time for new alternator??

[RobertFielding 10+ year member]

i think i need a new alternator, ive been readnig around but i decided to ask some poeple who will know better then me. i have a 95 lumina Ls im failry sure its the oem alt and i have no idea how old the battery is. alt is i think 100-105 amps. i been running 1 infinity 12.1 sub off a alpine mrv 100M amp for almst a year and notice some light dimming at times. now im running 2 infinity 12.1 off a JBL GTO601 .II amp, and when i get the volume up the subs hit very hard, and my lights dim big time. im not turing it up right now cuz i fear i might fry my alt, specially at red lights. what would you recommend?? 150-200amp alt?? will my car be ok lol, new battery??

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[RobertFielding 10+ year member]

anyone????

 

[RobertFielding 10+ year member]

30 views an no feed back,........

 

[tsenfw 10+ year member]

Big 3 done yet? Try that first. If still dimming people suggest another battery in the trunk or just go with an alternator straight off the bat to try and not waste money. Alternators usually make peak power at 2-3k if I remember correctly. Turn it down at idle if your fearing electrical problems. Use some common sense with volume until you figure out your electrical.

I had pretty bad dimming until I did the big three and put a yellowtop under the hood. I still had a little dimming but turned my gain down a little. Immacomputer (I think, or someone else) was kind enough to make me realize you really can't hear the difference in 100-200 hundred watts.

 

[RobertFielding 10+ year member]

no big 3 is not done yet, very hard to do with my engine bay, everything is just cramed in there..... like my batter sits under my washfluid resvoir. so its a pain just to remove the batter, gotta move the resevoir tank, then the air filter housing beside it, i can look around though and see if i can do it. yea ive seen alts that hit there max power around those rpms, but only a fraction of power at idle, could throw a battery in teh trunk, but i dont any crazy subs like poeple got on here, there just 2 futureshop subs. 350rms a peice, im running about 290 to each of them, a new battery will be going under the hood eventually though, not sure how old it is. new alternator sounds good though

 

[ThatChevyGuy 5,000+ posts]

its not that hard, i had to take off a front brace and my battery was a ***** to get out, and my ground was right by my radiator. Took all of 2 hours for everything, including running o gauge thru the firewall.

 

[tsenfw 10+ year member]

My buddy has a gm like that. WHat you can do is get one of these side posts:

http://www.remybattery.com/Products/00543__00543.aspx

They come with a nut for the end so you can add accessories. You can cut off the ends of the factory wiring and ad ends like this:

http://www.remybattery.com/Products/5955E__5955E.aspx

Just make sure you crimp them well (hammer or vice) and solder them. You should be able to fit factory wiring, big three and amp wiring. You can get those copper ends at like an autozone.

 

[audioarsonal 10+ year member]

You only have to do it once.So take the time and do the 3 first and see what that gets you.

 

[RobertFielding 10+ year member]

so basically do big three first..... if that dont work then think about a new alt,

 

[RobertFielding 10+ year member]

tsen thanks for that info, makes sense

 

[Johnny Drama 5,000+ posts]

Is it the stock battery youve had in the car for a while? Maybe the Big three and a new better battery at the same time. Id go that route so when you do decide to get an alt you have a good battery already.

 

[RobertFielding 10+ year member]

hmm jntar, that is a good quesation that im not even sure about lol, would be nice to know but problem is i can barely see my battery atm, its pretty much hidden, so im not exactly sure, if it is the stock battery then it has been kicking for 13 years now, 95 lumina, which seemsl ike a failry long time for a battery

 

[Johnny Drama 5,000+ posts]

hmm jntar, that is a good quesation that im not even sure about lol, would be nice to know but problem is i can barely see my battery atm, its pretty much hidden, so im not exactly sure, if it is the stock battery then it has been kicking for 13 years now, 95 lumina, which seemsl ike a failry long time for a battery

Yep, yep

Batteries are usually good for 2 to 4 years. If you live where its cold maybe even less.

Id try and check on the battery.

 

[audioarsonal 10+ year member]

If you have had the car a couple years and haven't changed it then it would be smart to do that at the same time since it is hard to get to.would save you from having to do it twice.

 

[RobertFielding 10+ year member]

yea had the car about a year, live in canada, not too cold, in ontario