Charging System At 7 Volts

[jaysvt]

im new here first of all and this is my first post.

 

i have a 2008 chevy 1500 with the 5.3 fuel managment motor. The charging system gauge keeps going to 7 volts while driving and the ABS lights keeps poping on. i checked the battery output and it good. the dealer says the new trucks have a system that stops the alternator from charging to save gas and dont worry about it. is this true? i feel the alternator or battery is going bad.

 

please let me know your thoughts

 

jay

[Draenor]

It is true, there is a design to drop the charging system down to save fuel.

Id do a search here, I thing a few guys were having problems with the battery's.

 

 

 

 

BTW...Welcome aboard.

[Zembonez]

I'd get another opinion. Something is wrong in the system. Voltage should NOT ever be that low on a gauge.

[superjim]

I agree with the crazy clown.

 

Something is wrong. The voltage is too low.

[jaysvt]

thats what i have been saying, why would the ABS light come on a brand new truck. the dealer told me that when the tow/hual is on the charging system will stay on and charge. when the alternator is running its charging at 14.2, so i think thats good right.

 

im worried it wont charge at all

[bill190]

Read what it says in your owner's manual about the ABS light coming on and about the voltage gauge.

 

Then go back to the dealer with your owner's manual and say "Look what it says here!"

 

At a minimum the ABS light should not be coming on. Everything I have ever read about ABS systems says that this light comes on when there is a problem with the ABS system. And this means the ABS system will not function as it should. And something needs to be fixed!

 

Also I just read that some GM dealers are losing their franchise. If this is the case with your dealer, might want to ask what to do.

 

Story...

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/16/business...ml?_r=1&hpw

[mr_bots]

That seems way too low. Mine has never dropped below about 12. Did they say anything about the ABS light?

[jaysvt]

i just read that the ABS light comes on telling you it stopped when the battery is low to save power for other functions. I hope i didnt buy a lemon, with all this GM closing talk i might not have a warranty in a few weeks.

[superjim]

i just read that the ABS light comes on telling you it stopped when the battery is low to save power for other functions. I hope i didnt buy a lemon, with all this GM closing talk i might not have a warranty in a few weeks.

 

 

Don't worry about GM...they will still be here when we are dead and gone.

 

Take your truck to a different dealer.

It needs to be fixed right.

The first one is blowing smoke about 7 volts being normal.