AMP and subs ruinin my alternator?

[deroy08]

i just installed an 800 watt amp to two twelve inch subs. it works fine, but i have been having battery problems ever since i installed it. the other day my car wasnt starting, it was giving off constant clicks but didn't finish the start. i took out the charger and charged it up and it starts now but today i went to start by turning the key and nothing happens, but then if i use my electric starter it will start using that. i have a 2000 accord coupe. the other day i was bumping the subs with my car on then the car shut off... could this be my alternator? i am planning on taking it to a mechanic soon to see and probably getting a new battery soon as well but i wanted some feed on it before i did so. right now i drive the car with the music off becasue im afraid of getting stranded. tell me wat you think, thanks

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[qtipextra 5,000+ posts]

Possibly a bad battery and a bad alternator. I had the same problems. I had my alt re-wound locally, and bought a big battery at wal-mart (Diehard). I got the biggest battery that would phisically fit in my car, and I havn't had a single problem since, and this was a year ago.

 

[dumple 5,000+ posts]

make sure ur terminals are all the way on and tight

 

[deroy08]

well, there is corrosion on my negative terminal. my neighbor said that could be part of the problem. i have cleaned it as well as i could so far i need to get it off to get it perfect but the bolt is stripped.

 

[k12ug 10+ year member]

well, there is corrosion on my negative terminal. my neighbor said that could be part of the problem. i have cleaned it as well as i could so far i need to get it off to get it perfect but the bolt is stripped.

yea....get a new batt. and get your alt. rewound.

i tihnk its just your battery though.

 

[KyleHarty 10+ year member]

I agree with what's been said, I would guess you're battery is shot. If you have access to a volt-meter you can easily get a little better idea what's going on. The battery should read about 12 volts across the terminals with the car off and 13.8-14.4 with the car running. If it still reads 12 with the car running you're alternator is dead. If you don't have one, I'd go to Autozone or someplace like that, I think most of them will do a free check of the alt and battery.

It's a long shot, but another thing I'd check just to make sure is that the remote-turn on for the amp is wired correctly. Turn the car and system off and make sure that the amp turns off as well. This isn't a very likely cause of your problems but the amp will have a small current draw if it doesn't turn off and if it was staying on when the car's off that wouldn't help the situation.