problems with the amp or battery or alternator???

[Ryan]

okay today I decided to put back my amp and subwoofer on my Solara
and it consist of:

mtx: 250 amp
12" pol momo gnx
500 watt amp wiring

okay installed it, sounded great but I notice that everytime it will hit a low bass or a continous hard one I can see the lights on the clock are getting dimmer this also happens on the lights on the HU. I also tried it while driving and I notice the lights on the gauge bezel get's dimmer on every beat the of the song I test out my head lights and it does the same thing...I left the car for about 3 hrs to go to the mall w/ my girlfriend when I came back (just now) the car just died...I needed to get a jumpstart from my evo after...What you guys think the problem is??? the amp is only powering 190rms bridged to the subwoofer and that's not alot of power to handle and I just replaced the battery 6 months ago I don't know about alternatorsbut never had this problem before any help???

[Mole]

looks like your battery just needed to be replaced.

how old is your battery?

[Ryan]

jsut bought the battery 6 months ago I also barely use this car

[indiglosolara]

sounds like your alternator is going back... its not holding a charge..

bring it to autozone and they can test it for you for free...

[trdkamuri51o]

im still having this problem even after fixing the grounding issues. battery is about 1 year old, and its in pretty decnet shape, kragen tells me its all fine with the tester, and im guessing im just in need of something more. what do you think will a cap be necessary. we already did the grounds in the engine bay so thats just about it.

[cam2Xrunner]

Don't get a cap, that's the last hing you need. You said you upgraded the grounds on the engine, did you do the Big 3?> http://forum.sounddomain.com/ubb/ultima ... 5;t=007801

If you've already done that I would look into upgrading your alternator and/or battery to a deep cycle battery(if your alternator checks out ok)

But if you've already done the big 3, the next logical step would be to get a new battery.

I rec. the Odyssey odyssey pc1200mjt (froogle it) it's around 130 plus shipping. Or the Stinger SP1000(same battery but more cold cranking amps)
That battery sells for 200 @ sounddomain.

I've heard alot of bad things about Optima Yellowtop, and frankly if you compare the specs of the Odyssey/Stinger batteries the Odyssey is a better battery and value. Plus they're much easier to install since you don't have to stretch your battery cables.

But definitly do the big3 first, then get a Odyssey?stinger battery. If you still have dimming(which you shouldn't have after that, it's not that big of an amp) look into a high output alternator.

There is a group buy going on at the sounddomain forums, for Irragi alternators, which are some of the best there are.

Or for an inexspensive alternator, if you have a V6 get yourself a Highlander alternator, with the tow prep package. You can get one for no more than 130 bucks(reman) and as little as 60 bucks used. That alternator puts out 130 amps as opposed to IIRC 85 or so amps. And it will bolt right in(V6 models)

Don't even consider a capacitor until you've done the big3, deep cycle battery and H.O alternator.

The only time a Cap will help is if you have a VERY strong sub system. And even then those little 1 farad caps aren't nearly what is needed for them to serve their purpose.
:bcrowd: [/url]

[B_Master_Flash]

^ All that stuff is really great, but were talking about a 250watt amp. Your stock electrical system should have no problems powering it. Headlight dim is normal and nothing to be worried about, it happens when the alternator can't supply enough amperage to the amp resulting in a small voltage drop. Lights are brighter at higher voltage, so they dim. Your battery dying is what worries me, you might just have a wiring problem that is draining your battery.

[cam2Xrunner]

^ All that stuff is really great, but were talking about a 250watt amp. Your stock electrical system should have no problems powering it. Headlight dim is normal and nothing to be worried about, it happens when the alternator can't supply enough amperage to the amp resulting in a small voltage drop. Lights are brighter at higher voltage, so they dim. Your battery dying is what worries me, you might just have a wiring problem that is draining your battery.

I know that's why I reccomended to do the big 3 first. The rest of the post was just for gen. information. I sometime's spew out too much info.

[Yanks0114]

How about if you disconnect the subwoofer power from the battery. See if you still have the problem. Atleast this allow you to figure of if its related to the system or not.

Question for the Pros: Is it possible that an amp can go bad and continue to draw power even when its off?

[B_Master_Flash]

Question for the Pros: Is it possible that an amp can go bad and continue to draw power even when its off?

Of course anything is possible, but usualy when something blows in the amp causing a short circut it just blows the fuse.

[B_Master_Flash]

Or for an inexspensive alternator, if you have a V6 get yourself a Highlander alternator, with the tow prep package. You can get one for no more than 130 bucks(reman) and as little as 60 bucks used. That alternator puts out 130 amps as opposed to IIRC 85 or so amps. And it will bolt right in(V6 models)

I didn't know that, where do I sign up! Should I try to find one on e-bay or a dealership?

Every place I've talked to doesn't make a HO alternator for us and wants way too much to make it custom. 130 amps should be enough for my BX1500D

[trdkamuri51o]

how bout for us 4cyl guys?

[cam2Xrunner]

Or for an inexspensive alternator, if you have a V6 get yourself a Highlander alternator, with the tow prep package. You can get one for no more than 130 bucks(reman) and as little as 60 bucks used. That alternator puts out 130 amps as opposed to IIRC 85 or so amps. And it will bolt right in(V6 models)

I didn't know that, where do I sign up! Should I try to find one on e-bay or a dealership?

Every place I've talked to doesn't make a HO alternator for us and wants way too much to make it custom. 130 amps should be enough for my BX1500D

Call up your local Alternator wholesaler, there's usually one in every major region, or check out the local autozone, or just call around.

For a used one try www.car-part.com

If you need a bigger one, go to the sounddomain forums, there is a group buy going on Irragi alternators, I know he's made them for the 1MZ before.

Sorry 4 cyl guys, the V6 highlander alternator won't bolt in. Try Iraggi group buy.
http://forum.sounddomain.com/forum/ulti ... 5;t=009993

[B_Master_Flash]

Call up your local Alternator wholesaler, there's usually one in every major region, or check out the local autozone, or just call around.

For a used one try www.car-part.com

If you need a bigger one, go to the sounddomain forums, there is a group buy going on Irragi alternators, I know he's made them for the 1MZ before.

Sorry 4 cyl guys, the V6 highlander alternator won't bolt in. Try Iraggi group buy.
http://forum.sounddomain.com/forum/ulti ... 5;t=009993

Are you getting down on this group buy? If so what kind of alternator do they make for us (1MZ) and how much does he want?

[B_Master_Flash]

Well I just talked to Dominick and a 180 amp alternator is going to be 300 shipped, about 2x the price of the Highlander alt, but also 2x the gain in amperage. What to do...