Dying Batteries

[Another Device 10+ year member]

I've been having problems with batteries ever since I had my new alt installed last year. I thought it was just that I didn't do all of the big 3, as I just had a 4ga wire going from my alt to the battery. I removed it and disconnected the ED amp after I had a new batt installed in December, so I just had the Crossfire amp running, no big 3.

Today it died on me, so I had to jump it and drive it home. The batt has enough juice to turn on lights and my stereo, but it won't turn over.

Will the big 3 do anything? My alt works fine as far as I know, my lights brighten and the wipers run faster when I rev the engine, so I think that tells me its putting out ~14 volts, but I could be wrong. My alt doesn't charge at idle, though, I think this is the biggest problem with my system. I really don't feel like putting in the stock alt back in, so any help would be appreciated.

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[luvinthebass 5,000+ posts]

hmm....

how many amps was your stock alternator?

 

[Another Device 10+ year member]

80 amps. Also, I had a friend install a new starter when I had the new alt put in, would a badly installed starter cause this?

 

[mlstrass 5,000+ posts]

My EA wasn't putting out enough amps at idle, so I sent it back in. Nate is putting on a smaller pulley. Look into that or Iraggi as he sells a smaller pulley also.

Unfortunately it seems pretty common when they try to get too much out of a stock case alt, it loses output at idle/down low.