Battery Issues? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Valkyrie14 · 04-14-2021, 10:44 AM

Original battery as far as I can tell. When car is running it shows 15 V. I have two audio amps, a dual fuel pump and a SC Intercooler all running to the battery in addition to all of its stock use.

The passenger taillight was out yesterday, so I started to troubleshoot today and the light worked fine on first check. I am also getting the signal that the AC won’t work because it is too hot, the oil and coolant temp gauges go off line. Next time I start up they are fine. The ambient lights will sometimes just shut off and then come back on again. Lately on cold start I have to turn her over twice to get a start.

The consistent factor in all of those systems is the battery. So is it that simple?

Axe55 · 04-14-2021, 10:52 AM

What's the battery voltage when you test it when it's not running? Could be battery or alternator, although the 14V while running indicates alternator is ok.

Could be ECM maybe? I had mine replaced under warranty a few years back and it was doing weird things before that, the solenoid for the gas tank vent stopped working and a few other random weird things. I remember that one specifically because it made filling the gas tank really annoying.

Valkyrie14 · 04-14-2021, 11:55 AM

I can test it tonight. My warranty is probably gone, or voided with all of my mods.

Hope it’s not ECM. But that would also make sense.

Rainbow1616 · 04-14-2021, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valkyrie14

Original battery as far as I can tell. When car is running it shows 15 V. I have two audio amps, a dual fuel pump and a SC Intercooler all running to the battery in addition to all of its stock use.

The passenger taillight was out yesterday, so I started to troubleshoot today and the light worked fine on first check. I am also getting the signal that the AC won’t work because it is too hot, the oil and coolant temp gauges go off line. Next time I start up they are fine. The ambient lights will sometimes just shut off and then come back on again. Lately on cold start I have to turn her over twice to get a start.

The consistent factor in all of those systems is the battery. So is it that simple?

Ideally the voltage should be 13.8. Check it again with a good meter. 15v seems too high.

MattMDR · 04-14-2021, 04:32 PM

15v is not high if the battery is discharged or if there is a problem with the battery. A battery with a good charge, but not fully charged will show 14.8 when running.

Valkyrie14 · 04-14-2021, 04:44 PM

The dash digital gauge actually said 15.2V, for what that is worth.

A battery that is 7 years old seems like a reasonable culprit. If it were a short somewhere the battery would be dead, wouldn’t it?

The ECM failing is a new idea for me, not sure what that looks like when it happens.

jruiz11434@aol.com · 04-14-2021, 07:40 PM

I have the same issue on my 2011 2SS vert. I found that there was a draw from the On-star system. It stays on even after shutting down the car. Became quite a hassle. I would get to work, park and start to go home and the battery was dead. I believe there is a post about this as well. Very annoying issue. I eventually removed the on-star fuse that also made the bluetooth useless. I still keep a trickle charger on it though.

Valkyrie14 · 04-14-2021, 07:47 PM

After my drive home I put the altimeter on it and it read 15.8. I suppose it is fully charged after the drive. I will do it again in the morning and see where I am.

I also am tired of the AC is off because it is too hot message (it snowed this morning, so I seriously doubt that shit). I unplugged the ECM and plugged it back in and that cleared it. That is an old truck I saw on another thread. Not sure if that points to my ECM for all of it or if that is an unrelated issue.

Axe55 · 04-15-2021, 06:46 AM

Your battery read 15.8V when the car wasn't running? That doesn't sound right...

hudson773 · 04-15-2021, 08:39 AM

the voltage regulator should keep the charging voltage at 13.8 v ideally no matter how low the battery is. it will increase the amperage to charge the battery, NOT the voltage. you need to check with a GOOD meter, not a harbor freight look alike to see exactly what voltage you are charging at. above 14 shows a problem, not normal.

gtstorey · 04-15-2021, 09:06 AM

Mine sees 15.5 volts regularly for short periods with the car running, at least where I'm monitoring ECU voltage. The computer changes the voltage based upon load. The battery reading 15.8 without the car running is a problem though.

Valkyrie14 · 04-15-2021, 09:33 AM

So what would it mean if it is at 15.8 on a good meter? Would replacing my battery fix it, or is something else happening?

I could go get a battery today, but if that isn’t the issue then...

gtstorey · 04-15-2021, 09:50 AM

I'm not sure how a battery can even reach that voltage. At least on old school batteries, it was 2.2 volt per cell at full charge X 6 cells = 13.2 volts.

I would GUESS the battery is bad, but it might be the charging system that killed it.

