Service charging system
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 318
Likes: 0
From: Rosharon TEXAS
Service charging system
i know there have been a few threads concerning "service charging system" issues,however my situation seems to be different?the car starts no problem but if i run the a/c or turn the radio on my voltage reader drops to about 13,and during idle and stop and go driving my temperature rises to around 220 degrees and normally it stayed around 180 or 190 being that i have a 180 degrees thermostat?
i do have a cam,headers,bolt ons,and ngk plugs.i did change the plugs back to the factory ac delco plugs,i had the battery checked and it was fine,and i checked to make sure all connections were tight and solid.the problem is still there?the only other thing i can think of is maybe alternator?the part that confuses me the most is the temperature issue?my c6 only has 30k miles.. anyone know anything about this?thanks,chris
i do have a cam,headers,bolt ons,and ngk plugs.i did change the plugs back to the factory ac delco plugs,i had the battery checked and it was fine,and i checked to make sure all connections were tight and solid.the problem is still there?the only other thing i can think of is maybe alternator?the part that confuses me the most is the temperature issue?my c6 only has 30k miles.. anyone know anything about this?thanks,chris
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
Likes: 197
From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
There are a ton of corvettes there so find someone who will swap alternators for a test run to see if it works. It takes 10 mins to swap one out.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 318
Likes: 0
From: Rosharon TEXAS
Thats not a bad idea..i put the stock plugs back in and i had my battery checked so i cant think of what else it could be? The cars temp going up to 220 degrees on a 160 thermostat is whats confusing me the most.i would think the only other solution would have to be the alternator? My car sits for weeks at a time without being started so that may be why the alternator may be failing?if the alternator is going out how would that cause the temperature to get so high? Thanks,chris
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
Likes: 197
From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Your car runs hot because the fans are spinning slower from lower voltage.
The two remaining things are the alternator and the battery wire on the starter terminals. they can melt.
The connector on your fan should also be checked because it can get hot and melt too especially if you have a tune that turns the fan on sooner. It runs more time. This can cause a high resistance and slow the fan and add to battery current draw.
The two remaining things are the alternator and the battery wire on the starter terminals. they can melt.
The connector on your fan should also be checked because it can get hot and melt too especially if you have a tune that turns the fan on sooner. It runs more time. This can cause a high resistance and slow the fan and add to battery current draw.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 318
Likes: 0
From: Rosharon TEXAS
Man that just makes too much sense! Thank you spin,that makes me feel better.i'll take a look at everything and see if i can figure it out,if everything seems fine i will replace the alternator.thank you buddy,chris
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
The battery and the alternator are connected together thru a connection on the starter solenoid. (the main stud) This connection is easily compromised. The nut comes loose or doesn’t get properly tightened and, the terminal gets corroded and the resistance at the junction gets high.
Check that main terminal on the starter solenoid and make sure that its clean and tight.
Installing headers frequently causes people to remove or disturb the main ground connection on the engine block (it right above the starter)
Make sure that the main ground cable bolt and eyelet are tight and corrosion free.
You can make a TEMPORARY jumper wire and attach it to the POSITIVE battery terminal and the BATT terminal on the back of the alternator. If your charging voltages improve and the fault light goes away, there’s resistance issues between the starter and the battery.
BC
Check that main terminal on the starter solenoid and make sure that its clean and tight.
Installing headers frequently causes people to remove or disturb the main ground connection on the engine block (it right above the starter)
Make sure that the main ground cable bolt and eyelet are tight and corrosion free.
You can make a TEMPORARY jumper wire and attach it to the POSITIVE battery terminal and the BATT terminal on the back of the alternator. If your charging voltages improve and the fault light goes away, there’s resistance issues between the starter and the battery.
BC
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,712
Likes: 3
From: TEXOMA
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
The battery and the alternator are connected together thru a connection on the starter solenoid. (the main stud) This connection is easily compromised. The nut comes loose or doesn’t get properly tightened and, the terminal gets corroded and the resistance at the junction gets high.
Check that main terminal on the starter solenoid and make sure that its clean and tight.
Installing headers frequently causes people to remove or disturb the main ground connection on the engine block (it right above the starter)
Make sure that the main ground cable bolt and eyelet are tight and corrosion free.
You can make a TEMPORARY jumper wire and attach it to the POSITIVE battery terminal and the BATT terminal on the back of the alternator. If your charging voltages improve and the fault light goes away, there’s resistance issues between the starter and the battery.
BC
Check that main terminal on the starter solenoid and make sure that its clean and tight.
Installing headers frequently causes people to remove or disturb the main ground connection on the engine block (it right above the starter)
Make sure that the main ground cable bolt and eyelet are tight and corrosion free.
You can make a TEMPORARY jumper wire and attach it to the POSITIVE battery terminal and the BATT terminal on the back of the alternator. If your charging voltages improve and the fault light goes away, there’s resistance issues between the starter and the battery.
BC
Id like to add, that i also think it is possible to heatsoak the alternator causing a lower voltage,
I'd deffinately try a wire directly from the alt to the battery first though.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Hey Bill, I'm wondering if the C-6 has the same or similar fuseable link for the alternator to the solenoid like the C-5 has? If so, it might be something we need to suggest for the C-6's as possible issues?
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,597
Likes: 3
From: READING PA
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
Your car runs hot because the fans are spinning slower from lower voltage.
The two remaining things are the alternator and the battery wire on the starter terminals. they can melt.
The connector on your fan should also be checked because it can get hot and melt too especially if you have a tune that turns the fan on sooner. It runs more time. This can cause a high resistance and slow the fan and add to battery current draw.
The two remaining things are the alternator and the battery wire on the starter terminals. they can melt.
The connector on your fan should also be checked because it can get hot and melt too especially if you have a tune that turns the fan on sooner. It runs more time. This can cause a high resistance and slow the fan and add to battery current draw.
or at 100% Duty Cycle that I read without disconnecting any plugs. That and a DVM is great for troubleshooting.
