gst electrical problem

[nova1313]

So some background on this problem. My eclipse gst from 97 is on it's original battery. I put my sub and amp in last week and it ran fine all week. I drove it home today no problems. Then I went to go for coffee tonight. It tries to start once like half a crank then dies. Just keeps clicking after, my lights dim and thats it no power. It had just rained so I figured maybe something got wet.

I went seemed okay. Battery shows 12.9 volts but drops to 9 when I tried ot start it. Threw a charger on it and it will crank a few times but not start. Jumped it from my dads truck and it started right up.

I cleaned up the terminals and disconnected the fuse between the amp and the battery in hope I'd find the problem.

My amp now has ground, a disconnected positive and a 12v remote start lead coming from my stereo. In theory it's not drawing anything while the car is off? Is this correct or will it try to draw some small current over the 12v remote start?

I'm going to go and grab a new battery tomorrow and hope that my alternator is not shot also after I put the new load on it with the amp. Recommendations on batteries? I was gonna just grab one from autozone.

We shall see...

[Killa]

you might look into getin a red top optima battary.

[Black97GST]

12.9 is actually a LITTLE low for the battery. It should be anywhere from 13.XX volts to 14.XX volts. however 12 isn't TOO bad. I dont know what the voltage drop from the starter should be but dropping down to 9V, seems like a little much. maybe not.

[gthompson97]

Your battery is just old, hell, it's fucking ancient, 9 years!!! A new one should solve your problems. I believe a healthy battery should be 13.6 volts but don't quote me on that. And I also suggest the Optima battery, but I would go with a yellow top, they are made more for running extra accessories. The red ones are made more for offroad SUV's and those sort of things.

[nova1313]

bah. I looked a the yellow tops almost 200 bucks. I'd normally say okay but I have 70 dollars left to my name till paycheck next week. I guess I get a new battery now and when i kill it make sure i have enough to grab another.

I knew it was going to go. My dad kept laughing about it having the original battery. I was debating adding a 1f cap into the system because i have crazy light dimming. But that could just be the battery.

So much work going into this new spyder. The old one was in way better shape just not turbo. :/
But the paint needs 2 more coats and a buff and i just need to scotchgaurd the top.

[defiancy]

Just grab a battery. For the most part they aren't that different. Just a warranty.

When you start the car the battery voltage is going to drop because you are putting a load on the battery.

[steviek]

Just steal your dads battery out of his truck. It seems to work ok.

[nova1313]

nah I don't need to bug him more by taking his battery lol. He's been mad cause I have car parts all over the garage and I was taking up his bay while I paint my car. I have to move all the cars out when I do that because he doesnt' want it on anything. So then we have 3 cars + my sisters outside lol.

He was kind enough to help me Plus it was a huge truck battery.

defiancy: I don't think it should drop it that much though. When I had the charger on it was bugging out also. The lights in the car were diming and coming back. The charger was showing the battery as beign charged fully. When I put it into start mode I couldn't get it to start with the charger. It would turn over once or so. I think there is a shorted cell I'm not sure, the water was up high enough so I dunno. So perhaps my charger is on it's way out too I don't know.

Any how new battery tonight. If that doesn't fix the dimming of my lights from the sub also can anyone recommend a good capacitor brand. My amp is a jl 500/1 (500w) so I figured I'd get a 1 farad that way in case I ever upgrade it's still good. I don't know much about them really. But I hear I can just put it inline back by the amp and it will "fix" the dimming. Any other connections I need to make so it won't drain the battery when the car is off if the amp already shuts off by itself?

[nova1313]

steviek holy crap is that picture big.

I got a new battery sure enough it started right up. I borrowed money from parents and got a red top. Now I jsut have to wait to get paid on thursday lol

[gthompson97]

Shoulda got a yellow top, especially if your lights dim when your system hits.

[nova1313]

i guess it was just the old battery. my lights don't dim at all now with the new battery even after a couple hours of it playing. So I think the old one was just on the way out. I also couldn't justify 200 dollars for a battery. 113 was a stretch enough.

[gthompson97]

Very true, either way glad to see another DSM up and running. (for awhile anyways)