alternator dead....medium sized audio system the culprit?

[KwayKer]

Hey,

my 91 240SX's alternator just went bad. My audio system is about 1000 RMS watts. Do you think that the audio system contributed to the alternator going bad? I dont know if the thing has ever been replaced before I owned the car or not. I've had my system in it for a little over a year. The headlights never dim or anything, but I gotta replace my alternator today. anyway, what steps can I take to reduce the load to my alternator? I am getting ready to buy a capacitor, would this help? Anything else?

Oh yea, about a month ago, I put the ASP pulley on my car which has to have an effect on the alternator. Any suggestions or information would be a great help.

Also, the best method of taking out the old one and installing the new one would be to jack the car and go from under, correct?

[Daunttless]

I would guess that it was a mix of your underdrive pulley and large audio system, when its underdriven if you have high power requirements its forced to work much harder. I really have no idea how big of an audiosystem that is as I don't do audio, but I would imagine that is your problem...

[bland]

I think the system contributed to it quite a bit. My alternator on my old car went right after I had my system, and my friends cars had the same problem to. I was never pushing as much as 1000 though so you are probably putting a lot of strain on your electrical system. I'de say get a capacitor of 2 farad's and maybe even a competition battery.