JDawg

Hey folks,
​​​​
2006 Corvette Z51, 3LT, manual transmission, 88,000 miles.
​​​​​About a week a go, I was driving and dropped the hammer to redline through 1st and 2nd gear and I noticed the volt gauge drop to about 11 volts, it went back to normal about 14.3 volts, then the service charging system on the DIC came on. I have read all the threads on this, checked grounds, alternator, battery and starter are fine. Horn works, fuses good, no dimming of lights, usually the first signs of bad alternator. I have turned on all electronics, lights, a/c on high and it doesn't happen, only when I gun it! It starts fine as well. I am just stumped at what else it can be, no codes. Everything charges fine at idle, normal driving, only does this when I gun it.

I hope someone can help, can't enjoy the drive if I am wondering if she is going to die on me.

Thanks in advance,

JDawg

baxsom

Mine would do the same thing. My belt was so worn it would slip on the pulley when the Rpms came up fast

JDawg

Thanks for the reply! My belt is new, but there could be a possibility of grease or something on it. I may go take a wire brush to it and see if that helps. Cheers!!!

Mad*Max

It was the alternator in my car's case - there was no noticeable voltage fluctuation but replacing the alternator corrected the issue.

JDawg

Thanks Mad Max! Mine checked out okay, but I did read where someone had the alternator issue, but it was the brushes or something to that nature that came loose. I think that is what it is going to come down to check next.

Love the profile pic!

88redconvert

Could the tensioner be getting weak and not keeping the belt tight enough?

vetteJPJ

I have the same issue after changing several alternators the warning still comes on every time I start the car. Charging voltage is good at 14.4V

KEZ06

I had this issue and have it again. First time mine would do it it was a wire in the alternator that when I got on it would spread from centrifugal force and contact the stater.

This time it just comes on immediately when I start the car. I think it is the starter connection to the starter wires. Going to scotchbrite and clean the posts to see if that is the answer.

dpigguy

similar to my experience and solution was replacing cable from battery to starter. Picked up increased resistance in cable due to internal corrosion in the cable. Replaced (along with starter) and no issues since.

JDawg

Possibility, but its not even a year old, had the balancer replaced and they replaced the tensioner as well.

JDawg

Thanks for the reply, I am planning on doing that tomorrow. I checked and tightened those the other day, but didn't take them off to clean them.

JDawg

Thanks for taking the time to reply, this is driving me crazy. I have put a lot of sweat, blood and profanity in to this car, to get her running like new. Oh, I forgot, alot of Benjamins too!

FactoryZ51

On my a4, got the same message, turned out to be loose and ultimately broken transmission cable link to the shifter (under the console). Pain to remove the console, but worth the check so you don't get stranded.!

JDawg

I took the starter cables off Sunday and cleaned them, but no dice. They did need to be cleaned though and I ordered a starter just in case, not looking forward to installing it. I think I am going to look into the alternator before replacing the starter though.

JDawg

How did you track that down?

FactoryZ51

i was getting all the same service charging system messages and symptoms. Then the shifter cable bushing gave out. Im guessing that it was loose and on it's way out. Check that first, it seems more daunting than it is, but way easier than changing the starter first. Maybe you dropped the 🔨 a little too hard...thor. Yours is an m6, but I'm guessing the linkage might be similar.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c6-tech-performance/3372584-diy-2005-a4-shifter-cable-repair.html

JDawg

The shifter cable bushing is only on the automatic, right? I have a manual.

mcandrew67

I had that issue and ended up being two fold, the cable on the starter end was black and on the positive end, also the starter solenoid melted.
I replaced the battery cables and the starter and no more issues.

JDawg

I am not very good with electrical stuff, but there are some obvious things I see. The center shaft bushing cracked and the electrical contacts looked corroded. Would appreciate some input on this and some knowledge if I should buy an alternator or have someone rebuild it.

Dano523

Slip rings look like they can still be cleaned up/still useable, Brushes look fine but would contact clean out the housing to make make sure they are not bind in the channels at higher RPM's.
As for the rest, basic cleaning with a little dielectric grease to make sure you have good connections across the board.

And if the coil winding plastic Cage was broken, would not be getting higher voltage even at lower RPM's. Same for bad grounding connection of the alternator to the bracket and motor.


https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...nator-fix.html