My Volt guage kept dropping into the read when i was in traffic had my battary charged new alternator etc. Any ways i took it to autohell and had them run a electrical test. I had them do it with the stereo on and when bass would it hit would drop from 14 volts to 10 volts at idle. When i had the stereo off it would stay at 14 volts.
I have heard good and bad about frad caps some say they work others say they dont. Would a cap help my situation? I dont want to go and add extra battarys etc jsut a easy fix. I have a 600 watt kenwood amp for my subs and a 400 watt kenwood amp for my regular speakers. I am running 4 guage wire all the way back.
I have heard good and bad about frad caps some say they work others say they dont. Would a cap help my situation? I dont want to go and add extra battarys etc jsut a easy fix. I have a 600 watt kenwood amp for my subs and a 400 watt kenwood amp for my regular speakers. I am running 4 guage wire all the way back.
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Justins86bird
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Dec 14, 2016
The only thing that will help is a higher output alt. More batts helps only when the engine is off, and place a larger load on the alt while the car is running. A cap will only help if you alt is big enough to handle the load already, which it appears it is not.
Senior Member
a good battery will actually help stabilize voltage.
but probably not to the extent that you need.
adam
but probably not to the extent that you need.
adam
I have a 160 amp alternator with a optima redtop battary.
Senior Member
you think you have a 160 amp alternator anyway.
if that thing was putting out 125 at idle, you wouldnt be having these problems, unless you haven't upgraded the battery hot/ground, and alternator ground, as well as engine/chassis ground.
that stuff isnt going to have THAT much of a difference, most likely.
adam
if that thing was putting out 125 at idle, you wouldnt be having these problems, unless you haven't upgraded the battery hot/ground, and alternator ground, as well as engine/chassis ground.
that stuff isnt going to have THAT much of a difference, most likely.
adam
I havent upgraded any of the wires at all all the connections are stock. Would the big 3 that i have read make a big enough difference so i wold not need a cap?
Supreme Member
I was was going to tell you, RS, yes you have bad connections.
You can try to clean the connections, but upgrading the wiring is the right answer.
I saw a show vehicle at a sound shop with upgraded grounding and alt wire. It was a good example of what it should look like, regular 4 guage with gold plated terminals....simple enough. It looked cool, but I would cover it with wire loom too, since it can get hot in the engine bay....looks more 'stock' too, to prevent potential for theft.
You can try to clean the connections, but upgrading the wiring is the right answer.
I saw a show vehicle at a sound shop with upgraded grounding and alt wire. It was a good example of what it should look like, regular 4 guage with gold plated terminals....simple enough. It looked cool, but I would cover it with wire loom too, since it can get hot in the engine bay....looks more 'stock' too, to prevent potential for theft.