97 charging problem?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 57
Likes: 1
97 charging problem?
Noticed my headlights and radio display output varying slightly lately. Digital Alternator output running from high 12s to about 13.7. Battery is at least four years old. Car starts fine and is not sending any warning messages. Charging light is also off. Any ideas..startwith battery or alternator Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving!
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,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, You will always see a LITTLE flicker as the loads on the electrical system change. Its pretty much normal.
HOWEVER,,,,,,, without being there and seeing how much actual flicker you have,, it is difficult to say whether its NORMAL or NOT.
The VOLTAGE READING provided by the DIGITAL DIC Voltage reading/display and the IPC Analog Volt Meter are NOT actual battery voltage.
The voltage that they display is the output of a set of contact inside the IGNITION SWITCH. The voltage readings that are displayed are sometime much LESS than battery voltage.
To actually read BATTERY VOLTAGE, you need to measure the battery terminals with a hand held DC Volt Meter.
IF,,,, the contacts inside the ignition switch are burnt or dirty, you will see a wide difference between the reading on the DIC and IPC Volt Meter and actual Battery voltage measured at the battery.
Here are some things that you can do to improve your electrical system
-Clean the battery terminals and PROPERLY torque them on to the battery (97-2003= 11 ft/lbs torque)
-Check the starter solenoid terminal connections. They MUST be clean and properly tightened. The Alternator charges the battery THRU the solenoid wiring connections:
-Clean or replace the Ignition Switch:
- C5 ignition Switch repair - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...ch-repair.html
Hope this helps
BC
HOWEVER,,,,,,, without being there and seeing how much actual flicker you have,, it is difficult to say whether its NORMAL or NOT.
The VOLTAGE READING provided by the DIGITAL DIC Voltage reading/display and the IPC Analog Volt Meter are NOT actual battery voltage.
The voltage that they display is the output of a set of contact inside the IGNITION SWITCH. The voltage readings that are displayed are sometime much LESS than battery voltage.
To actually read BATTERY VOLTAGE, you need to measure the battery terminals with a hand held DC Volt Meter.
IF,,,, the contacts inside the ignition switch are burnt or dirty, you will see a wide difference between the reading on the DIC and IPC Volt Meter and actual Battery voltage measured at the battery.
Here are some things that you can do to improve your electrical system
-Clean the battery terminals and PROPERLY torque them on to the battery (97-2003= 11 ft/lbs torque)
-Check the starter solenoid terminal connections. They MUST be clean and properly tightened. The Alternator charges the battery THRU the solenoid wiring connections:
-Clean or replace the Ignition Switch:
- C5 ignition Switch repair - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...ch-repair.html
Hope this helps
BC
