I'm having a problem with the lights dimming in my car. I have 0 gauge running from the battery to a distribution block in the trunk & I've double checked the ground. I have since taken out the sub/amp & left the components and 1 amp.

The other day I was testing my voltage and I get a reading of around 12v while in park....does this sound about right? I thought our voltage was higher than this? When I turn my components all the way up....the voltage drops to around 11.7...remember this is without my sub & other amp. Does anyone have any idea what could be wrong?

 

You need a capacitor. 1 Farad cap for every 1000 watts.

 

Cap is not gonna help in this case. It only help light dimming problem when a base note hits. Seems to me like you need a higher output alternator. 12.0V while the car is running is very low. It should be at around 14v +/- 0.4v

 

Capacitors making a difference has always been a huge debate in the car audio industry.

I did a search and found a statement by SilverKnight

Now, I'm trying to figure uot why the voltage is so low. Has any else tested their voltage?

 

I've contacted a few places about HO alternators and most of them dont have anything for our cars. The only location I found...quoted me $400

 

Whats the voltage at the battery, if it's the same as the wire than it's time to replace the battery. Most batteries when they read 12.0 something without being under load are bad.

 

alternators can be had for about 250..
i just ordered a 180A one for 249.99
heres the website
http://4alterstartcom.verizonsupersi...chfor%3DAccord

just realized not everyone has a first gen :P
i dont know of any for second gens, but havent looked
so i guess that is no help sorry

 

Thanks for the info. It shows they make one for the 01 CL. I'm going to email them...not sure if there's any difference between the 01 CL and a 02 CL-s

 

You simply have too high of a current draw. The supposed standard operating voltage should be ~14.4v (My car consistantly stays at 14.67v). Like stated before, under 13v means you are drawing waaay too much current for the alternators size (you really shouldn't drop below the native voltage anyway). When the current draw exceeds the alternators limit, the voltage will drop. You are exceeding that limit by ~20%. Time for a larger alternator.

You battery shouldn't have anything to do with anything when the car is running. However, you may very well have toasted yours with a low voltage situation like this. It will start to discharge when the current draw exceeds the alternators capacity and the voltage is below ~12.5v.

Capacitors are there to simply even out the current draw. Very large short term peaks are handled by it, and it recharges when there is less current draw from the amp.

 

Does anyone know if Acura makes a certified higher powered alternator for th 01 CL's?

 

I don't know that higher output is needed here. You may have a bad alternator. What is the voltage with the stereo off? On? If you don't get 13.8 or higher in idle, with the stereo off, you have a problem.

 

Actually I don't have a problem with my lights dimming but I am running a fairly large stereo (about 1800 watts) with a cap already and I got to this thread when I was trying to find out if Acura carried an Acura aproved high capacity alternator.