For the last month when i'm driving at night with my headlights on when every my sub hits my lights dim very badly the amp is only pushing 180watts. Also when I hit my brakes and roll down my windows my lights dim. Its getting worse and worse. I'm sure a farad cap would help but I dont think that is the problem because my brakes to the same thing. Is it my battery or is my alternater not working like it should. Someone said something like a voltage reagulator??? Also i'm planning on hooking up another amp and subs 680 total watts. Will this work with a stock alternater?? I really need some help. thanks

 

The best thing to do is to get an upgraded alternator(one thats made for high watt applications) and get the capacitor. The upgraded alternator should provide more power for your whole car and the cap would put less strain on the alternator when the bass hits...

 

So is my alternater gone?

 

If your car starts and runs, take the cable off the battery while its running. If it stays on, your alternator is fine, if it dies, your alternator is junk.

Also I would recommend getting a farad cap to run inline with your amp(s).

 

I had the same thing happen to me. Both the battery *and* the alternator needed replacement. When one starts to go, it may take the other down with it. Check'em both. I got a new alternator and an Optima yellow top battery 18 months ago, and I've had no problems since. Even with my UR U/D pulley and my 260-watt audio system.

 

I just upgraded my battery afew days ago. 200 amp current draw on the stock battery + stock alternator = car don't start too well the next day =).. Go with an optima yellow top. I can put the volume up to about 20-22 (out of 30)before dimming occurs.. That's about 120-130dB, enough to have you going "uh too loud".

The stock maxima alternator is troublesome, not in the fact that it dies, but in the fact that it's difficult to have rewound to a higher amperage. The highest I've seen is 140amps (not a whole lot considering my stereo fuse is larger). Look into getting it repaired if you replace the battery & still have problems.

As for the capacitor .... DON'T! Do a search on em and read some of the info I've posted. If you're alternator is having trouble already, a capacitor will only worsen it.

 

I think my alternator is gone. Because last winter, I was playing football and forgot my lights on and the car dyed. So I decided to bring the battery back to AutoZone cause it was only like 7 months old. I still have the same problem. If I leave the lights on or the radio on with out the car running for like 10 minutes the car doesn't start. I called up my local auto parts dealer for an alternator and the cheapest was AutoZone for a 125 amp one. Should I buy that one, get an o.e.m one or get mine rebuilt. My car sometimes struggles to start and it stalled on me and the check engine light never came back on. lol

 

I agree with the previously mentioned test (removing the cable with the car running). That will definitely tell you if the alternator is kaput. But the alternator can have degraded performance, I know this is kinda rare. My brothers altima wouldn't charge above cetain RPM level but it worked ok when he was puttin' around town. This just made for weak starting and dim light as the battery never got fully charged. Then, of course, it died completely one day.

-Zack

 

i tried that test like u said and my car didn't die. so i dont know what to do. i think im going to go get a new battery. if u find anything eles out help a brother out. Thanks

GEorge