Axe55 · 04-15-2021, 09:52 AM

With the car off, your battery should not read 15.8V.

Could be an alternator or voltage regulator that caused the problem like gt said. But it might be hard to diagnose that if your battery is reading 15.8V with the car off... Only way I've ever heard to troubleshoot those are with a multimeter and measuring voltages. If you're not starting with the right voltage from the battery, I don't know how they would behave. I've never had a battery read 15.8V before...

04-14-2021, 10:44 AM	#1
Valkyrie14 Valkyrie14 Drives: Chevrolet Camaro SS Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: Eau Claire, Wisconsin Posts: 962	Battery Issues? Original battery as far as I can tell. When car is running it shows 15 V. I have two audio amps, a dual fuel pump and a SC Intercooler all running to the battery in addition to all of its stock use. The passenger taillight was out yesterday, so I started to troubleshoot today and the light worked fine on first check. I am also getting the signal that the AC won’t work because it is too hot, the oil and coolant temp gauges go off line. Next time I start up they are fine. The ambient lights will sometimes just shut off and then come back on again. Lately on cold start I have to turn her over twice to get a start. The consistent factor in all of those systems is the battery. So is it that simple? __________________ 2014 SS LS3/LSA Supercharger, 10% Super Damper, 2.55 upper, AGP Dual Pump, ID 1050 injectors, Pegasus solid rear cradle bushings, LT Headers, Roto-Fab CAI, Elite E2 catch can, E85 corn fed, 160 Thermostat, Monster Twin Disk, MGW Short Throw shifter, Tick Clutch Master Cylinder, HP Tuners, JL Audio system.

04-14-2021, 10:52 AM	#2
Axe55 Drives: 2012 Camaro SS Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Toronto Posts: 159	What's the battery voltage when you test it when it's not running? Could be battery or alternator, although the 14V while running indicates alternator is ok. Could be ECM maybe? I had mine replaced under warranty a few years back and it was doing weird things before that, the solenoid for the gas tank vent stopped working and a few other random weird things. I remember that one specifically because it made filling the gas tank really annoying. __________________ 2012 Camaro SS LS3, JRE Scoop, CAI intake, Whipple Supercharger, Fast 85lb injectors, ZL1 pump, McLeod RXT clutch, MGW shifter, Stainless Power 1 7/8 headers w/HFC, Ridetech coilovers, BMR sway bars, trailing arms, toe rods, cradle bushing inserts, 2020 Speed Tuned.

04-14-2021, 11:55 AM	#3
Valkyrie14 Valkyrie14 Drives: Chevrolet Camaro SS Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: Eau Claire, Wisconsin Posts: 962	I can test it tonight. My warranty is probably gone, or voided with all of my mods. Hope it’s not ECM. But that would also make sense. __________________ 2014 SS LS3/LSA Supercharger, 10% Super Damper, 2.55 upper, AGP Dual Pump, ID 1050 injectors, Pegasus solid rear cradle bushings, LT Headers, Roto-Fab CAI, Elite E2 catch can, E85 corn fed, 160 Thermostat, Monster Twin Disk, MGW Short Throw shifter, Tick Clutch Master Cylinder, HP Tuners, JL Audio system.

04-14-2021, 04:44 PM	#6
Valkyrie14 Valkyrie14 Drives: Chevrolet Camaro SS Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: Eau Claire, Wisconsin Posts: 962	The dash digital gauge actually said 15.2V, for what that is worth. A battery that is 7 years old seems like a reasonable culprit. If it were a short somewhere the battery would be dead, wouldn’t it? The ECM failing is a new idea for me, not sure what that looks like when it happens. __________________ 2014 SS LS3/LSA Supercharger, 10% Super Damper, 2.55 upper, AGP Dual Pump, ID 1050 injectors, Pegasus solid rear cradle bushings, LT Headers, Roto-Fab CAI, Elite E2 catch can, E85 corn fed, 160 Thermostat, Monster Twin Disk, MGW Short Throw shifter, Tick Clutch Master Cylinder, HP Tuners, JL Audio system.

04-14-2021, 07:47 PM	#8
Valkyrie14 Valkyrie14 Drives: Chevrolet Camaro SS Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: Eau Claire, Wisconsin Posts: 962	After my drive home I put the altimeter on it and it read 15.8. I suppose it is fully charged after the drive. I will do it again in the morning and see where I am. I also am tired of the AC is off because it is too hot message (it snowed this morning, so I seriously doubt that shit). I unplugged the ECM and plugged it back in and that cleared it. That is an old truck I saw on another thread. Not sure if that points to my ECM for all of it or if that is an unrelated issue. __________________ 2014 SS LS3/LSA Supercharger, 10% Super Damper, 2.55 upper, AGP Dual Pump, ID 1050 injectors, Pegasus solid rear cradle bushings, LT Headers, Roto-Fab CAI, Elite E2 catch can, E85 corn fed, 160 Thermostat, Monster Twin Disk, MGW Short Throw shifter, Tick Clutch Master Cylinder, HP Tuners, JL Audio system.

