Headlights flickering after amp install ???

MustangLife · Feb 9, 2009

I just installed a 500 watt rms Kenwood amp to 2 kenwood subs. Now my headlights are flickering. I have a $80 Napa battery and the stock alternator. Do I need to install a capacitor ? Or could it be something else.

Josh

PS. The trunk is pounding and rattling so hard. I didn't think it would. Even dynamatted the license tag. The subs are 10 inches from the rear of the trunk. Guess I'll have to dynamat it.

mustangman9812 · Feb 9, 2009

need a bigger alternator i would guess.

98stangv8 · Feb 9, 2009

get a capacitor first...like a 2 farad or so...pretty cheap...like 100 bucks...if that doesn't do it...upgrade the alternator...but that should do it...

I have a 800X2 and a 300X4 and my 1 farad cap was just fine:

MustangLife · Feb 9, 2009

To add. The only extra thing I have to draw extra power is my headlight and fog light bulbs.

fog lights 37.5 watts with a output of 110 watts
headlights 65/55W with a output of 140/120W

Are the fog lights drawing alow of power also ?

MustangLife · Feb 9, 2009

Nice setup. I'll try the cap. I'm going for the blue color look. Blue illumination, blue wires. Theres a Lightning Audio cap that has a blue led thats 1 farad and around $59 would that be allright for my 500 watts ?

98stangv8 · Feb 10, 2009

MustangLife said:
Nice setup. I'll try the cap. I'm going for the blue color look. Blue illumination, blue wires. Theres a Lightning Audio cap that has a blue led thats 1 farad and around $59 would that be allright for my 500 watts ?

that should be fine...If you can find a 1.5 or 2...I would go for that...it isn't all that much more..

If you are going for a blue look, this is what I did:

jayrw · Feb 10, 2009

I have a single JL audio 13W7 subwoofer and a JL audio 1000W mono block amp installed in my 00 GT and my lights will dim if I turn it up pretty loud, Ive been able to improve this problem by replacing the stock battery with an Optima yellow top and I also did the "Big 3 wire" upgrade (Link) The majority of people suggest I add a 2nd battery to fix it completely but I'm trying to avoid that route due to the added weight.

I also have some pretty bad rattle issues.. The sub is so powerful its actually causing new rattles to pop up, most recently my dome light assembly in the car start rattling and the rear wing recently started making so much noise I thought it was going to fall off, upon inspection I was able to literally turn the nuts holding the wing by hand! but I fixed it by installing lock-nuts.

The shop that installed everything says they can fix all my rattles with dynamat etc. I may have to let them take care of it but I'm guessing it wont be to cheap..

TheDeliveryBoy · Feb 10, 2009

The only way to properly fix it is with a better battery. My choice is a kinetics. They r kinda pricey but tits a tremendous difference. I had dd system pushing 7000 watts with a kinetics 3500 and never had a problem on the stock alternator. I would suggest a 2500 u can pick them up usually for around $300. But basically all ull get with the la cap is some blue lights and some chrome!

TheDeliveryBoy · Feb 10, 2009

As for the rattiling I suggest pulling the upolsttry down off ur trunk lid and adding in two pieces of metal strap it will stiffen things up. Then put ur dynomat on. And even further put some roll on Bedliner on top of that.

MustangLife · Feb 11, 2009

I have a smaller alternator pulley(steeda U/D pulleys) I completely forgot about. I think all 3 together is whats doing the problem. I gotta figure out something quick. But the cheapest thing to do is the cap of course and I can only go from there. I know Powermaster makes a 200 amp alternator for our cars.

MustangLife · Feb 11, 2009

I have a smaller alternator pulley(steeda U/D pulleys) I completely forgot about. I think all 3 together is whats doing the problem. I gotta figure out something quick. But the cheapest thing to do is the cap of course and I can only go from there. I know Powermaster makes a 200 amp alternator for our cars.

98stangv8 · Feb 11, 2009

MustangLife said:
I have a smaller alternator pulley(steeda U/D pulleys) I completely forgot about. I think all 3 together is whats doing the problem. I gotta figure out something quick. But the cheapest thing to do is the cap of course and I can only go from there. I know Powermaster makes a 200 amp alternator for our cars.

That pulley really isn't that much of a difference from the stock one...I actually didn't even replace it when I put on my U/D pullies...since they were so close (actually couldn't see a difference next to each other)...

I still have the stock alternator and don't have any problems...even at full blast on the stereo with the cap...

Patdesignsinc · Mar 22, 2012

I would save your money on the cap and just go ahead and fork over $200 for a yellow top battery. It benefits your entire electrical system, not just your amp.

BlownFiveLiter · Mar 22, 2012

Patdesignsinc said:
I would save your money on the cap and just go ahead and fork over $200 for a yellow top battery. It benefits your entire electrical system, not just your amp.

This is a three year old thread. I hope they've solved it by now.

Headlights flickering after amp install ???

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