Hey guys I noticed quite a bit of dimming in my lights last night while playing some music. I'm only running 500 watts of bass. Tested the voltage today with everything off and the car running.



So I took the battery to sears and got a new one for free under warranty, battery was reading the exact same thing, right around 13.8ish. With the music on it dips below 13. However the car hasnt failed to start yet. I have upgraded alt --> battery, alternator ground and engine grounds. Is this a sign that the alternator is dying on me?

*I thought car on the voltage is suppose to be 14.4

 

It's my understanding that 13.8-14.4 is perfectly acceptable when the car is running.

Do the lights dim at night with the radio off?

Also, check the tension on the belt that runs the alternator.

 

Na its only dimming when the bass hits, other than that its fine, so I guess its nothing to worry about?

 

If its dimming when the bass hits that is a problem. You are straining the alternator everytime the bass hits. You need those fraud caps. It acts like a capacitor. When bass hits it pulls from that rather then the alternator