Hey Got A Question About My Battery

[billytheman1188]

OK well when i have my system up my car lights dim, now i know thats normal, cause ive seen other cars do it. but also, i used to leave the system on when i cleaned my car, it wasnt on high or anything, but my battery died twice on me. do u think i need a new one???? i havent replaced it since i bought it in 2002.......

[freeze12]

Sounds like You need a battery. I just bought one at Sams Club for around $42.00 and has a 3 yr. warranty.

Yea you should probably get a new one, also you might want to look into a cap for that system, that happens alot for the lights to dim but i wouldn't pass it off as being normal your electrical system is being "streched to thin" if that makes sense, LOL. Basicly your alt isn't able to charge enough to run your car, system and recarge your battery all at once.

The cap would help out with the system some so that the alt would have to power that less, basicly makeing it easier for it and getting ride of the diming lights.

[racin4JC]

Only problem with cap's is they need to be charged above the 105A (3.4 alt. output) to really help you out because otherwise your alternator will just end up trying to charge it also!

[Redog]

I would say that the battery wouldn't need to be replaced but since it is 4 years old I would.

I bought a Optima Red top which is good, but I think you might want to look into a Yellow top (deep cycle) since you have the system.

The red is about $140 and the Yellow is close to $200

Originally posted by racin4JC@May 10 2006, 07:57 PM
Only problem with cap's is they need to be charged above the 105A (3.4 alt. output) to really help you out because otherwise your alternator will just end up trying to charge it also!

Quoted post

Really, I didn't know that. Is that for all caps or just most?

And in that case you might want to look into a high output alt to go with the cap.

[violentrapture]

1) Big 3
2) Battery Upgrade
3) High Output Alternator
4) Auxillary Battery
5) Capacitor

Notice where the cap is in the list?

Capacitors present even more strain on the alternator than is already there. Adding a cap first is merely a bandaid and doesn't solve the problem.

~vR

[robz02alero]

go with a bigger alternator

[racin4JC]

Ya, caps. are really only beneficial for big show guys who don't run their systems all the time and have time to charge them between shows! But if you go with a high output alternator or second battery and isolator (not a relay an isolator I recommend Surepower, a relay just draws from a second battery that is in series with the first, where an isolator will switch your alternator between two separate batteries and both batteries can be drawn from separately) it will make a world of difference. I added a second battery and isolator when I added my air suspension (compressors draw a lot of power) now I can have the car idling with two compressors running, street glows on, system cranked, and all other possbile electronics on in car and lights aren't any dimmer!

[johny_boy32]

trying to help a few others out at the same time, which yellow top (part or series #) is best for our cars?

[billytheman1188]

How much does a new alternator cost????? I will get a new battery but im just wondering when i have some extra money how much the alternator cost?
And about that second battery.....how do u hook that up, cause i would mind gettin a new battery and using the old one for the system,
IM JUST WONDERING.....

1.)What supplies i will need
2.)How hard it is
3.)HOW TO DO IT
3.)Where do i put my old battery after its hooked up?

sorry for all the questions but im not that good at this crap, i know A LOT about cars, but im just not good at doin stuff to them.

[racin4JC]

You don't want to hook up an old battery with your new one in won't be good for the new one and most likely short the life of it (think of when you put one new battery with one old battery in a flashlight, how that single one dies a lot faster than it should!).

Ohh ok i see how all that works now, never have been real big with knowing all the stuff about sterios and how caps and all that worked.

[billytheman1188]

well no i know a lot about stereo systems, i help people get them, but i just dont know how to install crap....lol

[violentrapture]

Originally posted by johny_boy32@May 11 2006, 08:35 AM
trying to help a few others out at the same time, which yellow top (part or series #) is best for our cars?

Quoted post

These are the ones I have in my car - not sure about whether any work better/best - I just bought them and plopped them in (Stinger isolator next to it)



billytheman - HO alternators run anywhere from $200-500. Ditto what racin said - get matching batteries if you're running dual... both type and usage (if you're buying used... if buying new just get matching).

As far as where to put it - if you mean the alternator... it just replaces your stock one: same location, mount, etc. Easy bolt on replacement. If you mean the battery it's up to you. Right now my starter battery is under the hood, audio battery is in the trunk, but both are going to be relocated soon. ^_^

[johny_boy32]

thanks violentrapture