So we go on a run to Crown King here in AZ. Everything is going well, until all of a sudden my check gauges light comes on and my voltage drops all the way. Right before this happened my stereo had been turning on and off. We switched batteries with my friend and the same thing was happening. Had to jump start it a few times. Then for whatever reason about an hour later while driving, the voltage shoots back up to 14 and everything is fine.

Now fast forward one month roughly. Now my amplifiers will shut off after about 10 minutes of use, my voltage gauge reads fine, and no check gauges lights are on. I still have my friends battery in my jeep. The in-line fuse holder had burn/melt marks on it but the fuse wasn't popped. I replaced this thinking it may be the problem but it didn't fix anything. I'm running around 1300 watts total from the 2 amplifiers. I'm thinking my problem is my alternator, or I need a bigger wire coming from the battery to the distribution block where the power wire splits to go to the two amplifiers. I'm running 4gauge from the battery with an 80 amp inline fuse, and 4gauge to the two amplifiers with 2 30 amp fuses in the distribution block.

I've done some research and I've only found one or two other situations like this and it seems to be the alternator going bad. Are there any members here running a bigger alternator with sound systems? Or is the stock ALT enough to run my system?

Any help or information would be GREATLY appreciated.

 

Battery to Alternator wire upgraded also

 

Yea I was reading up on the "big three" upgrades.

 

Mine did the same thing, ended up just being dirty connections at the alternator and battery. As well as, a dirt covered alternator haha!

I second the big 3 upgrade!

 

www.kelleyswip.com has nice wiring upgrades.

 

Hmm... maybe Ill try taking it apart and cleaning it, cleaning all the connections and re-doing them. I guarantee mines pretty effin dirty:

LOL

 

RCBRC as it says in my signature. Where was the muddy photo taken? Near Table Mesa?

 

Out behind lake pleasant at Boulders.

 

I've lived in Prescott, Arizona for 34 years and never been to Lake Pleasant!!
Been ATVing near Table Mesa on the north end though.

 

Yea table mesa is where we usually go shooting.

UPDATE:

Today I disconnected and reconnected EVERY wire to my system. Disconnected and cleaned ALL battery terminal connection, all alternator connections, and all grounds I could find. Found the passenger side battery terminal to chassis ground BROKEN IN HALF. I replaced the ground... and I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I took it for a test drive and 2 minutes in BOTH amps shut COMPLETELY off. Did not go into protect... they were not getting power AT ALL. This has to be a charging system problem no? Could my inline fuse be the culprit? Or the distribution block? Or like I originally thought do I need to run a bigger gauge wire to the distribution block form the battery?

 

Unplug all the wires from the pcm, clean the connectors up and replace them.

 

Where is this located on a '00? I know its in the fender on the older models...

 

I believe right next to the airbox?
I would definitely try this before replacing anything. I went through the trouble of replacing the alternator and rigging an external voltage regulator before i realized it was a connection issue Goodluck and I hope to hear about sucess!

 

Thanks a Lot. I'm going to go do this right now, then tomorrow morning on my way to work I'll see if its any better.

 

No problem, I hope it works for you! If not, pm me or keep posting on this thread because my 98 did the same exact thing