Starter solenoid
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Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Long Island New York
Starter solenoid
Yesterday I got the dreaded Service Charging System on the DIC. Checked what I could under hood such as lose grounds and connections and checked what I could with a voltmeter. All’s coming in at 14.4+. From reading here it seems solenoid is the likely suspect especially on cars with long tubes(LG).been on car for over ten years and original solenoid. So last night I ordered a new solenoid and it should be here in a day or two. Hopefully that’s what it is, haven’t had the opportunity to get under the car yet.
Question is, how easy is it to get to and how long should it take to replace? Do I have to loosen the header or exhaust to gain access to the solenoid? Thanks
Question is, how easy is it to get to and how long should it take to replace? Do I have to loosen the header or exhaust to gain access to the solenoid? Thanks
Melting Slicks
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From: Mead Wash
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
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From: Cape Coral, Florida
Yesterday I got the dreaded Service Charging System on the DIC. Checked what I could under hood such as lose grounds and connections and checked what I could with a voltmeter. All’s coming in at 14.4+. From reading here it seems solenoid is the likely suspect especially on cars with long tubes(LG).been on car for over ten years and original solenoid. So last night I ordered a new solenoid and it should be here in a day or two. Hopefully that’s what it is, haven’t had the opportunity to get under the car yet.
Question is, how easy is it to get to and how long should it take to replace? Do I have to loosen the header or exhaust to gain access to the solenoid? Thanks
Question is, how easy is it to get to and how long should it take to replace? Do I have to loosen the header or exhaust to gain access to the solenoid? Thanks
Can just be a loose connection or dirty connection down at the starter solenoid...this is where your B+ from the alternator and your positive battery terminal cable come together...if you take one lead of your voltmeter and put it on the positive battery terminal and the other lead on B+ of the alternator see what you read with the engine running...don’t worry if you see minus voltage...you can switch the leads if you want...should be below .5 volts...now go from the negative lead of the battery to the alternator case...should be close to 0 volts...this is what I see on my 2001...0.072 volts on positive and 0.032 on the negative side...14.4 is a good charging voltage !!...every other year I get under the car and remove all the wires at the solenoid, wire brush, and reinstall..also the negative lead of your battery is down there on the engine block...clean there too !!
Negative side
Positive side
Last edited by C5 Diag; May 26, 2021 at 12:21 PM.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,136
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From: Long Island New York
Thanks for the advice. As per your directive I just checked. Pos to Pos .43 and Neg to Neg .03. Seems to me to fall inside the pass window. Any ideas?
figured it’s a good idea to change out the solenoid anyway. Have had the headers for about 10 years now without any protection for the solenoid/ starter. I did header wrap on the tubes last years to keep the heat off my A6 trans lines and the solenoid and starter but 10 years is an awful long time for that scorching heat on an almost 15 year old solenoid which are prone to heat damage. I’m all ears if you have any suggestions.
figured it’s a good idea to change out the solenoid anyway. Have had the headers for about 10 years now without any protection for the solenoid/ starter. I did header wrap on the tubes last years to keep the heat off my A6 trans lines and the solenoid and starter but 10 years is an awful long time for that scorching heat on an almost 15 year old solenoid which are prone to heat damage. I’m all ears if you have any suggestions.
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Joined: Sep 2013
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From: Cape Coral, Florida
Thanks for the advice. As per your directive I just checked. Pos to Pos .43 and Neg to Neg .03. Seems to me to fall inside the pass window. Any ideas?
figured it’s a good idea to change out the solenoid anyway. Have had the headers for about 10 years now without any protection for the solenoid/ starter. I did header wrap on the tubes last years to keep the heat off my A6 trans lines and the solenoid and starter but 10 years is an awful long time for that scorching heat on an almost 15 year old solenoid which are prone to heat damage. I’m all ears if you have any suggestions.
figured it’s a good idea to change out the solenoid anyway. Have had the headers for about 10 years now without any protection for the solenoid/ starter. I did header wrap on the tubes last years to keep the heat off my A6 trans lines and the solenoid and starter but 10 years is an awful long time for that scorching heat on an almost 15 year old solenoid which are prone to heat damage. I’m all ears if you have any suggestions.
Last edited by C5 Diag; May 26, 2021 at 01:42 PM.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,136
Likes: 212
From: Long Island New York
.5 volts is GM’s number (way high by many)but as you can see my voltage drop is not even .1 !!...i like to see .2 to .3 MAX...I’d say get underneath and clean those terminals...make sure the connections at the battery are clean and the B+ terminal at the alternator is clean and tight !!...if you are not having issues with starting the car changing the solenoid isn’t necessary. Do you see your charging voltage decrease when getting the message ?
two times last week I got the service charging system warning and both times the gauge dropped to 10-11v. It was very quick, by the time I saw the DIC message and quickly glanced at gauge then looked back at DIC and back at gauge it registered 13-14. A matter of a couple seconds, as if something was loose or the solenoid cracked symptoms I’ve read here. Car is running very well, have maybe 100 miles on it since the first episode.
What is the cause of mine being almost .5v as apposed to your number?
Last edited by NYC6; May 26, 2021 at 04:35 PM.
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Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,136
Likes: 212
From: Long Island New York