electric problem

jonowong · Post by **jonowong** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 9:15 am

Hi, everyone lately ive been having electric problems, i think its the battery, everytime i go for a drive i notice when im stopped at the traffic lights, my voltmeter flickers at under 12 volts and if im stuck in traffic for along time with the music on it hits the 8 and my stereo turns off, and sometimes my whole car turns off...

can someone please confirm its just a sh*tty battery company because i have one of those $60 ones but its only about 6months old!

mxysxy · Post by **mxysxy** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 9:42 am

hmmmmm,
Your alternator might be on the way to take a long holiday.
As far as I know, once the car starts alternator supposed to charge battery with little more than 12 volts.
Assuming you dont run something sucks lots of power, alternator would be the first one in my list to look at. Luckly it can be reconditioned.

FTO338 · Post by **FTO338** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 9:47 am

Sounds more like your alternator, to get it recondition it should cost your around $250-$300, a second hand one around $400-$500, brand new $800 from mitsubishi.

Since you from Sydney, i've heard some of the guys go to a place called A1, maybe someone like to confirm that...

jonowong · Post by **jonowong** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 10:25 am

actually im over 12v in the day time...
but at night when i have the fog lights and lights on...
this problem occurs!

mxysxy · Post by **mxysxy** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 12:54 pm

jonowong wrote:actually im over 12v in the day time...
but at night when i have the fog lights and lights on...
this problem occurs!

If you are using way too powerful lights, and using all in the same time, you can actually drain your battery flat. You could be sucking more power from the battery, then the alternator's charge.

This has happened to me many times. When I was out for spot light shooting, few times we drain the battery, and got stuck inthe middle of the paddock no where near to civilisation. Using brand new Landcruser, with total of 3 largest batteries in the engine bay, we were also using 3 largest spotlights available. Car never died on us while driving, however, after turning off the ignition, didnt wanna start back again.

We learnt our lesson and carried a petrol operated recharging kit in the car all the time.

So, in your situation, try not to use too much light for a while, and see how you go. If everything is fine, you might consider to drop the power output of the lights a bit.

I am not sure how correct but I heard that it takes about 7 hours straigt driving to totaly recharge a car battery. So give the battery some time first to charge properly.

jonowong · Post by **jonowong** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 1:30 pm

my lights are just the standard ones...
i think ive just been playing my music too loud!
thanks for the help!