Chevrolet Corvette 2001 - Charging System Description and Operation; Charging System Circuit Description

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2001 Chevrolet Corvette Restoration Kit
armature shaft
spline as it engages with the flywheel ring gear on the engine. At the same time, the
plunger closes the solenoid switch contacts in the starter solenoid. Full battery voltage is then applied
directly
to the starter motor and it cranks the engine.
As soon as the
solenoid switch contacts close, current stops flowing thorough the pull-in winding as
battery voltage is now applied to both ends of the windings. The hold-in winding remains energized; its
magnetic
field is strong enough to hold the plunger, shift lever, starter drive assembly, and solenoid
switch contacts in place to continue cranking the engine. When the en·gine starts, the pinion gear overrun
protects the armature from excessive speed
until the switch is opened.
When the ignition switch is
released from the START position, crank voltage is removed from the starter
solenoid S terminal. Current flows from the motor contacts through both windings to ground at the end of
the hold-in winding. However, the direction of the current flow through the pull-in winding is now in the
opposite direction
of the current flow when the winding was first energized.
The magnetic
fields of the pull-in and hold-in windings now oppose one another. This action of the
windings,
along with the help of the return spring, cause the starter drive assembly to disengage and the
solenoid switch contacts to open simultaneously. As soon as the contacts open, the starter motor is
turned off.
Charging System Description and Operation
The Valeo A14V is a 110 Amp generator.
The generator provides
voltage to operate the vehiCle's electrical system and to charge the battery. A
magnetic
field is created when current flows through the rotor. This field rotates as the rotor is driven by
the engine, creating an AC
voltage in the stator windings. The AC voltage is converted to DC by the
rectifier bridge and
is supplied to the electrical system at the battery terminal.
The generator's digital regulator uses digital techniques to supply the rotor current and thereby control the
output
voltage. The rotor current is proportional to the width of the electrical pulses supplied by the digital
regulator. When the ignition switch is ON, voltage is supplied to terminal L from the Powertrain Control
Module (PCM),
turning on the digital regulator. Narrow width pulses are supplied to the digital rotor,
creating a weak magnetic
field. When the engine is started, the digital regulator senses generator rotation
by detecting AC
voltage at the stator through an internal wire. Once the engine is running, the digital
regulator
varies the field current by controlling the pulse width. This regulates the generator output
voltage for proper battery charging and electrical system operation.
Charging System Circuit Description
The generator provides DC voltage to operate the vehicle's electrical system and to charge the battery. A
magnetic
field is created when current flows through the rotor windings. The rotor is belt driven by the
engine creating an AC
voltage as this field rotates within the stator windings. The AC voltage is converted
to DC
voltage by the rectifier bridge and is then supplied to the electrical system at the generator battery
terminal.
When the engine is running, the generator turn-on signal is sent to the generator from the PCM, turning
on the regulator. The generator's
voltage regulator controls the current flow to the rotor, thereby
controlling the generator output
voltage. The rotor current is proportional to an electrical pulse width
modulated voltage supplied by the regulator. When the engine is started, the regulator senses generator
rotation by detecting AC
voltage at the stator through an internal wire. Once the engine is running, the
regulator varies the field current by controlling the pulse width. This regulates the generator's output
voltage for proper battery charging and electrical system operation. The generator F terminal is
connected internally to the voltage regulator and externally to the PCM. When the voltage regulator
detects a charging system problem, it grounds this circuit to signal the PCM that a problem exists. The
PCM also monitors the generator field duty cycle signal circuit. The system voltage sense circuit receives
8+
voltage that is Hot At All Times from the battery. This voltage is used by the regulator as the reference
for system
voltage control.
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