My car seems like it doesnt have a lot of electical power. When I roll the windows up the headlights get a little dim. It's definitely noticeable. Does this sound like an alternator problem?

 

Same issue here

 

SAME ISSUE!!

any solution guys?

 

I notice minor light flutter as well

GTS, S&S, NAVI, CVT, NON FASTKEY

Listing model and options helps pinpoint the issue.

 

If it only happens when the car is at idle, I imagine it's normal, since that's when output is at its lowest. Takes a lot of power to roll up windows.

 

Dang, when are they going to get a clue and use a more powerful alternator!

 

if it happen at idle..i dont think a higher output alternator will help.

 

alot of cars I have owned have done that, whether its Honda, Mitsu, etc. thought it was normal

 

I disagree, power output seems to be fine, although the flow of power is the issue. Remember you talking about the same electrical system that pushes your stereo at full volume with a 10" Sub with no flux in RPM level at IDLE. 600+ watts worth. The dimming you are seeing from the lights are normal as there is a draw from your battery there will always be a dip in voltage because your Alternators job is to ensure your Battery is topped up. You want all power hits to come from your battery not from your alternators core power grid. Although i havent seen the electrical layout of the stereo system I a msure Mitsu worked hard to ensure to keep power issues to a minimum. I have seen the car opporate with a live VOLT meter and it response well to power demands.

But unless you have two batteries or a capacitor infront of the All the devices in your car you use, you are going to always see a dimming. Its laws of physics in a Stock unmodified car.
There are some cars that dim when your Rad fun comes on. completely normal.


Remember your car has 2 power sources

A) Battery, used for starting your second power source, and your energy reservour for all or most secondary systems on your car.
B) Engine / Alternator

Techinically after you start your car you could rip out your battery, but this puts a severe strain on your alternator to satify all requests for power immediately, you will notice unless your on the gas, your car will want to stall. But it can be done. But it can go the other way too, your car if there was enough electricity avilible could be made to run on all battery, lol Hense what a properly designed Hybrid is. You want find these dimming issues with a hybrid due to the very large electrical resevour.


IF the dimming bothers you that much, adding a second battery should add to your energy pool. But draining these batteries with the car off and having your alternator charge them up again can in theory hurt both your alternator due to the longer recharge demand, and hurt fuel economy if you are driving around with a battery system that isnt 100% charged.

You alternator diverts power as a primary function to your battery to ensure of its charge. Only then is your alternator and car truely at idle. The biggest hit you could ever due to your car is Start your car with your A/C on.

 

The best thing about high-output alternators is that you have more amps at idle and beyond...thus the main reason for getting one.

 

Why? The car runs fine. The windows work fine. It's a normal experience that happens on pretty much any car in existence...

 

DOesnt matter Blacksheep, THEY want MORE POWER!!!!!! make those windows roll down faster damn it!!!!!! Faster!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

lol all jokes aside, you guys are witnessing simple electronics physics in play. When a draw for power comes in, its diverted from elsewhere.

I wouldnt be surprise if after you spend 400 on a high output alternator that you still get a headlight dimming. its not the alternator, its more of a battery / capacitor issue.

Its still going to zap power from your battery, then your alternator will look over its shoulder and say GOD NO the battery is dying its at 99%, and send power there to bring it back to 100%.

think of electricity like water. water will spill over to where there is no water if a path is created. Same thing here, if there is a draw for power, there is a wave and a force that evens things out.

Ok that sounds complicated, but beleive me, if you added a second battery you would notice less dimming because of a higher reserve of power. your alternator would not knee jerk over the same draw of power compared to senario one.

A second battery would act as a capacitor in one way,but in actual fact 2 batteries act as 1. although your voltage will be 14.5 or what ever is base line for arunning car, the draw or leakage from it will be 50% less. but at the same time take 2X as long to recharge.

What does this mean.

Well if you spend alot of time pumping tons in your car with the power off, and drain it down to 12.33 Volts, when you turn back on your car, your alternator will have to work 2x longer to recharge.

Want to know how to beat a racer if he has 2 batteries haha?

Ask him like 2 minutes before you race to listen to his audio system. Drain that mother trucker. pump it loud, loud for like 5 minutes.

make sure they are 2 old batteries too.

If he were to jump in his car start it and race you for that instance, and you had both the exact same car, the car that has a 80% state battery level would lose. Because an Alternators primary objective is to recharge your batteries depleted state.

Its the same as if you were trying to race with your A/C on. Power from your alternator is being diverted to cover for a draw elsewhere.

I think someone told me in theory if an AC system was designed right and with its own battery, that car fuel efficentcy would be almost un effected. but thats if it was designed properly.

But more on that later.

haha have i dont enough talking.. yes i think so.

 

mos def an alternator problem just rev the engine to speed it up and you wont have that problem...plus you getta hear your bad *** mitsu pur!!

 

I put a red top optima in mine.... haven't had any issues. Not only that, with the DRL's disabled, it takes quite a load off the battery.

 

i alwys thought how a optima battery would improve cars? Stock cars anyways

also,

how the hell did you disabled the DRL? Everyone is dying to know how??