This past saturday I installed a basslink into the car, and hooked up the proper 8 gauge power and ground wires etc... I had the negative to the battery unhooked for probably 2-3 hours during the install. Afterwards when everything was finished and whatnot, fired up the car and things seemed normal, except i noticed that the voltage gauge showed the reading being slightly below 12v, which i found odd because it usually was around 14.

Sunday I drove around for a bit while tuning the woofer and the gauge still showed slightly below 12, but everything operated normally. All of a sudden the volt gauge drops below 9 and the car becomes jerky, i pull into a parking lot and the car stalls. Car wont turn over now (not enough battery juice) but the radio will still work. We jump the car, limp back home still very low on voltage and i leave the battery on a charger all night. This morning i drive to work and still notice the volt gauge is reading lower than 12. Im kinda dumbfounded at this point. Only 5k miles on the car. Anyone have a similar problem? Could this be the voltage regulator/alt? I dont want to take it to the dealer but may have to if this persists. Please help!

 

Anybody?

 

Wish I could help man, but bump...

 

Nobody has any suggestions?

 

Have you tried to disconnect the amp to see if the voltage returns to normal?

 

Yea had the power wire to the amp disconnected and stereo off. Im just perplexed how after installing this amp (only 250w), reconnecting the battery that somehow all the power gets drained. When the car is started, the volt meter reads below 12, which before the install read in the 14 range. Later tonight im going to check the alternator because it seems that the alt may not be charging the battery, and engine is running on battery power only, which could explain why it runs out of juice so quickly? Pisses me off that an alt would go bad on a 4800 mile car already.

 

OK when you disconnected the power to the amp did the voltage return to normal?

It sounds like there may be a short somewhere. Could also be that your alternator took a hit. Try taking a voltage reading straight off the alternator while its running. (if you can get to it)

 

You noticed the problem only after installing your amp. Therefore don't go looking into things that were working before the install... ie: amp. Rather check your wiring. It sounds like you have a short somewhere or perhaps are drawing your power from somewhere that you shouldn't.

Even though you disconnected the power to the amp... I have an idea that your wiring job might need a bit of touchup.. perhaps the short is farther up where it ties into the cars power?

 

I have same issue. Just started acting up. While at idle the car will power up from 12 volts to 14. if i start driving or turn anything on it drop back to 12 again. i just put a fresh battery in. thinking of going to dealer. have sound system and have killed 2 optima batteries already.

 

14 is what you should see when the car is running, alternators usually charge between 13.8 and 14.4 volts. how did you run your power to your amp? I havnt really looked at how the power is set up going to the battery but perhaps you disconnected the connection from the alternator to the battery and therefore its not charging anymore? i doubt you fried your alternator.