Battery Light Indicator Flashing u/Acceleration - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

JThomas · 09-08-2011

Alternator 2years old, battery three weeks old, serpentine belt has approximately 10-15k miles.

Driving the car around town most of the day today. After waiting in car line, for approximately twenty minutes to pick up my son, I notice as I start driving that the battery indicator begins to flash when accelerating through the gears. Once I'm in gear and driving/not accelerating the light goes off. It just seems to flash when accelerating.

Anyone ever had this before? The battery was replaced three weeks ago at the dealership.

tomtom72 · 09-09-2011

Hummmm, you did check the cables after the tech got finished? It's either that or the voltage or is taking a "jolt" to wake it up?

Tom

XfireZ51 · 09-09-2011

Joe,

Sounds like belt is slipping on acceleration. May want to check tensioner and adjust/tighten if necessary.

JThomas · 09-09-2011

Sorry for the delay. Took the car out this morning, and still had the same issue. Read the remarks here and did the following:

Checked connections on the battery, although I was able to "snug" them up, did not correct the issue. Checked the tensioner. It was very tight, and honestly it is new, installed by Marc Haibeck in May of this year. Checked belt for oil or any other residue, and found nothing. Also checked battery hold down and it was secure.

Took the car back out and the problem persists. Also noticed when the battery indicator goes on the volt meter drops. Readings went from 14.3 to 13.8. At times when sitting at a light the volt meter moves as erratic as a tachometer when giving a car more gas, up/down etc.

The car is now at my local chevrolet dealer, two miles from the house, who also sevice my Z06 and other cars. They have been my "local" source of repair for the ZR-1 since I bought it three years ago.

They think, it could be a bad battery, that they installed three weeks ago. I will keep you posted.

Joe

GOLDCYLON · 09-10-2011

Could be an internal short in the battery. All C4s are battery whores and demand 12.69 Volts all the time or wierd electric gremlins happen all the time. My money is on the alternator. Perhaps the internal regualtor. Any bearing noise or anything heard while running? The reving is what is leading me to this conclusion as an undervoltage. However......

This new battery you have is it a topmount/sidemount combo? If so I have another thought if the Cruise Control Bracket was not modded

GC

JThomas · 09-10-2011

No bearing noise from the alternator, been down that road before, that's why it was replaced two years ago. The battery is a Side mount AC Delco battery installed by the dealer, just three weeks ago. They weren't able to get to the car yesterday, so hopefully I will either have it back Monday or at minimum know what the problem is. Thanks for the feedback.

XfireZ51 · 09-10-2011

Joe,

Maybe bad rectifier in alternator?

JThomas · 09-12-2011

Dealer tells me today the alternator is the problem. The one installed two years ago, by a Chevrolet Dealership in Fort Wayne, Indiana is a 120 amp alternator. My Dealer tells me the car requires a 124 amp alternator. Of course GM no longer makes the part but my dealer is able to obtain the correct part through Napa, but it will take 3-5 days.

Part availability and time is of no concern, what frustrates me is the fact I have little to no recourse with the dealer in Indiana, because I have driven the car for two years and some 7,000 plus miles before this alternator became an issue. (Alternator replaced in Indiana while on a caravan to BG, when original alternator failed at 102,188 miles)

ZR-1 ownership, you just gotta love it!

GOLDCYLON · 09-12-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by GOLDCYLON

My money is on the alternator. Perhaps the internal regualtor. Any bearing noise or anything heard while running? The reving is what is leading me to this conclusion as an undervoltage.GC

XfireZ51 · 09-12-2011

Joe,

Install an overdrive pulley! HAHAHA.

09-08-2011	#1
JThomas Join Date: May 2008 Location: Okemos, MI. Posts: 1,191	Battery Light Indicator Flashing u/Acceleration Alternator 2years old, battery three weeks old, serpentine belt has approximately 10-15k miles. Driving the car around town most of the day today. After waiting in car line, for approximately twenty minutes to pick up my son, I notice as I start driving that the battery indicator begins to flash when accelerating through the gears. Once I'm in gear and driving/not accelerating the light goes off. It just seems to flash when accelerating. Anyone ever had this before? The battery was replaced three weeks ago at the dealership. __________________ Joe Thomas Corvette Club of Michigan NCRS-Michigan Chapter Member NCM Master Ambassador NCM Lifetime Member Former NCM Board Member 1991 ZR-1 Melon Copper Metallic/Black 1992 ZR-1 Bright Red/Black (Sold) 1995 ZR-1 Bright Aqua/Gray (Sold) 2012 ZR1 Super Sonic Blue / Dark Titanium

09-09-2011	#2
tomtom72 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Jacksonville, FL USA Posts: 4,645	Re: Battery Light Indicator Flashing u/Acceleration Hummmm, you did check the cables after the tech got finished? It's either that or the voltage or is taking a "jolt" to wake it up? Tom __________________ 1990 ZR-1, Black/grey, #2233, stock. ZR-1 Net Reg Founding Member #316 & NCM member

09-09-2011	#3
XfireZ51 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chicagoland, IL Posts: 9,708	Re: Battery Light Indicator Flashing u/Acceleration Joe, Sounds like belt is slipping on acceleration. May want to check tensioner and adjust/tighten if necessary.

