Wasnt AMP. Its probably the Alternator

[ccarr8705]

I started a thread about my lights dimming when the bass hits. I thought it was the power the amp was drawing. I unhooked amp and everything and now it still dims when the bass hits or anything really. So I am now thinking it is the alternator. I dont think it is fully charging when the car is on and sometimes I hear a little whine. How much would a new BETTER aftermarket alt. cost me? I need to know this because i am still in the process of finding out what is wrong with my tranny. So right now my car has two problems one I caused one I didnt.

[ccarr8705]

ttt

[Dallas_95GT]

Try hooking up a voltmeter to your alternator, theres a bolt with a wire going to it on the alternator, that's the positive. The meter should read around 14 volts.

I have a new alternator and battery, my lights still dim a little bit when the car is not moving.

[Bandit]

You are pretty much limited to the largest altenator that came with your car. If your car is fully loaded, it probably already has the largest altenator available. Test your charge, and if you need get your currenlt altenator rebuilt. In the meantime, get yourself a capacitor. That will reduce the sudden draw on the altenator when the bass hits. 1 ferrite per 1000 watts is the standard.

[99SEDude]

Alternators for the 3400s run about 102-105 amps. You have two options, you can go to a local alternator shop and have them make you a more powerful one, or you can get this one http://www.domesticperformance.com/product_info.php?products_id=118 which is rated to 160amps. It has nothing to do with voltage, it's the lack of amps that dim your lights. The more amps you have, the more electrical stuff you can put on your car (subs, amps, neons, etc).

I'm talking about amps as in amps, not as in amplifiers.

[LargeFish]

Originally posted by Bandit
1 ferrite per 1000 watts is the standard.

Farad, not ferrite.


Originally posted by 99SEDude
I'm talking about amps as in amps

Amps as in amperes.

[99SEDude]

Originally posted by LargeFish

Amps as in amperes.

Yeah, that =P

[Bandit]

Bah, yeah Farad not ferrite. Hate typing without thinking. :)

[antoniobanderas]

i have two alpines runing over 500 watts and all i use is the stock alternator which is around 100 amps,i hit my subs real hard at nite and barely see any diming of my ligths,first of all ,you need to run a really fat power cable ,thats what carries all the juice from you battery/alternator,go to the # 4 0r 6 for my ground,i get away with the cars body ,BUT and i say BUT,rigth at the motor i ran a heavy ground braid bolted to the cars body,mine goes from the alternator mounting bolt to the frame in one big bolt from the struts the thing here is ,you need the hot as much as the negative being a dc voltage,and to carry all that current that will feed your amps and keep them happy,now,you did say you disconnected all and still your lights dim?,well,then go to the battery and trace the hot that goes to the starter and make sure its tigth,same goes for the negative or ground,make sure its bolted tigth and if you have an ohm meter,chek the resistance,chances are one of the power cables that came out of your battery could be bad,i have seen more than one with a bad terminal,it shuld read 0 not even one ohm,tink of electricity as water flowing in a hose,the biger the hose the more easly for the electrons to pass,distances are not critical here in a car,its too small there is your solution,olso make sure you have a good battery ,a marginal will do the mentioned sintomas as well good luck and keep it quite at nite!

[rixGAphx]

Like antonio said, check your cable connections.

My positive cable corroded INSIDE the molded red rubber 'protective' cover. The corrosion prevents power from flowing to/from the battery, both for loads (lights and audio, etc.) and for charging.

Lights will always get a bit brighter when the engine speeds-up and the alternator starts delivering more VOLTS than the battery provided. They will dim a bit when you let off the gas for a stop sign or such.

Good luck.
-Rick