Stumbled onto an electrical problem
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: FL
Stumbled onto an electrical problem Hey everyone. (99 c5 ls1)
I was changing out my alternator today and I noticed that when I connect/disconnect the negative wire to my battery it sparks, locks/unlocks doors and made my drivers side headlight go up and down.
I just discovered a nightmare did'nt I?
I was changing out my alternator today and I noticed that when I connect/disconnect the negative wire to my battery it sparks, locks/unlocks doors and made my drivers side headlight go up and down.
I just discovered a nightmare did'nt I?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: FL
Sh*t... its a bad sign that none of the 60+ people that have viewed this responded... itsnt it?
I'm thinkin that means I'm like a leper on the side of the road... I'm so fu**ed you just have to look the other way and keep walking..
I'm thinkin that means I'm like a leper on the side of the road... I'm so fu**ed you just have to look the other way and keep walking..
I think it means you don't have a problem.
If you are drawing electricity from the battery when you hook it up, it will spark.
Do you have the car doors open it the key in the ignition when you are doing this hook-up?
If you are drawing electricity from the battery when you hook it up, it will spark.
Do you have the car doors open it the key in the ignition when you are doing this hook-up?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: FL
Sadly no.. I was changing out my alternator. The trunk opened, the doors locked/unlocked 5 6 times and 1 headlight went up and down afew times. Somethings gotta be wrong.
I noticed only the sparking afew months ago when I put on headers.. now theres this. Ive heard c5s have electrical problems too.
I noticed only the sparking afew months ago when I put on headers.. now theres this. Ive heard c5s have electrical problems too.
if you are making an intermittent connection when you hook up the remaining battery cable, if it's a side post where the cable bolt screws into the battery and you start it by hand and it's tough to get started, you end up making and breaking the electrical connection multiple times before that little bolt starts threading into the battery post. it's like flipping a switch on and off multiple times so i would not be surprised if it throws the body control module into a little bit of a fit. I've had my trunk hatch pop open on the camaro when reconnecting the battery after winter storage, no big deal. but i don't hear any locks repeatedly cycle once i know the battery is securely connected. so my guess is when you're making your second battery connection to complete the electrical circuit you're not getting the cable bolt threading quick enough, it's normal to get a small spark on first contact but if you are repeatedly getting small sparks that you can hear it's because of intermittent connection, try to get the bolt threaded as quick as possible into the battery. once the battery is connected and after about 3 seconds everything should be normal and work, if it does then you don't have any problems. and don't have the key in the ignition or anything turned on prior to connecting the battery, at most only have a door open where the interior light comes on.
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Teching In
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: FL
oh ok so its somewhat normal.. great. I was thinking I had that classic c5 problem where the oem battery dripped and ate through all my wiring. I was gonna pull it today and check. Might still do it but I'm no longer freaking out which is always a plus.
Since I got this car its been one (stupid/cheap) thing after another. She runs like a swiss watch but all the plastic hosing and sh*t around the motor is all disintigrating. Ive replaced most of that so I figured electrical stuff would be next.
I could try hitting all the grounds with some corrosionX too I guess.
But since you guys are all having similar things happen I'll rest easy. Thanks alot fellas
Since I got this car its been one (stupid/cheap) thing after another. She runs like a swiss watch but all the plastic hosing and sh*t around the motor is all disintigrating. Ive replaced most of that so I figured electrical stuff would be next.
I could try hitting all the grounds with some corrosionX too I guess.
But since you guys are all having similar things happen I'll rest easy. Thanks alot fellas