car is still dying... someone help...
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,092
Likes: 5
From: Fayetteville Arkansas
car is still dying... someone help...
ok...here it goes... 2000 A4 coupe 60,000 miles that have been extremely babied. I began to notice dead battery problems about a month or two ago and if the car sits for a day it is slow to start and then dead after two days of sitting. I have taken the car into Napa, autozone, and O'reilly's and they all said it was the alternator. replaced the alternator and started getting a "charge system fault". Took original alternator into a rebuild shop and they said it tested out just fine. Put the old alternator back onto the car and charge system fault went away but still having problems with the electrical systems... no lights left on, no noises of clicking switches or anything else. Any ideas or do I need to go and buy an ampmeter and try to test the battery for drains?
thanks so much in advance,
Sully
BC... as always you attention is greatly appreciated!
thanks so much in advance,
Sully
BC... as always you attention is greatly appreciated!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,092
Likes: 5
From: Fayetteville Arkansas
battery
when i took the car into Napa, Autozone, and Oreilly's they all checked the battery and said it was perfectly fine.... that's when i tried replacing the alternator. The battery is only two years old.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,217
Likes: 5
From: Stark County Ohio
I would bet on the battery being the problem.
If your Vette is not a daily driver, fully charge the battery, then immediately disconnect the ground cable to the battery. Let it sit for two (three? – four?) days then reconnect it and try to start the car. This is the cheapest testing method to determine if the battery has an internal draw and is running itself down – but time consuming – and not practical on a daily driver.
Or – Run out and buy a new battery – but don’t trade in the old one for the “core deposit” as the old battery may prove to be good.
The age of the battery means nothing. The battery could have been mishandled some time in the past – dropped or set down hard for example.
As far as the rebuild shop is concerned, I would assume that they did a proper test as it would be in their self-interest to find your alternator defective.
If your Vette is not a daily driver, fully charge the battery, then immediately disconnect the ground cable to the battery. Let it sit for two (three? – four?) days then reconnect it and try to start the car. This is the cheapest testing method to determine if the battery has an internal draw and is running itself down – but time consuming – and not practical on a daily driver.
Or – Run out and buy a new battery – but don’t trade in the old one for the “core deposit” as the old battery may prove to be good.
The age of the battery means nothing. The battery could have been mishandled some time in the past – dropped or set down hard for example.
As far as the rebuild shop is concerned, I would assume that they did a proper test as it would be in their self-interest to find your alternator defective.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 699
Likes: 0
From: Richfield MN
Originally Posted by Hatdude
My bet's on the battery too.
When I had my battery go out, the Chevy dealer I stopped at put their meter on it and it showed OK, but the car wouldn't crank over. Put a new battery in and voila, started with no hesitation.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 4
From: Slidell La
Originally Posted by MNElectronBlue2002
When I had my battery go out, the Chevy dealer I stopped at put their meter on it and it showed OK, but the car wouldn't crank over. Put a new battery in and voila, started with no hesitation. The test on the battery did not test all the capability of the battery. Too bad you spent the $$ on the alternator. I always look at the battery first. 99 Nassau Blue
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,092
Likes: 5
From: Fayetteville Arkansas
ok hold on...
I only bought the new alternator when I pulled the battery and took it to NAPA and autozone and OReilly's and they did test the battery with and without a load. It tested just fine. So then I put a new alternator on while I took the old alt into get rebuilt. When I took it into the shop they tested the alt and said it was just fine...so i amkinda at a lost... thank for the ideas so far...
thomas
thomas
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,565
Likes: 745
From: panama city beach florida USA
St. Jude Donor '09
did changing the alt solve the dead batt issue aside from the dic message.while an alt can test good for output they can also drain a batt while car is off
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,911
Likes: 1
From: Augusta GA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Damn sully hope it works out for you. I would not trust crack heads at the auto parts store. They could see +12VDc from alternator, but not the load leak like above. Good luck brother, any members local??? Give a brother a hand???Dave
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,092
Likes: 5
From: Fayetteville Arkansas
alt change
when i put the new 110 amp alt in the DIC gave me the "charge system fault" message. Once I put the old alt back into the car the message has not been seen since. Just have problems with the battery drain when car sits for more than 1 day.....
I usually swap my battery every 2 years. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
dead again
hey I got some info.
rig up an ammeter that you can clip onto the battery negative post between the battery and the negative battery cable. if everything is off, after the interior lights go off, and there is an electrical drain, you will see it on the ammeter.
next, go to the battery connection on the alternator and put it there, between the battery stud and the battery lead. put the battery cable back on, and check the ammeter. If no ammeter reading, put the ammeter back on the battery negative cable, and start pulling fuses till the drain is gone, and then troubleshoot that system.
rig up an ammeter that you can clip onto the battery negative post between the battery and the negative battery cable. if everything is off, after the interior lights go off, and there is an electrical drain, you will see it on the ammeter.
next, go to the battery connection on the alternator and put it there, between the battery stud and the battery lead. put the battery cable back on, and check the ammeter. If no ammeter reading, put the ammeter back on the battery negative cable, and start pulling fuses till the drain is gone, and then troubleshoot that system.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 34,299
Likes: 1
From: [Enter Unoffensive Comment Here]
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
I'm having nothinf but problems with my Z. 
My alternator was actually pooched...I died in the centre lane of 3 lanes. 
Towed home, trailered to the shop, no charge at all...alternator replaced and I a few days later I had charge system fault but the system is charging fine when hooked up. I am on the 2nd replacement battery at n/c. Had it in again on Monday, of course the fault code wouldn't come on...it was dead again this morning. 
My alternator was actually pooched...I died in the centre lane of 3 lanes. Towed home, trailered to the shop, no charge at all...alternator replaced and I a few days later I had charge system fault but the system is charging fine when hooked up. I am on the 2nd replacement battery at n/c. Had it in again on Monday, of course the fault code wouldn't come on...it was dead again this morning.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,092
Likes: 5
From: Fayetteville Arkansas
found something new, same old problem
ok drove my truck today after drivinng the vette yesterday...pulled up behind the vette in the driveway and noticed that the DIC was active and showing the mileage.... i think this maybe what is causing my battery drain.... anyone have any ideas? I mean I know this is probably my drain but why is this intermitantly doing this? Could this still be a problem with the BCM not going into sleep mode? Anyone have any ideas? I'm all ears again... and yes it has a new battery now.... 2 months ago...
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,092
Likes: 5
From: Fayetteville Arkansas
where's the BCM
isn't the BCM located under the carpet on the passenger's side? Damn i hate going out there now b/c it's like 20 degrees here in NW Arkansas... but inn two months my new house will have a heated garage... that would be nice right now! I will check the BCM right now!
Thomas
Thomas