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2012 Equinox not charging need help !!!
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valleybusman
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May 7, 2018, 9:55 AM
Post #1 of 11
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2012 Equinox not charging need help !!!
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I have a 2012 Chev equinox with 44000 miles and the V6 . Last week my wife went into a store came out and everything was dead . So she called onstar and a guy showed up to jump start the car . I showed up and he showed me as soon as he removed the cables car died . I said Alternator ! so they towed it to my shop . I charged the battery up overnight . Got the car started and did a test of the battery . Battery had one dead cell and the case was leaking . So I replaced the battery and ran it thru a really good tester I use at work . Said detected low charge . Now would it be alternator or something else ? I have read quite a few people changing out Alternators and it charges for a few days before it quits again . Is there some where else could be bad . I am also told I need a scan tool to reprogram the car . Is this something that needs to got to a garage ?
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
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May 7, 2018, 11:01 AM
Post #2 of 11
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Re: 2012 Equinox not charging need help !!!
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Is the charging warning message coming up?
Normally you should check for charging system codes in the PCM and BCM. Don't understand why there should be programming involved when replacing an alternator.
Check the charging system voltage at the alternator's battery cable lug while engine is running and accessories turned on. If not charging, take a 12 volt test light connected to battery negative and touch the alternator case. The light should not light up.
If that is good, be sure belt is not slipping. Then check the voltages at the alternator control connector. The grey and brown wires should have 12 volts. The grey is the field circuit and the brown is the lamp circuit. If all that checks out, more than likely the alternator itself is the culprit and was fried by the faulty battery.
If you replace the alternator, get a good brand such as AC Delco. Also be sure the battery is fully charged when you start up your new alternator.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on May 7, 2018, 11:05 AM)
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valleybusman
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May 7, 2018, 11:13 AM
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Re: 2012 Equinox not charging need help !!!
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At first there was a little engine symbol . As I checked around the charging system that went out . I tested at the alternator the big wire and it read the same as the battery . The other problem is my sacn tool only goes up too 2006 models
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valleybusman
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May 10, 2018, 7:12 AM
Post #4 of 11
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Re: 2012 Equinox not charging need help !!!
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Last night I went out to look at the alternator . I hope someone can answer this . I unplugged the regulater . I tested the wire connector no power on either connection . I am not sure but is it like the older Chevys that one is battery and the other is ignition switch ?
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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May 10, 2018, 10:47 AM
Post #5 of 11
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Re: 2012 Equinox not charging need help !!!
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Unplugged the regulator?
I don't know how you did that. It's internal to the alternator.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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valleybusman
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May 10, 2018, 11:03 AM
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Re: 2012 Equinox not charging need help !!!
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There is a 2 wire connector on top of the alternator . I unplugged that and checked to see if it had power . I was thinking it was like the old AC delco ones in the 70's
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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May 10, 2018, 11:26 AM
Post #7 of 11
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Re: 2012 Equinox not charging need help !!!
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No, not at all.
No Delco alternators ever made had an internal regulator that could be disconnected.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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valleybusman
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May 10, 2018, 11:48 AM
Post #8 of 11
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Re: 2012 Equinox not charging need help !!!
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Then what did that plug in control ?
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Hammer Time
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May 10, 2018, 11:59 AM
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Re: 2012 Equinox not charging need help !!!
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It controls the operation of the alternator itself. One of the wires is the keyed power that turns the alternator off and on and the other is the field wire that goes to the PCM.
In this vehicle the charging mode is controlled by the BCM (Body Control Module). It has 3 different charging modes and a complicated method of applying them.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
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May 10, 2018, 12:25 PM
Post #10 of 11
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Re: 2012 Equinox not charging need help !!!
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He's my take on the system. The PCM applies 5 volts on the the brown wire to tell the regulator to turn the alternator on. The regulator in the alternator turns the alternator's field on and off to control the output of the alternator. PCM monitors the field's duty cycle that is controlled by the regulator through the gray wire. The regulator sends the monitor voltage to the PCM, so the PCM has feedback for controlling engine idle speed when there is a heavy load on the electrical system. The BCM uses the current sensor on the battery cable to monitor the amperage being used by the electrical system for load sheading.
You really need a scan tool to see if the PCM is turning the alternator on. You should see 5 volts on the brown wire with the engine running. You need to back probe the connector with your meter. You don't want to check the voltages at the alternator connector with no load on those circuits. The monitor circuit (gray) will be a pulse width signal that you really can only see with a scope. You might see something on your meter, but it will be averaged out. If you have a turn on signal (5 volts) at the connector (brown), but no alternator output, more than likely the alternator is faulty.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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valleybusman
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May 10, 2018, 12:45 PM
Post #11 of 11
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Re: 2012 Equinox not charging need help !!!
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Thanks guys for your help with this I do appreciate your info . Now what I am wondering and my wife will ask this is . Instead of running it too a shop and let them decide . Maybe pull the alternator and let like a Napa or Orielly test the alternator and see if it's bad ? Would they be able to run proper tests to check it out . Then if they say ya it's good then take it to someone since I don't have the scan tools ? By way what scan tool would work best for this situation ?
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