Alternator

[82CapriceClassic]

i think my alternator in my car is bad also...im not sure...but just yesterday my 1000w amp in my trunk was beating perfectly fine...then all of a sudden im not able to crank it up past 8 and have a consistent beat in my trunk...i think its too much power for my alternator because the amp still powers on and beats...its just not loud at all

does anyone know what the problem may be...is it even the alternator or my battery?

btw i have 1000w pioneer amp powering 2 pyle series 15s...each sub is 1000w each...

[94HeavyChevy]

i checked for current draw based on the instructions...disconnected the negative terminal and touched it to the terminal and no spark...i think my alternator is fine when its cold but when the car heats up it is less powerful or at least that is what it seems like..does this make any type of sense?

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by 94HeavyChevy

i checked for current draw based on the instructions...disconnected the negative terminal and touched it to the terminal and no spark...i think my alternator is fine when its cold but when the car heats up it is less powerful or at least that is what it seems like..does this make any type of sense?

yes! sometimes the alternator windings will fail at a higher temp...this is not that common but it does occur...

as the temperature rises the winding/s can open ..this then reduces the alternator current output...this can be measured with the proper test equiptment..I use an amprobe this pickup goes around the alternator output red wire and gives on a digital MV meter the acutal current that the alternator is putting out.. this test takes a minute to measure ...as nothing needs to be removed...

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by 82CapriceClassic

i think my alternator in my car is bad also...im not sure...but just yesterday my 1000w amp in my trunk was beating perfectly fine...then all of a sudden im not able to crank it up past 8 and have a consistent beat in my trunk...i think its too much power for my alternator because the amp still powers on and beats...its just not loud at all

does anyone know what the problem may be...is it even the alternator or my battery?

btw i have 1000w pioneer amp powering 2 pyle series 15s...each sub is 1000w each...

your noise maker problem may be a bad, melted speaker coil.....check the ohms on the speakers...high power amps will drop power when the output current goes too high, this is to protect the output module...

as the power is increased if the frequency is very low the speaker coils get quite hot ...and then the coil fuses together....

[82CapriceClassic]

i dont even know where to begin to check for all of that lol..i think im just going to take it past best buy to see what the problem is...someone also told me maybe i need to turn down my amp also..

but if it is the coil...is that a cheap/quick fix?

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by 82CapriceClassic

i dont even know where to begin to check for all of that lol..i think im just going to take it past best buy to see what the problem is...someone also told me maybe i need to turn down my amp also..

but if it is the coil...is that a cheap/quick fix?

the coil is internal to the speaker...as power from the amp enters the speaker it produces a strong magnetic field that varies with the frequency and amplitude...this then pushes the speaker cone in and out moving air this creates sound...

with an ohm meter resistance is measured ..and the resistance must be close to the rated speaker impedance...

normal sub wolfer resistance would be 2 or 4 ohms...if it reads 0-1 ohm the coil is shorted....if it reads open [no resistance] the speaker will not produce any sound...

[82CapriceClassic]

thanks...i got the problem fixed yesterday...it was a bad ground...had to get it re-wired...

next im going to need a custom fit box..if its not one thing its another with cars lol

[Blue Bowtie]

Originally Posted by 94HeavyChevy

...i feel like these cars run through alternators quickly

Mine is original. 1994 w/130K on it. I have higher wattage lighting, as well as 200W of add-on lighting, and I have no such problems.

[94HeavyChevy]

I have a 2,000 watt stereo system that most likely caused the damage to the alternator...is that an impala or a caprice?

[Blue Bowtie]

With that much wattage, you might even want to consider a second alternator, although I'm not sure how it would be mounted on the stock LT1 belt drive system. There is plenty of room in front, but not many good ways to mount one. You best bet might be to install an aftermarket high current stator kit, but those are really only good for a sustained 160 or so amps, and only about 100A at idle. You might try to fit a Delco 40SI (300A) alternator in the stock location, but it would be tough, and it would take 6-7 horsepower just to turn it under load.

BTW - That's one of the 6,400 or so Impalas made that year.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by 82CapriceClassic

thanks...i got the problem fixed yesterday...it was a bad ground...had to get it re-wired...

next im going to need a custom fit box..if its not one thing its another with cars lol

the ground wire that was the problem.. Is this the ground for the amp....?

[82CapriceClassic]

yes it was for the amp...now i dont even need to turn my volume past 8 because it beats alot harder than before..i guess it was faulty/bad wiring..

now i have to deal with my flowmasters backfiring...not sure why they are doing this..they only do it when i am driving on the highway..i was told it may be my carb

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by 82CapriceClassic

yes it was for the amp...now i dont even need to turn my volume past 8 because it beats alot harder than before..i guess it was faulty/bad wiring..

now i have to deal with my flowmasters backfiring...not sure why they are doing this..they only do it when i am driving on the highway..i was told it may be my carb

BECAUSE of the age the rust corrosion will interfere with using body grounds for high current devices...it would be best if you ran a ground wire from the amp ground to the battery ground point in the engine bay...

the back firing is it thru the exhuast or intake....sounds like exhaust...
I would check compression of the cylinders...

[82CapriceClassic]

that back fire noise comes from the back of the cars..the pipes...i may need to take it to the shop to see what thats all about...i just had the carb tuned up last summer because when i purchased it the carb was out of wack and the idle was high so it was suckin up gas like no tomorrow...hopefully its not an expensive fix...ive spent enough money last wk on this car...i need to buy school books lol