Charging system

Tiny
CRAIGT
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 CHEVROLET VENTURE
  • 6 CYL
  • 178,000 MILES
I have replaced the alternator with a brand new one, have replaced the battery with a new one. The alternator will work sometimes, & then it will not work (i.E: the battery light comes on & battery runs down to nothing). What is my next step in finding what is wrong with this van. It has 188k miles on it, but it runs good. Is there anything in the ecm or pcm that controls the alternator that I might need to replace that?
Saturday, January 21st, 2012 AT 4:10 AM

8 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Do you have a multimeter to do some testing when its not charging?
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Saturday, January 21st, 2012 AT 4:13 AM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
The computer regulates the alternator output like a built-in regulator
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Saturday, January 21st, 2012 AT 4:17 AM
Tiny
CRAIGT
  • MEMBER
  • 17 POSTS
Yes I do have a multimeter. I would need to know where & what & how to check it though
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Saturday, January 21st, 2012 AT 3:50 PM
Tiny
CRAIGT
  • MEMBER
  • 17 POSTS
Can the computer be reprogrammed or does it have to be replaced?
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Saturday, January 21st, 2012 AT 3:59 PM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Bring it in and have it checked
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Saturday, January 21st, 2012 AT 9:31 PM
Tiny
CRAIGT
  • MEMBER
  • 17 POSTS
I have replaced the computer, replaced the terminal end on 1 of the 2wire orange leads going into the fuse box. I do have tcs on this van, and I believe these wires are going to the security system in the van, it will start but will not charge. I can jump it off and sometimes keep it running by increasing the rpm's, if I let it try to idle it goes dead and will not start again without jumping off. I can hook a good battery to it with jumper cables & it will run fine with no battery light on. I do not want to leave it that way as I need that battery for another car I use everyday.
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Monday, January 30th, 2012 AT 2:05 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
With a fully charged good battery in it at idle what does the voltage read at the battery cables at the battery?
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Monday, January 30th, 2012 AT 2:32 PM
Tiny
KILLIANPAM
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Hi, please let me know if found the problem, I have a 97 venture, same mileage as yours. We replaced the alternator, the battery, and we can drive for about 5 to 10 minutes and the battery light comes on. It makes me crazy! It looks like a bad connection somewhere, but where? Please help if you have any advise, thanks.
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Monday, July 16th, 2012 AT 6:11 AM

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