'00 Contour 130A alt -- dimming

[n2audio 5,000+ posts]

380w a/b

700w D

I've had this set up installed with two other electrical systems -- one a 75A alt, old but big battery -- gave me low voltage at idle, but ran fine while driving with minor dimming at high volume on the road.

Same car as above with a 110A alt - same battery -- Steady 13.8-14v at idle, very slight dimming on the road.

That car had a fairly demanding stock electrical system.

Contour - 130A alt, stock battery, average condition. Pretty basic stock electrical system. Obvious dimming at high volume regardless of RPM's.

I added an 8 ga wire from the alts to the batt (+) in all 3.

I've never had dimming noticable enough that it bothered me, but I want to improve it on this car.

Does anyone have any experience with the big 3 for Contour/Mystique/Cougar? Before/after reports?

I have plenty of 4 ga lying around.

I've found a wiring mod for the alt involving the Volt. Reg. sensor wire, but I don't want to go that route until I've exhausted all the usual remedies.

Click to read more...

 

[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

sounds like a bad/weak ground somewhere...your car is a uni-body...so there are no good solid grounds in the trunk...you'll need a heavy gauge ground run from the back of the car to the front battery ground

 

[n2audio 5,000+ posts]

I might run a ground wire if it comes to that, but about every car built in the last 20 yrs is unibody, including my previous car, and my dimming was less with a smaller alt and similar grounding point.

 

[arty 10+ year member]

i agree with Louisiana

i think it's a ground issue

 

[loopkiller 10+ year member]

 

[pre98zetec 10+ year member]

do the big 3 and get a decent battery i had almost 1700wrms on mine with minimal dimming on my 96' tour, the stock alts are actually pretty decent considering the car they are on. Lol.