04-14-2021, 04:32 PM	#5
MattMDR Drives: 2014 2LS RRM Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Huntingdon Valley, PA Posts: 72	15v is not high if the battery is discharged or if there is a problem with the battery. A battery with a good charge, but not fully charged will show 14.8 when running.

04-14-2021, 07:40 PM	#7
jruiz11434@aol.com Drives: 2011 Chevy Camaro 2SS/RS Vert Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Orange County, NY Posts: 5 View My Garage	I have the same issue on my 2011 2SS vert. I found that there was a draw from the On-star system. It stays on even after shutting down the car. Became quite a hassle. I would get to work, park and start to go home and the battery was dead. I believe there is a post about this as well. Very annoying issue. I eventually removed the on-star fuse that also made the bluetooth useless. I still keep a trickle charger on it though.

04-15-2021, 06:46 AM	#9
Axe55 Drives: 2012 Camaro SS Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Toronto Posts: 159	Your battery read 15.8V when the car wasn't running? That doesn't sound right... __________________ 2012 Camaro SS LS3, JRE Scoop, CAI intake, Whipple Supercharger, Fast 85lb injectors, ZL1 pump, McLeod RXT clutch, MGW shifter, Stainless Power 1 7/8 headers w/HFC, Ridetech coilovers, BMR sway bars, trailing arms, toe rods, cradle bushing inserts, 2020 Speed Tuned.

04-15-2021, 08:39 AM	#10
hudson773 Account Suspended Drives: 2014 camaro SS Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: nj Posts: 268	the voltage regulator should keep the charging voltage at 13.8 v ideally no matter how low the battery is. it will increase the amperage to charge the battery, NOT the voltage. you need to check with a GOOD meter, not a harbor freight look alike to see exactly what voltage you are charging at. above 14 shows a problem, not normal.

04-15-2021, 09:06 AM	#11
gtstorey Drives: 2010 Camaro SS2,L99, LSA SC Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 2,438	Mine sees 15.5 volts regularly for short periods with the car running, at least where I'm monitoring ECU voltage. The computer changes the voltage based upon load. The battery reading 15.8 without the car running is a problem though.

04-15-2021, 09:33 AM	#12
Valkyrie14 Valkyrie14 Drives: Chevrolet Camaro SS Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: Eau Claire, Wisconsin Posts: 962	So what would it mean if it is at 15.8 on a good meter? Would replacing my battery fix it, or is something else happening? I could go get a battery today, but if that isn’t the issue then... __________________ 2014 SS LS3/LSA Supercharger, 10% Super Damper, 2.55 upper, AGP Dual Pump, ID 1050 injectors, Pegasus solid rear cradle bushings, LT Headers, Roto-Fab CAI, Elite E2 catch can, E85 corn fed, 160 Thermostat, Monster Twin Disk, MGW Short Throw shifter, Tick Clutch Master Cylinder, HP Tuners, JL Audio system.

04-15-2021, 09:50 AM	#13
gtstorey Drives: 2010 Camaro SS2,L99, LSA SC Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 2,438	I'm not sure how a battery can even reach that voltage. At least on old school batteries, it was 2.2 volt per cell at full charge X 6 cells = 13.2 volts. I would GUESS the battery is bad, but it might be the charging system that killed it.

04-15-2021, 09:52 AM	#14
Axe55 Drives: 2012 Camaro SS Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Toronto Posts: 159	With the car off, your battery should not read 15.8V. Could be an alternator or voltage regulator that caused the problem like gt said. But it might be hard to diagnose that if your battery is reading 15.8V with the car off... Only way I've ever heard to troubleshoot those are with a multimeter and measuring voltages. If you're not starting with the right voltage from the battery, I don't know how they would behave. I've never had a battery read 15.8V before... __________________ 2012 Camaro SS LS3, JRE Scoop, CAI intake, Whipple Supercharger, Fast 85lb injectors, ZL1 pump, McLeod RXT clutch, MGW shifter, Stainless Power 1 7/8 headers w/HFC, Ridetech coilovers, BMR sway bars, trailing arms, toe rods, cradle bushing inserts, 2020 Speed Tuned.