Charge System Fault
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 12
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Charge System Fault
It started last week was driving the car home and the voltage dropped, gauges went out etc, made it to the house and removed the alternator. Replaced it with a 110amp TuffOne from advanced. Everything worked fine drove the car probably 200 miles with no issues, went to the track made 2 passes on the car and the alternator died again. Wouldnt charge the car and had to be towed. Advanced doesn't carry corvette alternators anymore, so we returned that one and got another 110amp from AutoZone and a new battery. Installed it and it only charges at about 13.5 amps while running and says charge system fault. I cleared the code with HPtuners and it immediately returns. I have been reading where some late model 2003's use a 145amp alt could this be the problem??
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Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2014
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From: WDE
St. Jude Donor '14-'15
I thought it was my PCM at one point to.
Bought 2 different alternators,
2 new batteries.
Replaced and reconfigured all the grounds.
Ignition switch is your issue
Or at least I'm 98% sure.
Check your voltage on the alternator. If it's up at 14v and your dash is showing 11 or below its going to be ignition switch.
Could also be your starter and a fusible link.
Bought 2 different alternators,
2 new batteries.
Replaced and reconfigured all the grounds.
Ignition switch is your issue
Or at least I'm 98% sure.
Check your voltage on the alternator. If it's up at 14v and your dash is showing 11 or below its going to be ignition switch.
Could also be your starter and a fusible link.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2014
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From: WDE
St. Jude Donor '14-'15
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 4,637
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From: WDE
St. Jude Donor '14-'15
I'd definitely do the ignition switch repair before you even think about trying the fusible links.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
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From: South Western Ontario
In HPTuners you can go into the system options and disable the F or L terminals. My guess is disable the F terminal and the message will go away.
The later cars did have a higher current alternator but you'd only notice the difference in charging when running with all the high power loads operating in the car.
I would also check/clean the main wires at the starter solenoid, the battery and the stud on the under hood fuse block. Check/clean the block end of the ground wire that's connected to the battery.
The later cars did have a higher current alternator but you'd only notice the difference in charging when running with all the high power loads operating in the car.
I would also check/clean the main wires at the starter solenoid, the battery and the stud on the under hood fuse block. Check/clean the block end of the ground wire that's connected to the battery.
Safety Car
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From: WDE
St. Jude Donor '14-'15
Oh and I'd definitely take the "tuff one" alternator back to advance.
Just get the stock one repaired. Valero is the only alternator that works.
I ended up just putting the alternator I thought was broken back on the car and it has been fine.
Just get the stock one repaired. Valero is the only alternator that works.
I ended up just putting the alternator I thought was broken back on the car and it has been fine.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
In HPTuners you can go into the system options and disable the F or L terminals. My guess is disable the F terminal and the message will go away.
The later cars did have a higher current alternator but you'd only notice the difference in charging when running with all the high power loads operating in the car.
I would also check/clean the main wires at the starter solenoid, the battery and the stud on the under hood fuse block. Check/clean the block end of the ground wire that's connected to the battery.
The later cars did have a higher current alternator but you'd only notice the difference in charging when running with all the high power loads operating in the car.
I would also check/clean the main wires at the starter solenoid, the battery and the stud on the under hood fuse block. Check/clean the block end of the ground wire that's connected to the battery.
I cleaned all those ground, i disabled the message the issue is that car keeps burning up alternators when I put a full load on it. I need it to be reliable. I dont want to replace the alternator everytime I make a full pass on the car.
Safety Car
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From: WDE
St. Jude Donor '14-'15
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 12
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THe stock one is already gone I turned it in as a core, the tuff one is back at advance and the new diehard or whatever brand is on the car but the read out is only showing 13.5 at least the tuff one was at 14.5