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2000 LS1 charging issues

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Old Dec 10, 2019 | 12:25 PM
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Default 2000 LS1 charging issues

Excitor wire 10volts, all new charging system, still no charge on LS1 fbody

I've read every thread on this issue ,and trouble shoot every possible scenario pertaining to the matter of this.
Charging Issue on 2000 Fbody WS6 LS1.
I purchased it three years ago around 12/17, an unknown issue not really noticed until after.
Always charged at 12.33ish at idle and regular drive time. It would start out at 13ish then drop.
This is what I've done and trouble shot,
1st, I changed the Alternator as everyone does cause Auto Zone said so ..
I went with a 220 high output, still no change,
Then I had alt checked off car, it's fine again, nothing wrong with last one I removed.
I changed my positive wires to 4 gauge to alt to L terminal, new battery, new terminal and good connections,
It has a new excitor wire plug and is getting 10volts to the alt to tell the alt to charge.
I am getting 12.33 Volts at alt ,L terminal, battery still. Nothing changed. I've gone through two batteries,its basically just turning the alternator but not kicking into charge mod.

I then checked my ground cables and jumped from battery ground straight to alternator to eliminate the grounding issue.
Can anyone help me with this dilima???lol

Sincerely, TransAmSam

Last edited by Samuel Turrnage; Dec 10, 2019 at 12:32 PM.
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Old Dec 10, 2019 | 01:00 PM
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did you also check battery to engine? theres a ground wire from battery ground to the passenger side of the motor by the starter. the connection there could be loose or oxidized preventing a solid connection to charge the battery.
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Old Dec 10, 2019 | 02:38 PM
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Originally Posted by fst100
did you also check battery to engine? theres a ground wire from battery ground to the passenger side of the motor by the starter. the connection there could be loose or oxidized preventing a solid connection to charge the battery.
Yes, all connections are tight and definitely no corrosion on any of the fastener points, I also took jumper cables and from the battery ground to the alternator to bypass the original ground just to make sure, Nothing changed.
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Old Dec 10, 2019 | 06:00 PM
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Have you checked the connection from the single little red wire in the 4 pin connector on the ALT to the PCM?
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Old Dec 10, 2019 | 06:05 PM
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It is not charging at all or does the charge drop? When I had an issue you could watch the battery gauge drop when you got on the throttle at full throttle. At one point it was so bad you could be full tilt and by 7-8 seconds the car would pretty much shut off as the voltage dropped so much.

Also - is your belt slipping any?
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Old Dec 10, 2019 | 07:32 PM
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Originally Posted by LETZRIDE
It is not charging at all or does the charge drop? When I had an issue you could watch the battery gauge drop when you got on the throttle at full throttle. At one point it was so bad you could be full tilt and by 7-8 seconds the car would pretty much shut off as the voltage dropped so much.

Also - is your belt slipping any?
Its not charging at all, it acts as if it wants to kick in and charge, the excitor wire is getting 10volts , no charge from any of the terminals or the Alt, I even self excited it, made a strange noise but still no charge.
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Old Dec 10, 2019 | 07:34 PM
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Originally Posted by Samuel Turrnage
Its not charging at all, it acts as if it wants to kick in and charge, the excitor wire is getting 10volts , no charge from any of the terminals or the Alt, I even self excited it, made a strange noise but still no charge.
Belt not slipping, has new belt actually a bit smaller due to the alt drive pully was smaller. I even change the harmonic balancer.
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Old Dec 10, 2019 | 07:36 PM
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Originally Posted by ss.slp.ls1
Have you checked the connection from the single little red wire in the 4 pin connector on the ALT to the PCM?
Yes, all that is getting 10 volts, I thought perhaps the wore or resistor was broke and not sending signal, but that's not the case. All shows that everything is getting signal and power but no charge.
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Old Dec 10, 2019 | 07:40 PM
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Originally Posted by ss.slp.ls1
Have you checked the connection from the single little red wire in the 4 pin connector on the ALT to the PCM?
Yea, all that is getting 10 volts sending signal through the excitor wire to alt.it acts like it wants to charge when I first start the car then slowly drops to 12.33 volts. Basically the alt is just there to spin and not charge. Had alt off the car and checks out fine.
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Old Dec 11, 2019 | 06:51 AM
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Originally Posted by Samuel Turrnage
It has a new excitor wire plug and is getting 10volts to the alt to tell the alt to charge.
This is not right and may be your problem. NOTHING on the car runs at 10V. I recall that this wire should be battery voltage (12-14V) but you should check.

Some sensor and other wires are down to 5V from the PCM, but exciter circuits are primitive things and should be old-school 12V. If you have a weak exciter wire, your alternator is not going to find it very "exciting."
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Old Dec 11, 2019 | 07:35 AM
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Originally Posted by wssix99
This is not right and may be your problem. NOTHING on the car runs at 10V. I recall that this wire should be battery voltage (12-14V) but you should check.

Some sensor and other wires are down to 5V from the PCM, but exciter circuits are primitive things and should be old-school 12V. If you have a weak exciter wire, your alternator is not going to find it very "exciting."
i agree that it won't excite if no voltage is there to excite it. Lol .. but everything I've researched claim that it has to excite at 10volts not 12 because it will eventually burn the Alt up at 12volts, that what the inline 470 ohm resistor does, but on that model the signal is 10 volts from the PCM and it's getting that fine, I put a new plug on and did a 12 volt self excited it and it made a strange sound at the Alt, that didn't sound normal at all, freaked me out , I didn't try to check to see if it was charging cause of the weird noises. So, the excitor is exciting but the alt isn't responding. Could it be the internal regulator bad, if so wouldn't the Alt shop detect that when he had it bench tested??? I'm losing my mind on this!
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Old Dec 11, 2019 | 09:34 PM
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Correct. I checked the Factory Service Manual and the exciter is supposed to be 10V.

You may check the specs on your H.O. Alternator and see what it's expecting. GM has been changing what the alternator needs for excitement: https://gearsmagazine.com/magazine/h...rging-systems/

If you are putting out 10V and the alternator needs 10V, I'd search for broken connections and corroded wires as mentioned above. That's a really common issue for our members regarding charging problems.
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Old Dec 15, 2019 | 08:06 AM
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Welp Guys, Guess what, it was a small simple overlooked issue by not just me but a few others, very obvious once realized. It always helps to make sure when you install your alternator to always double check that you main positive lug on back of the alternator is securely tightened and when you put the cable lug on, be sure you tighten with a lock washer and the cable is snug and not loose once tightened on the lug. Something so simple can definitely make an idiot out of a person. Thanks to all that chimed in and helped, I'm sure you all were scratching your heads as well wondering why everything is in order and no charge. Simply put, TIGHTEN ALL CONNECTIONS the Bam!!!, Trans Am Sam is back on the road!! Thanks Again
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