First off thankyou to anyone who responds to my desperate need for help. I have a 2003 Lancer ES. About 6 months ago I had the alternator replaced because it died on me. Shortly after I installed a 700w system. About 3 months later the dash lights became extremely dim and the car began to studder at idle and eventually died on me, the shop replaced it free of charge and said it was my sound system. happy, I decided to due without subs for a while.

After some time I decided to put in a 500 w singe sub system, nothin big or so it seemed. Just like my second alternator, the lights began to dim and tonight.. the radio began to cut out (shut on and off), the clock became very dim, and the gas gauge wont work all the time. Additionally my car has difficulty starting. I doubt my 500w(if that..) system can be dealing this much damage to an oem alternator but I dont want to take it back to the local shop that I have a good relationship with and say It died again because id feel like an *******. What could be causing this to happen?

 

Maybe you should install a second battery for only the sub and amp. I am in the process of putting in a 200 W Dual sub in the truck of my 2002 OZ rally and it did seem like I should do two batteries. Also see if you can get a bigger battery or are you already above stock?

 

I'm running three 500 watt subs with 100ish watts going to the front and back speakers. While I do notice the lights flickering like crazy on huge bass hits, I've never been able to get the stereo to turn off or kill the car. I'm running all of this off of the stock alternator and a fairly crappy battery.

I would suspect there's something wrong with how it's been wired. As good of a relationship as you have with your shop, that is NOT how a stereo should be working... I'd have them check it out if it were me. Good luck!

 

if you kill the amp, does it have trouble starting as well? it might be your battery. might need a new one or possibly a capacitor. I'm running 2 12inch 500 Watt subs and 4 240 Watt interior speakers with 2 amps and my lights slightly dime a big but hardly enough to notice. I've never had trouble starting, except for when my battery crapped out.

 

dim a bit*

 

Thanks for the reply. I hope its the battery, Im gunna get it checked out today. I also upgraded the alternator wire which made my sound system clearer and my lights dim less but now its all the same hopefully my car will start today. I would be pissed if it was my alternator for a THIRD time. wish me luck!

 

Also, go ahead and upgrade the ground wire that goes from battery to engine bay chasis. Leave the one that goes to fuse box! A better ground should also reap some benefits.

something handy for you to consider as well, if your head unit does not allow you to turn off the amp outputs, you can just put a switch inline somewhere of the remote wire, this will effectively give you a way to turn the amp on and off safely when ever you want.