battery/abs/etc question (any electrical mechanics here?)
#1
battery/abs/etc question (any electrical mechanics here?)
so question...
little calmer now - but... took my car to an electrical mechanic today... (watched and learned a little bit, I haven't worked much on cars for the electrical portion of things)...
a) trickle charged my car for 2 days, battery reading was about 11.5V, when I drove, charged, then when I turned car off, battery was about 12.1V
b) he took a voltmeter just running, about 14V
c) applied a load (raised headlights, moved windshield wipers), still seemed to charge okay (I forget, I think it was slightly less voltage, but still a 'charging' voltage)
said battery seemed okay (I think he measured afterwards and said since it was at about 12.6V that meant the battery was '80% good')
d) I think he read the codes, cleared them, stopped/started the car then got the 1214 error (ABS/traction control/etc module).
So going to get that fixed (he'll take it apart, resolder the insides, etc., I guess basically what the absfixer.com site does).
Figured car was okay to drive, drove about 5 minutes, everything good. Stopped, turned car off (but key in ignition) because I was putting the top up, did up passenger window,
then all of the sudden abs/traction/etc light goes on, and I noticed the driver side window didn't work.
While driving home, the gages went totally wonky again, had some voltage fluctuations (had the DIC gages to read the charging rate), was fairly steady about 13.4 V, then went about 13.1V for 1/2 second,
then back to about 13.4V... concerned, but got it back up, plugged it back into the trickle charger...
phoned him back (see if I can get an ealier appt, today was just an inspection)... told him what happened, he said maybe there is something with the charging system as well, that he'll test after he gets the abs module fixed...
my questions are this:
a) does it sound like a charging system issue as well - or - even though the battery "seemed" good - could there still be something wrong with the battery? (reading other threads people have suggested replacing the battery - should I *still* do that regardless, even though it 'seems' when he tested it things were fine?) (Basically - I'm wondering if I should still replace the battery *regardless* of what the electrical mechanics tests show, which was just the simple volt reading/test)
b) one thing I was really concerned about when the gages went wonky was the coolant temp - is the coolant still regulated properly (lo/hi fans going on at 108C/113C) even when the gages went wonky (and coolant gage was all the way to the right?) since I couldn't see the coolant temp, was worried what if the fans didn't work/etc - but not sure if that is a separate system...
thanks for the help!
little calmer now - but... took my car to an electrical mechanic today... (watched and learned a little bit, I haven't worked much on cars for the electrical portion of things)...
a) trickle charged my car for 2 days, battery reading was about 11.5V, when I drove, charged, then when I turned car off, battery was about 12.1V
b) he took a voltmeter just running, about 14V
c) applied a load (raised headlights, moved windshield wipers), still seemed to charge okay (I forget, I think it was slightly less voltage, but still a 'charging' voltage)
said battery seemed okay (I think he measured afterwards and said since it was at about 12.6V that meant the battery was '80% good')
d) I think he read the codes, cleared them, stopped/started the car then got the 1214 error (ABS/traction control/etc module).
So going to get that fixed (he'll take it apart, resolder the insides, etc., I guess basically what the absfixer.com site does).
Figured car was okay to drive, drove about 5 minutes, everything good. Stopped, turned car off (but key in ignition) because I was putting the top up, did up passenger window,
then all of the sudden abs/traction/etc light goes on, and I noticed the driver side window didn't work.
While driving home, the gages went totally wonky again, had some voltage fluctuations (had the DIC gages to read the charging rate), was fairly steady about 13.4 V, then went about 13.1V for 1/2 second,
then back to about 13.4V... concerned, but got it back up, plugged it back into the trickle charger...
phoned him back (see if I can get an ealier appt, today was just an inspection)... told him what happened, he said maybe there is something with the charging system as well, that he'll test after he gets the abs module fixed...
my questions are this:
a) does it sound like a charging system issue as well - or - even though the battery "seemed" good - could there still be something wrong with the battery? (reading other threads people have suggested replacing the battery - should I *still* do that regardless, even though it 'seems' when he tested it things were fine?) (Basically - I'm wondering if I should still replace the battery *regardless* of what the electrical mechanics tests show, which was just the simple volt reading/test)
b) one thing I was really concerned about when the gages went wonky was the coolant temp - is the coolant still regulated properly (lo/hi fans going on at 108C/113C) even when the gages went wonky (and coolant gage was all the way to the right?) since I couldn't see the coolant temp, was worried what if the fans didn't work/etc - but not sure if that is a separate system...
thanks for the help!
Last edited by memememe; 06-17-2019 at 04:28 PM.
#2
Drifting
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ease-help.html
Do you need to start a third thread in two days? We can keep the conversation in one thread.
12.1V indicates a DEAD battery. Not fully dead, but mostly dead. It did NOT "seem" good. You may think that since everyone refers to the 12V system that 12.1V is healthy but it is not. A healthy fully charged battery is going to show in the 12.5 - 12.9 volt range, depending on battery type.
