Audio System help!

Ok, here's the deal, day 1 my rear view mirror falls off. Day 2 I smell something burning so I open my hood, and my alternator is just about on fire. When my subs are hitting it's taking my volt meter, far left on 4th gen, all the way down to just a hair above the red. I don't want to damage my alternator so what are my options, besides not turning it up so loud as to it shaking the car? Thnx, Ry

...capasitor. They are like batteries that hold a charge of energy off the alternator and when the amp pulls to "hit" the subs it pulls this energy first and "lightens the load" of the alternator. I don't know just how well they really work but they are designed specifically for your situation. They run for like $100-$200 depending on capasity. I had 2 12 subs in my car nearly rattling the windshield loose (the rear view mirror would occasionally fall off) and so long as the car was running it was fine. I mean it puts a load on the alternator but the one i'd put in it had a lifetime warranty so i figured hell if it blew it i didn't care, id just replace it. It was a "heavy load" alternator though so that may have made a difference. Hope this helps...

you alternator can't put back the power your system is taking, your best bet is to get a dual battery setup and a higher output alternator.

just get a high output alternator, dont try and short cut it cause it just a temporary fix

I'm sure I can find an alternator pretty cheap somewhere, but how much/how hard are those to install? Money wise, that is? Thanks again.

P.S. Can anybody recommend a good high flow CAT. No not that kind of cat you sick bastard!

alternators arent really all that hard to install. but i have to do em all the time at work so im used to em i guess.

oh and i would get a alternator and a cap anyway. it wont hurt anything to have a cap. you can find some pretty cheap ones on ebay.

i think caps are overrated

yeah i dont have one. but if hes havin that much of a prblem...it wouldnt hurt any.

true, either focus's have beasty alternators or i just didnt notice the fucked up draw from it lol
i did notice the bend trunk (=

I'd use a capasitor... I have two amplifers in my 96 Maxima and they ruined two altenators before I bought a cap... But after I did it took all the strain off my altenator. And I noticed that my stereo hits harder with the cap.

Get a heavy duty alternator and a cap, trust me you fell the differance when your subs hit. A 1 farod (or however you spell it) cap and a beefy alt will works wonders for you.

Thnx for the help guys!

i agree, definately go with a capacitor. will solve the prob.

Come on people, I feel like we're in elementary school. Spelling: Capacitor - Farad, not Capasitor and Farod
anyway... that's what I have, a 1 farad cap and I just got a 105amp alternator last week. My sub sounds a shit load better with the new alternator. Lifetime Warranty will be your new friend. Without the cap, I drained my battery twice. there's no way around a new alternator, even if you get a cap. Make sure you get a higher output alternator. Very simple installation for alternator: disconnect battery, unplug wire(s), remove serpentine belt, remove screws, pull out. installation is the reverse of removal.

all you need to do is run a capacitor, it will store energy and not put as much strain on your alternator and also go with a higher output alternator and you should not have and problems, and your stereo should sound ten times better too

You definately need to upgrade your alternator. Adding a capacitor to your system will help in more ways than you may think. A cap charges and discharges faster than your battery, therefore your amp will not have to work as hard to put out its power. Your amp will run cooler and as many have pointed out, hit harder and cleaner. Make sure you have the proper guage power and ground wire and also make sure your ground is clean and secure. Good Luck :)

ive always heard that if you run a cap, you should not use a gauge thinner than 4, but i ran 8 in my car and it works like a champ...

I'm running 4 gauge, i'll get some pics up when i get back from my trip

well that works out...