My 98 coupe has started having some electrical problems that seem to point to the alternator, but possibly could be a loose/oxidized/corroded wire problem as well from what I gather.

Here are all the symptoms that I can think of:

-head lights/interior lights flickering constantly, worse when using a blinker, brakes, etc.
-battery won't keep a good charge, and rapidly looses charge when the car is idle
-DIC? msg's reset while driving, like the car has been turned off and restarted
-power steering cut out as I was backing down my driveway to take the car to my parent's house tonight (they have a garage, I don't). restarting the car fixed it.
-getting bad gas mileage possibly. Instant reading says it's good at 30ish, but my tank meter says otherwise.

All I can think of that may have caused this was sitting in traffic at the beach for 2+ hours Friday, as the problems started showing Saturday night when I drove it next.

That's all I can think of at the moment. Like I mentioned, I left the car at my parent's house (45min away), and I'm currently driving my Tiburon, so I won't be able to check on the car to further diagnose problems till Friday.

Thanks for any info you can give me on what's causing this.


*edit* - Just incase, the battery is an Optima Redtop.

 

If it ends up being the alternator, I have an extra from my '98 for sale!

 

The first thing I'd check is the grounds, look at this excellent thread for where to start:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=896875

Good luck!

 

What is a Tiburon?

Sounds like you are losing your ground,
about a foot behind the Passenger headlight, on the frame.
CLEAN and reinstall wires, easy fix.
Norm K

 

Thanks for the replies guys. Hopefully this will be a simple DIY fix for me... I'll update ASAP will more info as I get it.

 

I had similar problems with my 98..check your voltage at the alt. with the car running(I was getting about 14.8) and then check your voltage at the batt with car running(I was getting 10.8-11.2)...traced the problem to the wire that comes from the alt and then goes down to the starter and from the starter to the batt....took the wires off the starter, cleaned the contacts and reattached...no problems since.

Hope this helps.

Jack

 

Here are a few things to check! Remove and examine your battery cables! The OEM battery had a bad tendancy of leaking acid and the battery cables may be all corroded and nasty! Have your battery checked at one of the local Automotive Stores. The battery on a C5 MUST be in top shape for everything to work properly! If your having things reset on you, that means that your loosing battery voltage or it is dropping very low.

The connections on the starter have a bad habit of getting loose and corroded! Check and clean those connections.

Your battery cable bolts need to be torqued on to the battery with 11 ft/lbs of torque.

As atated above Check the alternator output at the battery connection on the Alt. then check the voltage at the battery terminals.

with the car running it should be around 14.5 VDC. Use the AC scale on the volt meter and see if your alternator is out putting any AC voltage. That would be BAD!

Check the battery chassis ground. Here is a picture of it:



The ground lug will be under the tab that secures the plastic battery sourround to the frame. I removed it to show the lug.

BC