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What Causes a "Charge System Fault" Code????

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Old Apr 29, 2004 | 06:14 PM
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Default What Causes a "Charge System Fault" Code????

:confused: What can cause these codes?
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Old Apr 29, 2004 | 06:15 PM
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Default Re: What Causes a "Charge System Fault" Code???? (Buckmaster)

I don't know the code....but I was told my car had this.........
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Old Apr 29, 2004 | 07:31 PM
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Default Re: What Causes a "Charge System Fault" Code???? (Buckmaster)

ttt :confused:
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Old Apr 29, 2004 | 07:35 PM
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Default Re: What Causes a "Charge System Fault" Code???? (Buckmaster)


I didn't look to see what kind of car you're in, but I get it occasionally when I'm trying to creep into or out of my garage or a parking space, with the clutch not quite engaged, engine nearly stalling.

The message turns up when the engine is running, but the battery is discharging faster than the alternator is putting it back...
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Old Apr 29, 2004 | 07:40 PM
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Default Re: What Causes a "Charge System Fault" Code???? (Matt Black)

Happened to me when my serp. belt came off. The alternator stopped spinning. Either that or your alt. is dead.
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Old Apr 29, 2004 | 07:44 PM
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Default Re: What Causes a "Charge System Fault" Code???? (Buckmaster)

:confused: What can cause these codes?
What codes are showing up? It means your battery is flowing more current than the alernatior is replacing. But do you have the specfic codes?
http://www.stengel.net/diccodes.htm

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Old Apr 29, 2004 | 08:58 PM
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Default Re: What Causes a "Charge System Fault" Code???? (Buckmaster)

:confused: What can cause these codes?
PCM voltage dropping below 11.0 Volts dc. ,or PCM generator field circuit malfunction(three wire plug on the alt). These are the two ost likely culptrits for the error code.
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Old Apr 29, 2004 | 09:14 PM
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Default Re: What Causes a "Charge System Fault" Code???? (Matt Black)

I didn't look to see what kind of car you're in, but I get it occasionally when I'm trying to creep into or out of my garage or a parking space, with the clutch not quite engaged, engine nearly stalling.

The message turns up when the engine is running, but the battery is discharging faster than the alternator is putting it back...
Interesting. I don't know the code(s). My car is being worked on and they said the engine light came on and this was the code but they didn't tell me what code. They cleared it. So we'll see if it comes back. I did have clutch and driveline work done to the car.............so maybe that had something to do with it. Hopefully it is nothing...................
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Old Apr 30, 2004 | 12:09 AM
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Default Re: What Causes a "Charge System Fault" Code???? (Buckmaster)

Mine did that a few times a couple years ago. Seems to have stopped since I put in an Optima battery.
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Old Apr 30, 2004 | 12:28 AM
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Default Re: What Causes a "Charge System Fault" Code???? (Buckmaster)


"Charge System Fault" is just a message that comes up on the DIC, like "Low Fuel" or "Low Tire Pressure".

GM thought it was more immediately important than just a diagnostic code.

It comes up on my car every so often when I'm creeping around like I said, and never sets a DTC code in the PCM.

Might be nothing, might be a bad alternator, might be a belt slipping, shucks, do you have an underdrive pulley and a lot of stereo accessories?

But it may be nothing at all, just an occasional situation.

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Old Apr 30, 2004 | 10:49 PM
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Default Re: What Causes a "Charge System Fault" Code???? (Buckmaster)

Buckmaster,

My 1999 C5 coupe, built 8/98 and purchased new, would display "charge system fault" messages on the DIC - usually when starting the engine. The Chevrolet mechanic was stumped after two visits and called Chevrolet Technical Assistance.

The mechanic was instructed to check ground locations on and near the starter (below the battery). He found several ground locations with loose nuts on the studs. He cleaned the locations and tightened the nuts. That eliminated the DIC messages.

The mechanic said Technical Assistance immediately knew what the problem was and he speculated that it was a common problem and probably a result of faulty assembly. (My car was built after the infamous UAW work stoppage at Bowling Green).

