Thread: Charge System Failure problems :(

I got the "Charge System Failure" message on my DIC last night. Get in the car to go to work this morning and it won't start. I go inside & grab some jumper cables and the alarm goes off. Well I managed to get the car jump started & I noticed the Voltage drops from 14 to as low as 11 when the car comes to a stop. So I had the Battery & Alternator checked out at AutoZone and they both checked out fine. I took the car home. Decided to try and remote start it just to see if it was already dead. It wouldn't start. I gave up and went inside and the alarm went off again. Wth?!

Maybe clean your battery terminals and check the grounds around the battery.

It's really weird that this would happen. My battery is relatively new and the only thing ice touch in the car recently is the taillights.

I cleaned the terminals real good. I'll check the grounds now.

ignition switch related? electrical is not my strong point.

Originally Posted by bobc455

I'm super suspicious of the alternator. I had the exact same set of symptoms about a month ago (except for the AutoZone check), and a new alternator fixed everything.

Because I know about Murphy's Law I won't rule out a bad alternator.

Unfortunately it probably is ignition switch related.

Don't quote me on this, but I have heard of alternators testing good even though they are bad.

Battery & Alternator were tested on the car.

^^^I'll do that

Originally Posted by Below Average Joe

Don't quote me on this, but I have heard of alternators testing good even though they are bad.

Originally Posted by luckyg817

Take the alternator off and have them run it on the machine. Have them test the battery with a load tester too just to rule out the battery.

These. And if it tests fine the first time, ask them to test it a few more times. I have had alternators pass the bench test the first time or 2, but on the 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc time if finally fails.

Oreillys failed spectacularly to even get the battery tested. When I can I'll go elsewhere & test it again or just splurge & get a reman-Alternator. Can't afford a brand new one.

I'm going the RockAuto route, which sucks cuz that means I'll be without a car for several days.

Ordered through RockAuto and there was a Typo in my address when I placed the order. I called them to make an address change. All they could do was cancel the order & haver place a new order. I'm currently awaiting an order cancellation email. Oh boy what a day I've had.