Headlights Dimming?

[Side Show 10+ year member]

^^ can you explain why the alts die? do they see a load or sumthing from the batts?

and did you say your lights are dimming even when the music isn't on?

 

[bradl79 10+ year member]

my volts do not dip below 14.1, with engine on and audio playing at the vol i play at, even though my volts do not drop that low could it still dim the headlights, i didn't notice when i was measuring the volts

 

[Side Show 10+ year member]

very weird

 

[jar1zx 10+ year member]

It takes both. Alt and batt or batts

Get ready to pay more for alt, batt, wires than you did for your amp

Don't cheap out on alt.

 

[phemps 10+ year member]

my volts do not dip below 14.1, with engine on and audio playing at the vol i play at, even though my volts do not drop that low could it still dim the headlights, i didn't notice when i was measuring the volts

Headlights can be very sensitive to even slight voltage drop.

 

[calebkhill 10+ year member]

Headlights can be very sensitive to even slight voltage drop.

True.

How do you know your voltage isn't dropping. dmm?

I'd try adjusting your gains before you spend money on anything.

 

[gckless 5,000+ posts]

Chances are real good that whatever you're using to measure voltage is registering fast enough for you to see the voltage drops. For example, I never see my voltage move from 14.8 or whatever I happen to be sitting at even at full tilt, yet I can see my headlights dim if I'm idling, and I can get my headlights to dim if I simply roll two windows up at the same time.

Beyond that, as people mentioned, even dropping a tenth of a volt can make headlights dim. Most older lighting systems are pretty sensitive to that.

Either get HID's or just don't worry about it if it's not that bad.

 

[bradl79 10+ year member]

Yes a ddm caleb

 

[cablguy184 10+ year member]

I've found ( with working with HIDs) that if you rebuild you headlight grounds (along with your origional grounding points) to the body within 18 inches (general length of a battery) of your headlights ... You headlights will work alot better with dimming troubles and on / off response times ...

... and in some cases, install relays on your headlights work great too ...