09-09-2011	#4
JThomas Join Date: May 2008 Location: Okemos, MI. Posts: 1,191	Re: Battery Light Indicator Flashing u/Acceleration Sorry for the delay. Took the car out this morning, and still had the same issue. Read the remarks here and did the following: Checked connections on the battery, although I was able to "snug" them up, did not correct the issue. Checked the tensioner. It was very tight, and honestly it is new, installed by Marc Haibeck in May of this year. Checked belt for oil or any other residue, and found nothing. Also checked battery hold down and it was secure. Took the car back out and the problem persists. Also noticed when the battery indicator goes on the volt meter drops. Readings went from 14.3 to 13.8. At times when sitting at a light the volt meter moves as erratic as a tachometer when giving a car more gas, up/down etc. The car is now at my local chevrolet dealer, two miles from the house, who also sevice my Z06 and other cars. They have been my "local" source of repair for the ZR-1 since I bought it three years ago. They think, it could be a bad battery, that they installed three weeks ago. I will keep you posted. Joe __________________ Joe Thomas Corvette Club of Michigan NCRS-Michigan Chapter Member NCM Master Ambassador NCM Lifetime Member Former NCM Board Member 1991 ZR-1 Melon Copper Metallic/Black 1992 ZR-1 Bright Red/Black (Sold) 1995 ZR-1 Bright Aqua/Gray (Sold) 2012 ZR1 Super Sonic Blue / Dark Titanium

09-10-2011	#5
GOLDCYLON Join Date: May 2007 Location: Peoria, AZ Posts: 9,155	Re: Battery Light Indicator Flashing u/Acceleration Could be an internal short in the battery. All C4s are battery whores and demand 12.69 Volts all the time or wierd electric gremlins happen all the time. My money is on the alternator. Perhaps the internal regualtor. Any bearing noise or anything heard while running? The reving is what is leading me to this conclusion as an undervoltage. However...... This new battery you have is it a topmount/sidemount combo? If so I have another thought if the Cruise Control Bracket was not modded GC __________________ GOLDCYLON - 91 ZR-1 #2014 GOLDCYLON - 90 ZR-1 #2794, 4L60e (Formerly Schrade's) GOLDCYLON - 11 CTS-V Arizona State Director 91 WHITE/BLACK #2014. 380 P&P&PCed,Ported Heads, Jeal Long tubes, Corsa Exhaust/FIKSE FM-5s /LED TLs, LED Headlights, Front Wilwood 6 piston narrowlite calipers and rear Wilwood caliper street shop mod,CNCed Coolant Pipes,TPI Cvr,Filter cover,Stainless Bolts, DRM/DOM PROM /ZFDOC mod build #102,DRLs,BMAD with stainless Debris Screen,Coplan Air Blaster, Pioneer APP Radio 4,Brey-Krause HB,Sub Bar,Fire extinguisher seat mount,DRM Coilovers,LEDs everywhere,Compass mirror (orange),V1 DIC hidden display, Homelink sun visor, Carbon Fiber top x3 and APSIS Carbon Fiber interior, APSIS CF Steering Wheel/NAPA Leather, Banski trailing arms, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension) ZFDoc drive shaft safety loop, raptor shift light (orange),AO engineering louver front plate, Console seat cushion, 96CE seats with black custom Sheepskins, ss billet catch can,Viper remote entry/alarm,Cragar Rear Louvers,LED side louver lights, Dewitts Radiator with SPAL fans and a Woods 160 T-Stat 90 RED/BLACK #2794. 4L60e Automatic Stage V by RPM Transmission, TCI Dedicated TCM, OBX Stainless Headers, Corsa Exhaust, SAN Secondaries and Haibeck PROM, Exotic Muscle Coil overs, LED Interior Lights, LED Tail Lights, LED Headlights, 94 Sport seats with black custom Sheepskins , Cragar rear louvers, GS Front calipers, Banski Trailing arms, APSIS Carbon Fiber steering wheel, Front and Rear Baer Eradispeeds, DRLs, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension), Dewitt's Raditor with Dual SPAL fans and a Haibeck 170 T-Stat 11 RED/GREY CTS-V Last edited by GOLDCYLON; 09-10-2011 at 12:22 AM.

09-12-2011	#8
JThomas Join Date: May 2008 Location: Okemos, MI. Posts: 1,191	Re: Battery Light Indicator Flashing u/Acceleration Dealer tells me today the alternator is the problem. The one installed two years ago, by a Chevrolet Dealership in Fort Wayne, Indiana is a 120 amp alternator. My Dealer tells me the car requires a 124 amp alternator. Of course GM no longer makes the part but my dealer is able to obtain the correct part through Napa, but it will take 3-5 days. Part availability and time is of no concern, what frustrates me is the fact I have little to no recourse with the dealer in Indiana, because I have driven the car for two years and some 7,000 plus miles before this alternator became an issue. (Alternator replaced in Indiana while on a caravan to BG, when original alternator failed at 102,188 miles) ZR-1 ownership, you just gotta love it! __________________ Joe Thomas Corvette Club of Michigan NCRS-Michigan Chapter Member NCM Master Ambassador NCM Lifetime Member Former NCM Board Member 1991 ZR-1 Melon Copper Metallic/Black 1992 ZR-1 Bright Red/Black (Sold) 1995 ZR-1 Bright Aqua/Gray (Sold) 2012 ZR1 Super Sonic Blue / Dark Titanium