Charge System Fault Message
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Charge System Fault Message
I was getting a "CHARGE SYSTEM FAULT" message the last couple times I started the car. Now the car won't start unless it is jumped and even then, it will dies within seconds after starting. Voltage is running below 10 volts. I'm assuming it's the alternator but wondering if it could possibly be anything else. Any help will be greatly appreciated. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,217
Likes: 5
From: Stark County Ohio
Take the battery out, charge it up, and then take it to one of the auto parts stores to have it “TESTED UNDER LOAD”.
When reinstalling the battery make sure the terminals are clean (corrosion free) and tight. This is the first step. Further tests require a good fully charged battery.
The electronics on the C5 require 12+ volts to function properly.
If this doesn’t remedy your problem, other tests will have to be made. You can take the alternator in with the battery for testing, or take it in separately after the battery is proven good.
Could be loose wiring, etc.
Keep the forum posted with your progress.
P.S. If it’s the alternator, it is best to have yours rebuilt. There are many places that specialize in this work. If you have an early year C5, rebuilding your OEM unit is really the BEST course of action.
If you purchase a replacement alternator KEEP the original unit. This is important from my point of view. You may end up having to have it rebuilt anyhow. (Alternator’s for later C5’s sometimes don’t play well with early C5 PCM’s.
-
When reinstalling the battery make sure the terminals are clean (corrosion free) and tight. This is the first step. Further tests require a good fully charged battery.
The electronics on the C5 require 12+ volts to function properly.
If this doesn’t remedy your problem, other tests will have to be made. You can take the alternator in with the battery for testing, or take it in separately after the battery is proven good.
Could be loose wiring, etc.
Keep the forum posted with your progress.
P.S. If it’s the alternator, it is best to have yours rebuilt. There are many places that specialize in this work. If you have an early year C5, rebuilding your OEM unit is really the BEST course of action.
If you purchase a replacement alternator KEEP the original unit. This is important from my point of view. You may end up having to have it rebuilt anyhow. (Alternator’s for later C5’s sometimes don’t play well with early C5 PCM’s.
-
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Well said!!!!
Run a 10 gage wire from the battery POSITIVE terminal to the connection on the BACK of the alternator (under the rubber boot) and see if that corrects your problem. (Ive used a jumper cable in the past and that is handy and worked well)
If it does fix it,,,let me know. Easy fix!
BC
Run a 10 gage wire from the battery POSITIVE terminal to the connection on the BACK of the alternator (under the rubber boot) and see if that corrects your problem. (Ive used a jumper cable in the past and that is handy and worked well)
If it does fix it,,,let me know. Easy fix!
BC
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Very well could be an ignition switch issue. Well,,,,check the fuses specisified in this post with the ignition switch in the ON position.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...ch-repair.html
BC
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...ch-repair.html
BC
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Your battery is completly DEAD. The OTHER car is providing the power to run it. Pull the battery out, have it tested and if its bad,,,,replace it. If its good,,recharge it,,,,,reinstall it and do some troubleshooting to figure out why the alternator isnt charging the battery.
BC
BC
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
I got the car working by directly connecting the positive battery terminal to the terminal on the alternator that the rubber boot goes on. What does this mean? Is it safe to continue driving the car this way? Thank you.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Somehow,,,,,,
,,,,,I knew that you were going to post that answer!
The BATT terminal on the back of the Alternator connects to the STARTER SOLENOID.
From there a wire runs directly to the battery. So,,,,,,,,,your either have a very bad connection on that terminal or a bad fusible link in one of those connections.
Heres the schematic that you need to trouble shoot that issue:
Check out the starter solenoid terminals:
They MUST be clean and tight
Do this before you do anything. Disconnect the battery and measure the RESISTANCE between the POSITIVE battery cable and the Alternator BATT terminal. Post that resistance reading. The reading that your looking for is ZERO ohms.
BC
,,,,,I knew that you were going to post that answer!The BATT terminal on the back of the Alternator connects to the STARTER SOLENOID.
From there a wire runs directly to the battery. So,,,,,,,,,your either have a very bad connection on that terminal or a bad fusible link in one of those connections.
Heres the schematic that you need to trouble shoot that issue:
Check out the starter solenoid terminals:
They MUST be clean and tight
Do this before you do anything. Disconnect the battery and measure the RESISTANCE between the POSITIVE battery cable and the Alternator BATT terminal. Post that resistance reading.
The reading that your looking for is ZERO ohms.BC
Last edited by Bill Curlee; Sep 4, 2009 at 07:38 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,267
Likes: 40
From: Phoenix AZ
Usually a bad battery will keep a car running but not crank and start it. The plot thickens.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Somehow,,,,,,,,,,,I knew that you were going to post that answer!
The BATT terminal on the back of the Alternator connects to the STARTER SOLENOID.
From there a wire runs directly to the battery. So,,,,,,,,,your either have a very bad connection on that terminal or a bad fusible link in one of those connections.
Heres the schematic that you need to trouble shoot that issue:
Check out the starter solenoid terminals:
They MUST be clean and tight
Do this before you do anything. Disconnect the battery and measure the RESISTANCE between the POSITIVE battery cable and the Alternator BATT terminal. Post that resistance reading. The reading that your looking for is ZERO ohms.
BC
,,,,,I knew that you were going to post that answer!The BATT terminal on the back of the Alternator connects to the STARTER SOLENOID.
From there a wire runs directly to the battery. So,,,,,,,,,your either have a very bad connection on that terminal or a bad fusible link in one of those connections.
Heres the schematic that you need to trouble shoot that issue:
Check out the starter solenoid terminals:
They MUST be clean and tight
Do this before you do anything. Disconnect the battery and measure the RESISTANCE between the POSITIVE battery cable and the Alternator BATT terminal. Post that resistance reading.
The reading that your looking for is ZERO ohms.BC
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
The starter solenoid is sort of the electrical distribution point of the car from and to the battery. The battery cable goes to it first, from there back to the fuse box, alternator and so on. As Bill stated, that connection needs to be clean and tight. The solenoid's main function is to supply power to the starter motor. Essentially its a giant relay. Be very careful when tightening that connection as you must remember that its electrically hot.
