too.

QUOTE=insertclevername;1589553691]
[/QUOTE]
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Old May 3, 2015 | 07:17 PM
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Have you driven recently in the rain?

I remember mine would pop up for some reason after being caught in the rain. Could be coincidence but I somehow doubt it.
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Old May 3, 2015 | 07:47 PM
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Check all the grounding points, I would focus under the hood. Better yet check all wiring.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=...30782356001151

http://api.viglink.com/api/click?for...e%20Forum&txt=
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Old May 3, 2015 | 07:51 PM
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I'll try this next. I made weird finding. If I start the car, then unglug the alternator connection, then plug it in again the car will go back to 14.2 volts. But once I shut the car off it will go back to normal 11-10 volts. It's a brand new alternator and plugs looks fine.

Originally Posted by insertclevername
Check all the grounding points, I would focus under the hood. Better yet check all wiring.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=...30782356001151

http://api.viglink.com/api/click?for...e%20Forum&txt=
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Old May 3, 2015 | 08:05 PM
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Btw, thanks for the help guys. It is really appreciated.
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Old May 3, 2015 | 08:34 PM
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[QUOTE=mattsz06;1589550837]Hello,
I have a 2004 corvette Z06. To Make a long story short, the other night after work when I went to start my car I got the "Charging system fault" message on my DIC. The car started but barely. I watched the volt gauge steadily creep down to about 10.8 volts before I made it home. So today I replaced my alternator with a brand new one...No change, battery will still not charge beyond 11 volts. (I have a fairly new optima yellow top). I also checked my starter wires, which are fine and on tight. I also swapped my battery out and tried a battery from another car. Still not charging and running around 11 volts...Any suggestions. Ive read up on all the forums and still have found nothing that I didn't try already.
/QUOTE]

I've had this since day one on my 2003 Z06...as late as last week, I was told that it's a software problem. The message doesn't show up as much now as it did when the car was new.
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Old May 6, 2015 | 08:54 PM
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The field terminal requires voltage to turn on the regulator. Make sure that terminal has voltage with the key on and the connector removed from the alternator.

If the alternator bench tested good, that is all they do. Attach the output to a battery, and apply voltage to the field terminal and spin it.

Make sure your fusable like between the alternator and the battery is ok. If it opened, it won't charge either.

Good luck

I took this from another site I remember my brother telling me this when he used to rebuild alternators he said lots came back because of this.
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Old May 7, 2015 | 12:42 AM
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That makes sense. I will check that tomorrow. I noticed that when I get my car past 3k rpm, the alternator turns on and works like normal until I shut the car off. Thanks for the tip

Originally Posted by bob guzzy
The field terminal requires voltage to turn on the regulator. Make sure that terminal has voltage with the key on and the connector removed from the alternator.

If the alternator bench tested good, that is all they do. Attach the output to a battery, and apply voltage to the field terminal and spin it.

Make sure your fusable like between the alternator and the battery is ok. If it opened, it won't charge either.

Good luck

I took this from another site I remember my brother telling me this when he used to rebuild alternators he said lots came back because of this.
Reply

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