alt question

[goodstuff 10+ year member]

I noticed that my system gets louder when I turn the engine off...I'm sure this has been addressed somewhere before but can I make it as loud as it is w/ the engine off cause it sounds alot better....how would I do this? upgrade the alt? would the big three help me? I don't think i'm drawing alot of current no more than 20 amps...

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[djman37 5,000+ posts]

that doesn't sound good to me. It has been the other way around for anyone I've heard.

 

[goodstuff 10+ year member]

so you think my alt is dying?

 

[djman37 5,000+ posts]

so you think my alt is dying?

could be... i'd double check ALL your wiring, including grounds.

If you have a DMM check your voltage and be sure what's going on.

You sould be getting, for most cars, above 13.v with the car on and 12v with it off.

 

[goodstuff 10+ year member]

my roomate has a dmm...(possible stupid question) so I test it off the battery leads?

 

[johnecon2001 5,000+ posts]

off of the alt it self actually. place the red lead on the alt positive post and the black lead on the frame of the car.

 

[goodstuff 10+ year member]

ok thanks john I thought I could get away with being lazy and just test it from the terminals but I will do it off the alt...

 

[knukonceptz 10+ year member]

You can test at the battery as well, you SHOULD get the same voltage (after all they are connected) The only difference will be the wire resistance. SO test at both places, if there isa major difference you have a cable problem. Very odd the stereo is louder with the car off. The only way possible for it to be that way is if the voltage is lower with the car on - check battery with car off - then on - then at ALT. DO this with nothing on - then do with Lights/rear defrost/ and then do turn on the stereo.

 

[goodstuff 10+ year member]

yeah it didn't seem like that big of a deal but now I'm thinking I might have a problem somewhere...thanks for your help I'll let you know what I come up with...it's really cold up here so I might not get to it for a while.

 

[goodstuff 10+ year member]

so I was going to test my alternator tomorrow and my friend who owns the multimeter I was going to use is asking I should be looking for ac or dc voltage. I think it is dc since thats what car battery puts out he says the alternator puts out ac. I am too drunk to think about this please figure it out for me.

 

[goodstuff 10+ year member]

anyone?

 

[knukonceptz 10+ year member]

DC Voltage - check voltage with car off, then on You will want about 14.4V with car on, turn accessories and see how the charging system reacts.

 

[n2audio 5,000+ posts]

the alt produces ac voltage but it is rectified into DC INSIDE the alternator.

 

[goodstuff 10+ year member]

thats what I thought....thanks doodz

 

[phantom240 5,000+ posts]

uh maybe its just me, but if your stereo doesnt seem as loud with the car on... it COULD possibly just be that the MOTOR IS ON? just a thought here... considering motors arent exactly silent.