Charge System Fault occasionally
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,786
Likes: 7
From: Iowa
Charge System Fault occasionally
I sometimes get a Charge System Fault message from time to time on my DIC usually shortly after starting the car or right after starting. the car has no issues, it starts and runs fine. voltage is right where its supposed to be. the battery is about a year old (yellow top) I always just reset the message and ignore it and everything is fine. I've recieved it 3 times this week which is much more frequent than usual. probably less than 10 times total in the year and a half I've had the car. I haven't pulled codes from it recently.
is this something I should worry about?
is this something I should worry about?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,786
Likes: 7
From: Iowa
I removed and reinstalled the battery a few times, once recently. I'm careful not to overtighten the terminals, but I can double check that they are tight enough.
one ground location which I have never taken apart and cleaned up is the one on the frame rail right next to the battery. its probably the most important one also! I'll clean it up when I get a chance.
sounds like this is nothing to worry about.
one ground location which I have never taken apart and cleaned up is the one on the frame rail right next to the battery. its probably the most important one also! I'll clean it up when I get a chance.
sounds like this is nothing to worry about.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,596
Likes: 67
From: Bahama North Carolina
I had the same thing and my 2 year old battery wasn't dead but it was starting to die. Watch the volts as soon as you start. Mine would drop when starting but very quickly return to normal. With a good battery the volts hardly drop at all. B\G
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,774
Likes: 363
From: Midland TX
I just had a similar issue and pulled my Optima Red Top out and had it checked - all tested fine. Then I had them hook up an Alternator tester and the tester said: "Battery Voltage Good, Diodes Good, Regulator Low Output".
I have no codes but three times got the Charge System Fault message recently. What led me to this problem is that the car was vibrating sometimes when I stopped at a red light.
Monday Dealership is supposed to replace the alternator (37,000 miles).
I have no codes but three times got the Charge System Fault message recently. What led me to this problem is that the car was vibrating sometimes when I stopped at a red light.
Monday Dealership is supposed to replace the alternator (37,000 miles).
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
It happened to my '99 long ago. In my case, it was the battery itself as I was one of the ACDelco batteries where the positive battery post litterally fell off. Fortunately for me, I was standing in front of it trying to figure out why I got a charge system fault and I was checking the cables to insure they were tight. I simply touched it....it broke off and started dumping acid. New battery, never a problem after that.
