Please Help!!!!!What can this be????
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Sep 2008
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Please Help!!!!!What can this be????
I have a 98 Corvette with 24000 miles. I am having an issue that I can't seem to figure out. I had the battery replaced. I drove home and the voltmeter began fluctuating, "charge system fault" pops up on DIC, and eventually "low voltage". I got home and the car was dead! I put the old battery back in after I charged it. I drove the car yesterday. "Charge system fault" still pops up. The voltmeter is still fluctuating; 9,11,10,12...etc. WHAT CAN THIS BE?? I had the alternater checked and it functions within normal limits. The car also does not "draw" from the battery when turned off. This is frustrating!! I can't drive it to the shop because I am afraid that I will run out of "juice" and get stranded. Please help me through this!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
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From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Try wiggling the battery cables while its running and see if your voltage indications improve. If not, next check the battery wire to the starter motor not forgetting that its hot. Also, there is a ground connection to the frame between the battery and fuse box.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,152
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From: South Western Ontario
Yes, I would check the main power wires (plus and negative 12V both). The main power wires are the ones that run off the battery and the alternator and the engine and the fuse blocks and the car chassis. Check the ends for corroded or loose connections. In all likelyhood, you will have to actually remove them and clean them to make a difference.
Peter
Peter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,561
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From: Oakland Ca
St. Jude Donor '09
Yes, I would check the main power wires (plus and negative 12V both). The main power wires are the ones that run off the battery and the alternator and the engine and the fuse blocks and the car chassis. Check the ends for corroded or loose connections. In all likely hood, you will have to actually remove them and clean them to make a difference.
Peter
Peter
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: May 2007
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From: Machineguns, because I don’t compromise
I remember a guy on www.ls1tech.com had an issue with "charge system fault" from time to time...
then it really started acting up.... it turned out to be one of the wires connected to the starter. The wire(s) just as they enter the terminal (that bolt to the starter) were corroded. He says that he gave a very light tug on each one and the trouble was caused by one wire that was severely brittle resulting in poor voltage transfer.
he ended up splicing in new wires and terminals and he said it worked like a charm.
Try messing with those wires...
then it really started acting up.... it turned out to be one of the wires connected to the starter. The wire(s) just as they enter the terminal (that bolt to the starter) were corroded. He says that he gave a very light tug on each one and the trouble was caused by one wire that was severely brittle resulting in poor voltage transfer.
he ended up splicing in new wires and terminals and he said it worked like a charm.
Try messing with those wires...
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 0
From: Arlington Texas, originally from San Angelo, TX
I remember a guy on www.ls1tech.com had an issue with "charge system fault" from time to time...
then it really started acting up.... it turned out to be one of the wires connected to the starter. The wire(s) just as they enter the terminal (that bolt to the starter) were corroded. He says that he gave a very light tug on each one and the trouble was caused by one wire that was severely brittle resulting in poor voltage transfer.
he ended up splicing in new wires and terminals and he said it worked like a charm.
Try messing with those wires...
then it really started acting up.... it turned out to be one of the wires connected to the starter. The wire(s) just as they enter the terminal (that bolt to the starter) were corroded. He says that he gave a very light tug on each one and the trouble was caused by one wire that was severely brittle resulting in poor voltage transfer.
he ended up splicing in new wires and terminals and he said it worked like a charm.
Try messing with those wires...
.
