Amps are just shutting off, not enough power?

[SkwurlyFab 10+ year member]

I just got done together mocking up my entire new system and it's not working out so well. I'm running a JL 300/4 to 4 Alpine Type R 6.5 component sets with crossovers. Also a JL 1000/1 to an RE sub, dual 2 ohm wired in series. I have an optima yellow top and a 1.2 farad stinger capacitor as well. When I turn the volume up above 20 on my Kenwood HU, everything just cuts out. Both JL amps light up the blue light of low voltage and I just can't play it loud. All settings are rough and not perfect on the amps. And if I one amp on and the other off, either one will do the same thing. The volume goes up and the amp shuts off, even if it's just the 300/4. So what the hell is wrong with it? How does my car not have enough power to even run a 300/4 correctly? It's a Toyota 4runner BTW. I swear it shouldn't be underpowered or am I wrong? Please someone let me know what could be wrong, I just want my system to work and it's pissing me off so bad right now I just can't figure out how the **** to get it to do what it's supposed to!

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[revrider1 5,000+ posts]

OUCH, I guess maybe the alty isnt giving the current needed or maybe a bad ground. Have you had any electrical problems in the past, dimming lights? What gauge you running?

 

[Eldorado 5,000+ posts]

Its the cap...they are the devil.

Or you are not getting enough voltage to the amps....battery isnt holding a charge

 

[revrider1 5,000+ posts]

Oh yeh, CAPS are not worth the s**t, they are a waste of money

 

[SkwurlyFab 10+ year member]

Yeah I thought it was the ground too. I looked where I mounted the ground for the amps and I hadn't scraped the paint. DRemeled it off and still did the same thing. I even took a jumper cable and ran it from the amp grounds to the battery ground and it didn't make a difference.

In regards to the cap, I ran everything first with no cap and it really sucked. Then I charged up the cap and ran it with the cap in the lines and I can turn it up more before the amps shut off.

I held a multi to the power and ground inputs on the 1000 and the 300/4 and they stay in the 13 volt range when the amps shut off. I just don't get it.

I ran a jl 10w3 v2 off of a rockford Fosgate 350 watt amp before I dove into this new system and I never had any problems at all. And that was with the stock toyota battery too, not the yellow top. No dimming with that sub and amp either, now my entire car dims with this sub and amp set up. Guages, dome lights, head lights, tail lights, dash lights, EVERYTHING!!!

What the hell is wrong?!?! I am at a loss here lol:crap:

 

[revrider1 5,000+ posts]

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/eyebrow.gif.fe2c18d8720fe8c7eaed347b21ea05a5.gif , That is wierd, What gauge wire are you running to ur amps

 

[Eldorado 5,000+ posts]

Id get your battery checked out.

 

[SkwurlyFab 10+ year member]

from the battery to the fused distro block it's 4 guage which then splits off into two 8 guage power cables to each amp.

I was wondering if it was the battery too because the yellow top is about 2 years old I think and was ran in my truck for a while pretty heavily, but I swear that shouldn't ruin a battery. Anyways, sometiems when the 4runner is off for a little bit the battery drains down to 8-9 volts and it's almost impossible to start the car without jumping it. I have no idea why it drains. It never did that in my truck, it started to do that in my 4 runner only I don't get it.

 

[Eldorado 5,000+ posts]

ya, its your battery

Its not holding a charge

 

[SkwurlyFab 10+ year member]

Well I guess that's a relief, I was worried I was gonna have to get a 2nd one or maybe even a new alternator. So I guess those are the common symptoms of a failing battery then? Just draining for no reason and not enough juice to run my amps? Why would it still be reading 13 volts while the car is running and the music is playing but the amps shut off? I couldd understand if the battery was goin bad if it was reading like 5 volts but it's not dipping too low at all.

Anybody ever returned an Optima on warranty or something like that? I don't have the paperwork on it anymore but I'd rather not have to buy a whole ****ing new one.

 

[Eldorado 5,000+ posts]

when the car is on it runs off the alt

when you pull more amps than the alt can supply you get battery power.

 

[SkwurlyFab 10+ year member]

Ah I see. I'll try and get a new battery tomorrow and I'll post up on if it works out or not. Thanks for all the helpful replies!

 

[Eldorado 5,000+ posts]

Hopefully this is the problem.

Simple easy fix

 

[SkwurlyFab 10+ year member]

Well no one wants to seem to replace the battery. Anyone ever had one replaced before? HOw'd you get em to do it?

 

[kotec123 10+ year member]

im 98% sure its not ur optima....i had the exact same problem, and it turned out to have NOTHING to do wt the battery........ its your alternator.....i imagine people are not gonna agree, but the symptoms u described are identical to the ones i had, and still suffer from.....i got the biggest optima they make, and got NO improvement.......ur batt is most likely fine.........get a bigger alt...pm me wt questions, cause i worked first hand wt this problem