p 2503 Charging System Voltage Low

Passt · Post by **Passt** » Thu Aug 11, 2011 10:46 am

Hey all,

Yesterday my battery light came on, and I pulled the codes. I am showing p 2503, Charging System Voltage Low. The alternator is new as of last year, although I suppose it could be going out regardless. Does anyone have experience with this code? Is my battery just effed?

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:07 pm

I replyed to your PM, but I figured I'd put this here for others to see...

That isn't too hard to track down really. It's either that your altenator is not putting out enough amperage, or that your battery is not taking the charge.

A quick charging system test will show which part is to blame. Many places (including auto parts stores) offer free or cheap charging system tests.

darthroush · Post by **darthroush** » Thu Aug 11, 2011 2:35 pm

I got that code and it was because the positive cables to the battery were corroded inside of the crimps of the factory terminal (loss of power). It was a bit hard to track down, but once I made new cables, it hasn't come back.

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Thu Aug 11, 2011 2:53 pm

That could be true as well. I know Nate's terminals are good however. Loose terminals can cause issues as well.

A charging system test should show where the system is weak. Basic diag will finish it.

nineball · Post by **nineball** » Thu Aug 11, 2011 8:13 pm

be sure to go to more than one auto parts store for the free testing. last year m dad's liberty was acting weird and i took it to murray's and they said the battery and alt were shot. went to autozone and they said it was the alt. went to cpw and they said it was the battery. in the end it was just a bad battery. amazingly enough both autozone and murray's were more than happy to try to sell me a new $270 alt

Post by **occasional demons** » Thu Aug 11, 2011 8:57 pm

This makes me kind of glad I picked up a discontinued multi meter from Del City last year. It has a slip on amp probe for DC amps. I just checked mine out the other day. Not the total output, but what was flowing to the PDC with everything on. As far as electrical demands the neon is basically bone stock. Total load was about 65 amps. (Just in case anyone wondered what amps a stock system pulled)

But at least I can tell what is being pulled from the battery, and by putting it on the other side of the (+) terminal; if the alternator is keeping pace.

It was a $150 meter for about $45, so I couldn't pass it up, and have been wanting a DC am-probe for a long time, just to make it easy to check line amperage's.