alfredflamme7
Sonic Generator Issue
Summary of the thread
A 2020 Chevrolet Sonic with a gasoline engine is experiencing reduced engine power, a warning light, difficulty starting, and weak lights at 70,101 km. These symptoms, along with a diagnostic error, suggest a potential issue with the generator, likely the alternator. To confirm, checking the battery voltage while the engine is running is recommended; it should be around 14V. A professional diagnosis confirmed the generator malfunction, leading to its replacement.
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4 comment(s)
alfredflamme7 (community.author)
Regarding the voltage check, can you explain the proper procedure? I need to understand the correct placement of the multimeter leads and any precautions.
juergenschaefer6
Positive (red) multimeter lead goes to the positive battery terminal, negative (black) to the negative. Engine ON. Easy. If it's not charging right, and you've got all those symptoms, plus an error code, it's probably the alternator. Get it properly diagnosed at a shop before you replace parts.
alfredflamme7 (community.author)
Based on the feedback, I had a shop diagnose it. The diagnosis confirmed the generator was malfunctioning and needed replacement. The total cost was 960€.
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CHEVROLET
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SONIC
juergenschaefer6
Sounds like a bad alternator! Charging system problems can cause weirdness, especially with modern cars. Have you checked the voltage at the battery while the engine's running? Should be around 14V. If it's much lower, or fluctuating, that's a big clue.