Low voltage

[Silver97]

My car is giving me a battery charge of about 10.9-11.2 volts and a message came out on the DIC saying aomething about a charging malfunction?? There are no codes, I have an optima battery that is fairly new and the connections are brand new....does this mean I have to buy a new alternator???

Has this happened to anyone?

Should I look for loose connections or anyone have any ideas??

Thanks

 

[c4c5specialist]

HI there,
Definately check your connections at the battery and the alternator.
Also check the connections at the starter and the ground to the block directly above the starter.
Allthebest, c4c5

 

[Silver97]

Thank you for the advise... I will check them today and post any updates

 

[DanHammer]

Hi ... also one thing that a lot of folks tend to overlook is the serpentine belt on the C5. All it takes is for the belt to start slipping, and when it does, you can't tell either, except at this point the alternator works harder than normal and a good indication is when your head lights and dash panels lights starts to flicker now and then and you start getting some weird messages on the DIC.

If it's the alternator that has gone bad ... just a suggestion to also replace your serperntine belt, you can't go wrong on this. Good luck and keep us posted how you make out.

Dan

 

[Silver97]

Hi there, thanks for the advice...I checked the wires to the starter and they were loose, while correcting that problem I actually broke the starter!! Now I have to replace the starter!!! Well it will get replaced within 24 hours...afterthat I will replace the Belt since it was making a little noise everyonce in a while...might as well make the best of it...I will have the alternator checked and see if that fixes it .. I'll keep you posted..

Thanks again for the info

 

[bluecoupe]

... while correcting that problem I actually broke the starter!! Now I have to replace the starter!!! ...

I hate when that happens! :duhWhenever I do a repair I either break something or cut my hand or bump my head. I don't even get too mad anymore. I just accept it as "the cost of doing business".

Look at it this way, the starter you broke would have eventually failed someday. You're just changing it a little earlier than planned.

Frank (bluecoupe)

 

[Silver97]

I guess I can look at it that way

So after cahnging the serpentine belt my mechanic told me I needed a new tensioner/pulley and that fixed the problem with the charging system malfunctioning...who would have thought..

Thank you all for your advice is the best!!