Please get a new battery.
The thermostat is purely mechanical.
The electrical fan control is not guaranteed to work properly if your electrical system is behaving funny. Get a new battery.
Do you need to start a third thread in two days? We can keep the conversation in one thread.
trickle charged my car for 2 days, battery reading was about 11.5V, when I drove, charged, then when I turned car off, battery was about 12.1V
Please get a new battery.
is the coolant still regulated properly (lo/hi fans going on at 108C/113C) even when the gages went wonky
The electrical fan control is not guaranteed to work properly if your electrical system is behaving funny. Get a new battery.
#5
1/4 mile/AutoX
12.1 indicates a dead batt ????????????????? my car has started numerous time at 11.6 or lower ??? I still would suspect the batt !!!!
#7
thanks!
#9
1/4 mile/AutoX
these are the ground locations !!
The following users liked this post:
laurent_zo6 (06-17-2019)
#10
Le Mans Master
This picture is in Pounder's post above (last page), but this may make it a bit easier to correlate to actual locations on the chassis.
Good luck... GUSTO
Good luck... GUSTO
#11
Drifting
You can start an engine with a lower voltage, sure. Doesn't mean it's a happy healthy battery. Many C5s have notoriously flaky electronics, as you know, that really demand a voltage within a range that allows less 'slack' on the low end.
#12
Melting Slicks
How are you taking the readings I highlighted above? To be able to determine if your charging system and battery are working properly, readings have to be taken directly at the battery posts with a multimeter.
You should take your battery out of your car, fully charge it and then take it to an auto parts store to be load-tested. Otherwise you are going to continue guessing.
Last edited by GCG; 06-18-2019 at 02:12 AM.
#13
1/4 mile/AutoX
A "fully charged" battery showing 12.1 volts does, in fact, suggest the battery is on death's door if it hasn't crossed it yet.
You can start an engine with a lower voltage, sure. Doesn't mean it's a happy healthy battery. Many C5s have notoriously flaky electronics, as you know, that really demand a voltage within a range that allows less 'slack' on the low end.
You can start an engine with a lower voltage, sure. Doesn't mean it's a happy healthy battery. Many C5s have notoriously flaky electronics, as you know, that really demand a voltage within a range that allows less 'slack' on the low end.
#14
Drifting
Yes, Pounder, amps start the car, but the voltage a car battery is capable of keeping tells you the health of the cells.
Every single commercially-produced battery chemistry is fairly well understood. There are many ways of testing the health and charge level of a battery. Lead-acid batteries, including AGM, can have their charge level / health approximated by the following chart.
Do note that if you have fully charged a battery to the point where your charger/floater has decided that it can no longer charge higher, but only shows ~50% capacity, that means your battery needs replacement.
Every single commercially-produced battery chemistry is fairly well understood. There are many ways of testing the health and charge level of a battery. Lead-acid batteries, including AGM, can have their charge level / health approximated by the following chart.
Do note that if you have fully charged a battery to the point where your charger/floater has decided that it can no longer charge higher, but only shows ~50% capacity, that means your battery needs replacement.
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joelschl (07-01-2020)
#15
1/4 mile/AutoX
Yes, Pounder, amps start the car, but the voltage a car battery is capable of keeping tells you the health of the cells.
Every single commercially-produced battery chemistry is fairly well understood. There are many ways of testing the health and charge level of a battery. Lead-acid batteries, including AGM, can have their charge level / health approximated by the following chart.
Do note that if you have fully charged a battery to the point where your charger/floater has decided that it can no longer charge higher, but only shows ~50% capacity, that means your battery needs replacement.
Every single commercially-produced battery chemistry is fairly well understood. There are many ways of testing the health and charge level of a battery. Lead-acid batteries, including AGM, can have their charge level / health approximated by the following chart.
Do note that if you have fully charged a battery to the point where your charger/floater has decided that it can no longer charge higher, but only shows ~50% capacity, that means your battery needs replacement.
how I always know what my voltage is !!!
#17
1/4 mile/AutoX
#18
Melting Slicks
This is wrong. In a DC motor Torque is proportional to Current and Speed is proportional to Voltage. Both of them need to be above certain thresholds so the starter can overcome the engine mechanical resistance to be cranked AND to do so at an appropriate speed so it can start.
Last edited by GCG; 06-19-2019 at 12:47 AM.
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JWM (06-21-2019)
#19
1/4 mile/AutoX
This is wrong. In a DC motor Torque is proportional to Current and Speed is proportional to Voltage. Both of them need to be above certain thresholds so the starter can overcome the engine mechanical resistance to be cranked AND to do so at an appropriate speed so it can start.
#20
1/4 mile/AutoX
I have worked on so many vehicles in my life, and for a long time diesel cars, I definitely know what will start a car or not !!!!