The car was never damaged or driven in the rain and the messages appeared during the first year of ownership. The defective ground locations were not a result of a battery acid leak (that happened later....).

I hope this information is helpful. Good luck.
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Old Apr 30, 2004 | 11:05 PM
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Default Re: What Causes a "Charge System Fault" Code???? (Matt Black)

Your battery charge is low! :cheers:
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Old May 1, 2004 | 12:50 AM
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Default Re: What Causes a "Charge System Fault" Code???? (wwashing)

Happened to me once. January with the top off, the heater fan on high, headlights on and stereo blasting during an idle at a stop light. Then never again. about three years ago. Probably had more stuff running than the alt. could take.
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Old May 1, 2004 | 01:09 AM
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Default Re: What Causes a "Charge System Fault" Code???? (Buckmaster)

When mine started this it would also stop charging the battery--I finially found that the cars original battery though not in there long had leaked the acid ran along the inside of the plastic cover on several cables one to the starter and ate up the starter stud and it had to be replaced as well, it ran down the wire that went into the interior fuse box but only had to replace the wire--there were signs of dripping on the PCM but no damage--
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Old May 1, 2004 | 09:00 PM
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Default Re: What Causes a "Charge System Fault" Code???? (Buckmaster)

Just started getting it on my 03 Coupe. It was parked for a week and when I started it up I got the message??? Maybe the battery is going!


[Modified by Bob25thTA, 8:03 PM 5/1/2004]
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Old May 2, 2004 | 02:14 PM
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Default Re: What Causes a "Charge System Fault" Code???? (Buckmaster)

:lurk:
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Old May 2, 2004 | 03:41 PM
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Default Re: What Causes a "Charge System Fault" Code???? (Buckmaster)

I was getting this code when my battery needed replacing. I even had the parts store" Advanced auto" test the battery and they said it was fine. But a buddy at a GM dealer tested it with something I think it was called a Vat 40 and said it was no good. I was also getting a low system voltage code to the ABS eveytime the CPU would test the system....... That is just my experience with the code. Hope it helps. John :seeya

P.S all that time playing with LS1 Edit to straighten out your car with it not running could have killed your battery, I believe it was you that was having problems correct. If not Im sorry for the confusion.


[Modified by ITSovr4U, 3:44 PM 5/2/2004]
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Old May 2, 2004 | 04:54 PM
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Default Re: What Causes a "Charge System Fault" Code???? (ITSovr4U)


P.S all that time playing with LS1 Edit to straighten out your car with it not running could have killed your battery, I believe it was you that was having problems correct. If not Im sorry for the confusion.
Yes that was me. I didn;t know LS1Edit would draw so much power. On the ride home the DIC was displaying 13.5 volts.......I THINK that is low...is it? I have it on a trockle charger now so I'll see if the volts come up. I thought the volts should be about 13.9-14.1.....anyone verify that?

Thanks for the post...... :cheers: :cool:
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Old May 2, 2004 | 05:11 PM
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Default Re: What Causes a "Charge System Fault" Code???? (Buckmaster)


P.S all that time playing with LS1 Edit to straighten out your car with it not running could have killed your battery, I believe it was you that was having problems correct. If not Im sorry for the confusion.

Yes that was me. I didn;t know LS1Edit would draw so much power. On the ride home the DIC was displaying 13.5 volts.......I THINK that is low...is it? I have it on a trockle charger now so I'll see if the volts come up. I thought the volts should be about 13.9-14.1.....anyone verify that?

Thanks for the post...... :cheers: :cool:
Mine shows 14.4 when everything has stabalized (car running down the highway)

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Old May 2, 2004 | 05:14 PM
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Default Re: What Causes a "Charge System Fault" Code???? (Richin Chicago)



Mine shows 14.4 when everything has stabalized (car running down the highway)
Wow, ok......the volts didn't seem to rise while driving which may mean an alternator problem? I hope not......I can't win............. :sad:
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