Voltage dropped and won't go back up

[DylanBeatz 10+ year member]

So I'm pretty sure my 08 Tiburon idled at around 14 volts with nothing playing or definitely high 13's, then I added an xs power d3100 and turned up my rf T1000bdcp to full tilt and after a few days of that, it seems my voltage is stuck down low now.

At idle with no music playing it's at 12.5 volts and when I bump at idle it starts dropping to 12.2 and I feel it would go lower if I kept playing it

My alt is only 90 amps and I haven't done the big three yet. I'm scared to drive my car and bump now. Is my alternator breaking? Why won't it go back up without music going?

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[BEEKAY]

If you are 12.5 at idle something is wrong with your charging system. You sure everything is connected correctly and secure to the D3100?

 

[winkychevelle 10+ year member]

Sounds like a bad ground or bad alt. The ground is the easier fix.

 

[DylanBeatz 10+ year member]

The ground from the battery is 1/0 going straight to the stock battery up front, I don't have a ground, I'm pretty sure everything is hooked up right, it's pretty simple, but now you got me wondering

 

[DylanBeatz 10+ year member]

Also should mention I'm reading the voltage from my smd vm-1 that is connected to my amp. I'm going to go double check my connections and check the voltage of both batteries with a dmm

 

[Boomin_tahoe 5,000+ posts]

Should have done the big 3 1st.

 

[DylanBeatz 10+ year member]

Should have done the big 3 1st.

Probably, it's not like it's too late now though is it?

 

[Boomin_tahoe 5,000+ posts]

Probably, it's not like it's too late now though is it?

*Double post....holyshit is my computer running slow...

 

[Boomin_tahoe 5,000+ posts]

Probably, it's not like it's too late now though is it?

Oh absolutely not. But now look at what you gotta deal with now.

Here's what I would do. Do the suggested above, go over your work/wiring. Sometimes things just get overlooked. Then do the big 3 when you can. asap would be best and then your voltage may go up.

 

[DylanBeatz 10+ year member]

Awesome thanks man, I was just out in my parking lot and started my car after it was sitting off for a while, the voltage started at 13.1volts, but then as i let my car idle with no bass going and quiet music and ac, it slowly started dropping. Even had a dmm to the battery up front, went from 13.1 down to 12.7 in about 5 minutes and that's like I said with no bass. I didn't get a chance to look all the wires over though because I'm afraid to open my trunk in my parking lot and I'm too lazy right now to drive somewhere but tomorrow I will when I wake up

 

[Boomin_tahoe 5,000+ posts]

Just a thought---my alt in my s10 started failing when the instrument cluster lights were fading on/off. That's a clue the alt was on it's way out. If your lights are doing any of that, replace that alt asap.