Installed new battery to chassis ground.. new problem...

[ARKing005 10+ year member]

Now my headlights dim and my amp overheats. I'm starting to think I have a bad battery. I have a sony xplod 1000w 2 ch amp bridged to 1ch 400W RMS.... 12 sony xplod sub 1200w, sony xplod head unit, stock bose speakers and amp.

Now the reason I think my battery is dead is because, when I have my car totally off, key out of ignition, my dome light will go from dim, to bright, to brighter, back to dim, and the cycle repeats. Its not a huge difference from dim to bright, but enough for me to notice it.. Any ideas?

I have turned my bass boost and gain down and still experience dimming. I have 4GA power and 0GA ground; which is connected to shiny metal of the chassis.

Appreciate everyones help

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[mylows10 5,000+ posts]

dis connect the battery completely and check the voltage .you should always have the same size power and ground wires too

 

[ARKing005 10+ year member]

dis connect the battery completely and check the voltage .you should always have the same size power and ground wires too

Could the wire sizing be the cause?

I also grounded from the negative terminal to the chassis with non audio cable wiring. I think it was electrical wiring lol, just thick strands of copper. Just like the stock battery cable. I'm gonna try to check voltage. Thanks for your reply.

 

[ARKing005 10+ year member]

Does anyone know what setting on the multimeter to use.. its like encoded with symbols and crap haha no indication of just voltage!

 

[>>SQL<< 10+ year member]

post a pic of the DMM...it is hard to describe the right symbol

now if it has a DC section then 20 volts is the proper setting

 

[MisterDeadeye 10+ year member]

Did you sand the paint off of the chassis? Metal has to touch metal, not paint.

 

[ARKing005 10+ year member]

post a pic of the DMM...it is hard to describe the right symbol
now if it has a DC section then 20 volts is the proper setting

I have no camera or way to transfer the picture from my phone. I think I found it. Its yellow, says 20, and has v= sign but the bottom half of the = is dotted. I will check voltage when its not RETARDEDLY pouring out

and misterdeadeye, yes my ground is connected to bare metal. I scratched off all paint with my knife, cleaned with wd-40, and wiped with a rag. Its Shiny.

 

[xShoWTeKx 10+ year member]

= sign with dotted line is DC Volts

= Sign with wavy line is AC Volts

use the dotted line

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

I recommend going to Orielys/Autozone and get them to test the voltage on your battery,and then with a load on it.Its free,and hassle free!!

 

[dipitydoo 10+ year member]

did you choose a new ground point with the new battery? if so, doublecheck to make sure surface is clean, and its on a solid piece of the chassis.

 

[ARKing005 10+ year member]

Ok I have returned with some multimeter readings....

With the car off and all accessories off the battery measures 12.6

With the car started and running, it reads 14

After these reading I drove around and Bumpeeddd music as loud as my system goes. Almost 0 headlight dimming, just gauge cluster dimming.

anyways I took some more reading after the drive..

With the car on and under some load I was getting a reading of 13.74v at the amp (volume real low, not pounding)

I also then checked the battery itself with the car running and under load and got a reading of 13.71

I'm thinking my alternator is shot? Maybe a weak battery? any ideas?

And diptydoo, i said it 3 time YES ITS A CLEAN connection!

 

[dipitydoo 10+ year member]

my bad, bro. so were the dome lights dimming with no load while you took the voltage readings?

 

[ARKing005 10+ year member]

it happens lol, and im not sure man. I havent paid much attention to the dome lights lately. I find it odd how it changes brightnesses when the cars off.. hopefully someone will know whats up when they see the multimeter readings :/

 

[>>SQL<< 10+ year member]

those reading are fine.

I see no reason to think that your alt is bad

the Alt will produce 14+ volts when it is not under a load.

Your voltage is fine.

FYI - Photobucket allows you to text pictures from your phone to them and they will post them to your account all for free.

 

[ARKing005 10+ year member]

those reading are fine.I see no reason to think that your alt is bad

the Alt will produce 14+ volts when it is not under a load.

Your voltage is fine.

FYI - Photobucket allows you to text pictures from your phone to them and they will post them to your account all for free.

the alt read 13.7 while under load.. I read its suppose to be 14.2-14.7 Mind you i took the reading without the subwoofer hitting... so I can only imagine the voltage dropped. I have to test during the day when i can bump it.