Help with Charge System Fault message on DIC
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,456
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From: Cockeysville Maryland
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Help with Charge System Fault message on DIC (UPDATED)
This just started happening last evening. Three times last night on way home and one time today on way home from show.
About ten days ago I installed a new painted/chrome alternator from Design Specialties. About three months ago I installed a new Optima Red Top Battery (for color red only).
I checked the charging instrument before installing alternator and it was right at about 13 on the guage.
After the install it remained at that 13 mark consistently with no messages until last night.
Now the guage consistently reads 15 and sometimes more. Last night I watched as several times it moved from 14+ down to 13 and mack again. One time it went down to 12.
All the parts involved are new/nearly new! Any ideas?
Thanks
Chuck
[Modified by chucschramm, 3:40 PM 10/15/2001]
About ten days ago I installed a new painted/chrome alternator from Design Specialties. About three months ago I installed a new Optima Red Top Battery (for color red only).
I checked the charging instrument before installing alternator and it was right at about 13 on the guage.
After the install it remained at that 13 mark consistently with no messages until last night.
Now the guage consistently reads 15 and sometimes more. Last night I watched as several times it moved from 14+ down to 13 and mack again. One time it went down to 12.
All the parts involved are new/nearly new! Any ideas?
Thanks
Chuck
[Modified by chucschramm, 3:40 PM 10/15/2001]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,429
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From: God's Replica
Re: Help with Charge System Fault message on DIC (chucschramm)
I think the CSF message appears when the voltage go out the the 10.0-14.0v range, so maybe that 15 volts you saw set it off. Check all the connections and shorts to ground. Is this an ongoing fault or intermittent?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,456
Likes: 8
From: Cockeysville Maryland
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Re: Help with Charge System Fault message on DIC (intel55)
The Charge System Fault message is intermittent to this point, only several occurrences since it started last night.
The 15+ reading has been pretty much a constant since the first event.
Chuck
The 15+ reading has been pretty much a constant since the first event.
Chuck
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,429
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From: God's Replica
Re: Help with Charge System Fault message on DIC (chucschramm)
Look for shorts first at the alt and batt. then check for any codes and list those. Could be a simple short. A digital meter could help tell the source if it is not one of the obvious places. Did P0563 show up??
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 27
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From: Branford Ct
Re: Help with Charge System Fault message on DIC (chucschramm)
Have your DIC recalibrated to your correct voltage reading, if it has NOT been done yet.
It should be done every time the alternator is replaced.
c5wrench
It should be done every time the alternator is replaced.
c5wrench
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,456
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From: Cockeysville Maryland
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Re: Help with Charge System Fault message on DIC (c5wrench_2001)
I have not had the DIC recalibrated for the new alternator. How is that accomplished?
Who should do it? the dealership? Can I do it myself? Why did it take so long to become an issue for my car?
I really appreciate your help with answers to these questions as I struggle to learn from each problem that i encounter.
Chuck
Who should do it? the dealership? Can I do it myself? Why did it take so long to become an issue for my car?
I really appreciate your help with answers to these questions as I struggle to learn from each problem that i encounter.
Chuck
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 993
Likes: 5
From: Cincinnati Ohio
Re: Help with Charge System Fault message on DIC (chucschramm)
chucschramm,
I received repeated "charge system fault" messages on the DIC of my 1999 C5 coupe. The dealer/mechanic called Chevrolet Technical Assistance and was told to check the ground locations on and near the starter.
The mechanic found several nuts that were loose on their studs. The terminals were also corroded. He cleaned the connections, then tightened them.
That solved the DIC messages.
Good luck - 1999 White C5 Coupe
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Le Mans Master
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From: God's Replica
Re: Help with Charge System Fault message on DIC (1999 White C5 Coupe)
that would be the fuseable link down near the starter between the grey and red wire. When my BCM went bad I had to have that recalibrated by the tech, but not my alt. when that went bad. However, maybe they recalabrated that too since the BCM went south soon after. I thought it was plug and play. Also when I put my underdrive pulley on the volatage on a tech 2 and the ipc and atap all seem different, not by much though. :cheers:
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
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From: Cockeysville Maryland
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Re: Help with Charge System Fault message on DIC (chucschramm)
First let me thank all of those that took the time to respond. I took to heart each suggestion and clue offered.
I called Dave at Cartek today to see if my problem was related to my heads/cam PCM tuning eyc. No way, it was not.
As I posted before I had Design Specialties Paint an alternator for me. Red up front, chrome middle and red for the electrical piece in the back. It looks absolutely beautiful.
The problem with the volatge comes from the painted front piece. I did not know this but Dave told me the alernator is ground to the bracket. By painting the mounting area of the alternator there was not a good connection between the alternator and the bracket.
With this in mind I removed the alternator, removed the paint from the left area where the sleeves tighten up against the aletrnator and reinstalled.
There was a difference at this point but now instead of reading 15 the guage read 12. This is still not an acceptable number.
I then thought about the other side of the alternator and once again removed the alternator, removed paint from right side of mounting area and reinstalled.
THAT SEEMS TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. After running the car for a while it now reads 13.9.
Will try it this for a few days to see what might happen by driving it.
Chuck
I called Dave at Cartek today to see if my problem was related to my heads/cam PCM tuning eyc. No way, it was not.
As I posted before I had Design Specialties Paint an alternator for me. Red up front, chrome middle and red for the electrical piece in the back. It looks absolutely beautiful.
The problem with the volatge comes from the painted front piece. I did not know this but Dave told me the alernator is ground to the bracket. By painting the mounting area of the alternator there was not a good connection between the alternator and the bracket.
With this in mind I removed the alternator, removed the paint from the left area where the sleeves tighten up against the aletrnator and reinstalled.
There was a difference at this point but now instead of reading 15 the guage read 12. This is still not an acceptable number.
I then thought about the other side of the alternator and once again removed the alternator, removed paint from right side of mounting area and reinstalled.
THAT SEEMS TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. After running the car for a while it now reads 13.9.
Will try it this for a few days to see what might happen by driving it.
Chuck
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,429
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From: God's Replica
Re: Help with Charge System Fault message on DIC (chucschramm)
:cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: haha it was a bad ground, though a weird one!!! It looks like it is all fixed now. I wonder why they paint it there, must not have know about that. :cheers:
