Serious Electrical Problem, help please - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

wra1959 · 09-09-2021, 02:36 PM

2014 Camaro SS, only electrical mods are Diablo Trinity II tuner and Antigravity Lithium Ion Battery. My normal voltage is 13.7 - 14.4. It can occasionally go higher but generally stays within this range when everything seems fine. Following is my recent experience that I logged. Voltage suddenly dropped to 13.0V. It dropped from there 0.1V per 10 minutes. At 12.7, the car goes into battery saver mode. That pops up on the driver display. I pulled over at 12.4V and turned off the ignition. Restart after 10 min. and voltage is 13.7 and increasing. After 5 minutes, the entire dash goes blank, then back on. Infotainment flashes and says "OnStar", driver display says "door open". Then it goes blank again. This continues to cycle at a 1 to 2 second interval. Then the driver side window goes down. I can't roll it back up. It tugs the steering wheel to the left two or three times before I pull over again and shut it off. I restart the car and it may be fine for 15 minutes or a year. It has done this this bad 4 times over 2.5 years. It has additionally done just the voltage drop without the other problem maybe 5 times.

gtstorey · 09-09-2021, 03:09 PM

Have you checked all of the main power connection points? If so, I think I would try swapping back to a normal lead acid type battery and see if that fixes it.

MSgt O · 09-09-2021, 04:08 PM

the thermal variations on Lithium batteries can cause voltage and amperage spikes and lulls internally and you can't see the issue. Like @gtstorey said, swap to a lead acid battery and see what happens. Has it ONLY happened since you introduced the Lithium battery? I would guess its not a wiring issue, but a power supply issue. If it HAS happened before the new battery, then something that is regulating power is not regulating it correctly.

wra1959 · 09-09-2021, 04:42 PM

I have swapped the battery back but haven't driven it much. The old battery is weak, 7 to 8 years old now. I have checked main power connection points.

Dave-G · 09-09-2021, 04:47 PM

I'd try a fresh battery, either wet or AGM. I've had some sketchy luck with Lion batteries in my motorcycles.

wra1959 · 09-09-2021, 04:54 PM

I will do that

EMB135Driver · 09-09-2021, 06:06 PM

Using a lithium ion battery in an electrical system not designed for it is asking for trouble In my mind.

1JEWLDSSRS · 09-10-2021, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EMB135Driver

Using a lithium ion battery in an electrical system not designed for it is asking for trouble In my mind.

^^^ agreed with this..

acutron42 · 09-10-2021, 09:54 PM

There are a few threads here on this if you search it. The voltage drop could be normal but the litho might be confusing your bcm. Strange that it is intermittent though.

LimaCharlie · 09-11-2021, 04:27 PM

I've watched the battery voltage on road trips and the voltage goes up/down regularly. I can't remember exactly but when the voltage gets to about 12.5, the alternator start charging until about 14.1 (I think). The voltage will then slowly drop until 12.5 and repeat process.
I guess this is normal? Maybe a voltage regulator in alternator?

G8One2 · 09-11-2021, 04:44 PM

The charging system is designed as stock, for an AGM battery. It will overcharge a standard wet cell battery, and cause it to leak and kill the battery. Idk what it would do to a Lithium battery, but obviously that isnt working out either. Put the OEM type AGM back in it.

xstuntman · 09-12-2021, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G8One2

The charging system is designed as stock, for an AGM battery. It will overcharge a standard wet cell battery, and cause it to leak and kill the battery.

Can anyone confirm this?
It would be news to me.

AlanRubin · 09-12-2021, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G8One2

The charging system is designed as stock, for an AGM battery. It will overcharge a standard wet cell battery, and cause it to leak and kill the battery. Idk what it would do to a Lithium battery, but obviously that isnt working out either. Put the OEM type AGM back in it.

Rock Auto only shows AGM replacements, so that is probably true.

AlanRubin · 09-12-2021, 03:40 PM

The Onstar module has a 15.5V lithium ion backup battery.

That could be causing problems.

Lithium Ion car batteries are better than AGM, but because of how the charging system
works in the Camaro, it won't properly maintain it.

However, it if were the battery winking out, your car engine would "miss", because the
coils and fuel injectors would wink-out as well. If the engine remains smooth running
when the wink-outs occur, it is NOT the primary battery,

09-09-2021, 02:36 PM	#1
wra1959 Drives: 2014 Camaro SS Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: Arkansas Posts: 5 View My Garage	Serious Electrical Problem, help please 2014 Camaro SS, only electrical mods are Diablo Trinity II tuner and Antigravity Lithium Ion Battery. My normal voltage is 13.7 - 14.4. It can occasionally go higher but generally stays within this range when everything seems fine. Following is my recent experience that I logged. Voltage suddenly dropped to 13.0V. It dropped from there 0.1V per 10 minutes. At 12.7, the car goes into battery saver mode. That pops up on the driver display. I pulled over at 12.4V and turned off the ignition. Restart after 10 min. and voltage is 13.7 and increasing. After 5 minutes, the entire dash goes blank, then back on. Infotainment flashes and says "OnStar", driver display says "door open". Then it goes blank again. This continues to cycle at a 1 to 2 second interval. Then the driver side window goes down. I can't roll it back up. It tugs the steering wheel to the left two or three times before I pull over again and shut it off. I restart the car and it may be fine for 15 minutes or a year. It has done this this bad 4 times over 2.5 years. It has additionally done just the voltage drop without the other problem maybe 5 times.

09-09-2021, 06:06 PM	#7
EMB135Driver Jedi Master Drives: Boeing 757/767+2010 IBM 2SS Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Bangor, ME and Palm Coast, FL Posts: 1,121	Using a lithium ion battery in an electrical system not designed for it is asking for trouble In my mind. __________________

09-11-2021, 04:27 PM	#10
LimaCharlie Drives: 2011 Camaro SS/RS - 2004 Silverado Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 2,989	I've watched the battery voltage on road trips and the voltage goes up/down regularly. I can't remember exactly but when the voltage gets to about 12.5, the alternator start charging until about 14.1 (I think). The voltage will then slowly drop until 12.5 and repeat process. I guess this is normal? Maybe a voltage regulator in alternator? __________________ 2011 Summit White Camaro 1SS/RS -6.2 LS3, TR6060, 3.45, G80 2004 Black Silverado 1500 2WD Regular Cab, Short Bed -5.3 LM7, 4L60E, 3.42, G80 2014 White Caprice PPV -6.0 L77, 6L80E, 2.92, G80

09-09-2021, 03:09 PM	#2
gtstorey Drives: 2010 Camaro SS2,L99, LSA SC Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 2,155	Have you checked all of the main power connection points? If so, I think I would try swapping back to a normal lead acid type battery and see if that fixes it.

09-09-2021, 04:08 PM	#3
MSgt O Drives: 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS Vert LS3/M6 Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: Cheboygan, Michigan Posts: 660	the thermal variations on Lithium batteries can cause voltage and amperage spikes and lulls internally and you can't see the issue. Like @gtstorey said, swap to a lead acid battery and see what happens. Has it ONLY happened since you introduced the Lithium battery? I would guess its not a wiring issue, but a power supply issue. If it HAS happened before the new battery, then something that is regulating power is not regulating it correctly.

09-09-2021, 04:42 PM	#4
wra1959 Drives: 2014 Camaro SS Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: Arkansas Posts: 5 View My Garage	I have swapped the battery back but haven't driven it much. The old battery is weak, 7 to 8 years old now. I have checked main power connection points.

09-09-2021, 04:47 PM	#5
Dave-G Drives: 2011 RS/2LT- manual Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: Ct. Posts: 107	I'd try a fresh battery, either wet or AGM. I've had some sketchy luck with Lion batteries in my motorcycles.

09-09-2021, 04:54 PM	#6
wra1959 Drives: 2014 Camaro SS Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: Arkansas Posts: 5 View My Garage	I will do that

09-10-2021, 09:54 PM	#9
acutron42 Drives: 2013 Camaro 2SS AGM Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: WNY Posts: 733	There are a few threads here on this if you search it. The voltage drop could be normal but the litho might be confusing your bcm. Strange that it is intermittent though.

09-11-2021, 04:44 PM	#11
G8One2 Drives: 2014 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 492	The charging system is designed as stock, for an AGM battery. It will overcharge a standard wet cell battery, and cause it to leak and kill the battery. Idk what it would do to a Lithium battery, but obviously that isnt working out either. Put the OEM type AGM back in it.

09-12-2021, 03:40 PM	#14
AlanRubin Banned Drives: 2010 LS Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Pgh Posts: 411	The Onstar module has a 15.5V lithium ion backup battery. That could be causing problems. Lithium Ion car batteries are better than AGM, but because of how the charging system works in the Camaro, it won't properly maintain it. However, it if were the battery winking out, your car engine would "miss", because the coils and fuel injectors would wink-out as well. If the engine remains smooth running when the wink-outs occur, it is NOT the primary battery,