chrisb33
Well-known member
is there a thread that can help me on how to increase the voltage output of my electrical system? i did the search but nothing on specific how to's. anyway, here's my dilemma that has been going on for 3 years now. over the years ive been trying to diagnose and solve the problem as budget and time permits. but now im running out of ideas and im sooooo frustrated already:
upon cold start my turbo timer voltage reader says 14v. but that only lasts til the car gets warm. when the engine is warm the average voltage reading i get is 13.2 - 13.6v. sometimes when im driving it goes as low as 13.00.
when on full load (head lights, stereo, and AC is turned on) system is at 13.0-13.2v. when i use the turn signal, voltage drops around .01 per click of the turn signal. When i step on the brakes...i assume this is because of our brake lights i get a massive drop to sometimes 12.8v but goes back up again to 13+ when i release the brakes.
now this is where it gets more weird. when i rev the engine, the voltage drops rather than go high! i doubt i have alternator belt slippage coz i could hear that right?
i only have one battery which is relocated at the trunk because because it wont fit in my engine bay anymore plus, it saves the battery from heat.
my turbo timer and my head unit reads the same same voltage reading. when i have my batteries checked, that instrument that they connect directly to the battery to check the voltage also reads the same thing. +/- 0.1 - 0.2 volts.
i've tried almost everything already to get me to at least 14.2 volts. i'm aiming for 14.4:
1. changed new battery
2. increased the ampere rating of my alternator to 120 amps.
3. 5 point grounding
4. big 3 (using just gauge 4 wires though)
here's what i plan to do in the next couple of weeks:
1. have my damn alternator and its internal voltage regulator checked.
2. check the tension on my alternator belt (should be done later)
3. change my five point grounding wires to hks. i have this already to replace my generic ones. plus my grounding kit is 6 years old already. and has endured flood!
4. only as a last resort...upgrade my big 3 wires from gauge 4 to gauge 0/1. sine my main battery is at the trunk, this will be kinda expensive coz of the length of the wire/s needed.
is there anything else i should take a look at? am i missing something?
im so frustrated already!!! please help me!!!!
thanks!!!
chris b
upon cold start my turbo timer voltage reader says 14v. but that only lasts til the car gets warm. when the engine is warm the average voltage reading i get is 13.2 - 13.6v. sometimes when im driving it goes as low as 13.00.
when on full load (head lights, stereo, and AC is turned on) system is at 13.0-13.2v. when i use the turn signal, voltage drops around .01 per click of the turn signal. When i step on the brakes...i assume this is because of our brake lights i get a massive drop to sometimes 12.8v but goes back up again to 13+ when i release the brakes.
now this is where it gets more weird. when i rev the engine, the voltage drops rather than go high! i doubt i have alternator belt slippage coz i could hear that right?
i only have one battery which is relocated at the trunk because because it wont fit in my engine bay anymore plus, it saves the battery from heat.
my turbo timer and my head unit reads the same same voltage reading. when i have my batteries checked, that instrument that they connect directly to the battery to check the voltage also reads the same thing. +/- 0.1 - 0.2 volts.
i've tried almost everything already to get me to at least 14.2 volts. i'm aiming for 14.4:
1. changed new battery
2. increased the ampere rating of my alternator to 120 amps.
3. 5 point grounding
4. big 3 (using just gauge 4 wires though)
here's what i plan to do in the next couple of weeks:
1. have my damn alternator and its internal voltage regulator checked.
2. check the tension on my alternator belt (should be done later)
3. change my five point grounding wires to hks. i have this already to replace my generic ones. plus my grounding kit is 6 years old already. and has endured flood!
4. only as a last resort...upgrade my big 3 wires from gauge 4 to gauge 0/1. sine my main battery is at the trunk, this will be kinda expensive coz of the length of the wire/s needed.
is there anything else i should take a look at? am i missing something?
im so frustrated already!!! please help me!!!!
thanks!!!
chris b