2013 Silverado Service battery charging system message

[Gnaps23]

How's it going fellas,

 

I recently bought a 2013 Chevy Silverado. Everything was great until I had some subs installed. Thought they were the problem behind the truck losing voltage and not wanting to start so I completely disconnected them for the day. Problem kept happening. My voltage gauge would read 14.5 then drop to 12.5 from time to time. I replaced the battery and alternator and I'm still having the problem. Any suggestions?

[Coby7]

Check for corrosion on the in-line fusible link near the positive post connection.

[Gnaps23]

Check for corrosion on the in-line fusible link near the positive post connection.

Barely any on there but I still got what was, off. Didn't seem to help. My voltage gauge has been sitting at 12v since last night so my guess now is that the alternator I got was bad. Taking it to advance to re test and get a replacement. Hopefully that is the problem. If it's not i don't know what is going on.

[dsr611]

My voltage gauge would read 14.5 then drop to 12.5 from time to time. I replaced the battery and alternator and I'm still having the problem. Any suggestions?

 

Voltage fluctuation is normal in these trucks...from the owner's manual...

When the engine is running, this gauge shows the condition of the charging system. The gauge can transition from a higher to lower or a lower to higher reading. This is normal. If the vehicle is operating outside the normal operating range, the charging system light comes on. See Charging System Light on page 5‑21 for more information. The voltmeter gauge may also read lower when in fuel economy mode.This is normal.

 

You said that you disconnected the subs and the problem was still there. Did you disconnect just the subs or the amp and subs? If you left the amp powered up, I'd be willing to bet that the amp is staying on (even when the truck is off).

[Dnt]

The last re-manufactured / replacement alternator that I bought I made them bench test it "BEFORE" I put it on the car to verify that it was good. The guy got pretty huffy but I have been burned before like a lot of others and wasted time installing and removing when they can test it in a bout 2 minutes.

[Gnaps23]

Fellas,

 

Appreciate the suggestions! Turns out it was in fact a bad alternator. No worries though they gave me a new one and I made them bench test that before I put it in. Works fine now and all of the dash notifications went away.

Now I just need to see if by put the subs and all back in line if it will screw up again.

Thanks!

[Gnaps23]

 

Voltage fluctuation is normal in these trucks...from the owner's manual...

 

You said that you disconnected the subs and the problem was still there. Did you disconnect just the subs or the amp and subs? If you left the amp powered up, I'd be willing to bet that the amp is staying on (even when the truck is off).

Yeah started digging around in the manual and found the fluctuation problem to be normal.

 

I'm guessing it was a coincidence that the alternator happened to go bad the day I got the subs put in. As for your question. Yeah I disconnect everything. Power coming from the battery, remote wire to HU and the rca cables that were spliced into one of stock harnesses. So that cancels everything with the aftermarket stereo system out. Like I said in my previous comment. It ended up being a faulty alternator that I bought. I replaced it and now everything seems to be good with my charging system. I'm putting the subs back in line tomorrow to see if they will make the problem appear again. Only time will tell now. Thanks!!

[Gnaps23]

Alright got the subs hooked back up. Truck seems to be operating normal but my check engine light came back on. It didn't come on until I hit the unlock button on my key fob. I'm guessing the sensors for certain voltage around the truck sensed the load and have a warning