Battery Accident ?

[jtward]

After all the times I've hooked up the trickle charger, I started the 2003 Corvette this afternoon and ran it for a few minutes before I realized I hadn't disconnected the battery charger. I shut off the engine and disconnected the charger. Now before today when I started the engine, the 'voltmeter' it always read 14.1 or 14.2 volts and it never dropped below 14 volts running, even at stop lights it always read 14 volts, even with the headlights on.

Now after I start the car the voltmeter slowly climbs from 12 volts and creeps up to 13 and cannot charge above 13 volts and keeps dropping as you drive along. So my question is do you think I fried the regulator or the alternator ? I guess you live and learn ? Somehow I have this feeling this is going to be expensive !

[c4c5specialist]

Hi there,

Disconnect your battery for 5 mins and then reconnect and see how everything acts.

Allthebest, c4c5

[jtward]

Originally Posted by c4c5specialist

Hi there,

Disconnect your battery for 5 mins and then reconnect and see how everything acts.

Allthebest, c4c5

Thanks for the quick answer Paul. I just disconnected the battery negative cable, and I'll go out around 8PM and reconnect it. What exactly does it do to disconnect the cable from the battery? I was sure the Alternator was shot after having the engine run for four minutes with the "BatteryMinder" still hooked up. In all the years I have been attaching the trickle or float charger to the battery, I've never started the car with the charger hooked up. It's a 1 amp float charger and usually see that the hood is a little open at the windshield lets me know the charger is running, but this time I overlooked it.

I'm just worried about frying the voltage regulator inside the alternator. It's a $650.00 part !

[jtward]

I just cleaned and reconnected both the battery cables, negative first and positive last, cleaned both cable ends and use a little dielectric grease on the mating surfaces, hooked up them in the reverse order and oddly there came a pumping or knock sound coming from the rear of the car but stopped after 30 seconds ? What the heck is that ? Do I have to re-set all of my controls ?

[c4c5specialist]

HI there,

Dunno on the noise.

You will have to reset all your memory and radio settings.

Allthebest, c4c5

[jtward]

Originally Posted by c4c5specialist

HI there,

Dunno on the noise.

You will have to reset all your memory and radio settings.

Allthebest, c4c5

HI there,

The alternator in my 2003 LS1 now, after disconnecting the battery voltage with the key turned one time, shows the battery is at 13.2 volts, once started it reads the alternator output and it reads 14.1, but after it warms up is goes down to 13.8/7/9 Back and forth. I contacted the company who builds the charger and they said it wouldn't hurt the battery or internal regulator but personally I don't trust it. I'm going to have some other work done at a Corvette Only shop and I'll asked to check it out. The battery is a Optima Red Top and it's never given me a moment of trouble, but it's warranty is for 3 years and it's been in my Corvette for six years now ? But it too, reads perfect when I put a tester on it. It's life, things wear out plain and simple. Thank you !

[markw8]

Your numbers sound normal. The alternator output will go up and down depending on demand.

Mark

[froggy47]

I agree, normal volt reading, the dic volts are often not calibrated to the actual volts & you need a tech 2 to do it.

I can't imagine you hurt anything by leaving the trickle charger on.

:)