Just installed new deck, amp with current bose speakers and amp..power problems

[Danimal84]

I have a 2001 Maxima with Bose speakers...i just hooked up a pioneer deck using a schose harness with adjustable gains... so i have the 2 bose tweeters and 4 door speakers running off the Bose amp...unhooked the bose subwoofer and installed a 1400watt amp with 2 10inch subs. Last night i was driving and my lights started dimming...i pulled into a gas station and shut the car off and unhooked the fuse for the 1400watt amp and shut off the stereo........when i drove the car all the lights were dimmed out and i started losing acceleration...the car died up a hill.I then rolled the car to a parking lot and my friend jumped it and it drove home fine...no power problems (stereo still unhooked)

So whats the problem here?...weak battery?.....Did I kill the alternator?Do I need a Capacitor to fix this?any help is appreciatedthanx in advance for any offered advise

[jmaxima]

You need to do some diagnosis. Likely power wiring. Car runs fine with stereo off. When you turn the stereo on the blue turn on wire also turns on the sub amp. A big class D amp shouldn't fry an alt or kill a battery in a car that is turned on. Do you have a fuse on the main power cable, near the battery?

[PoorManQ45]

Here's the fix:

Get rid of the bose speakers and amp.

Replace with 4 channel amp and aftermarket speakers of your choice

[jmaxima]

Here's the fix:

Get rid of the bose speakers and amp.

Replace with 4 channel amp and aftermarket speakers of your choice

While I agree 100% that the best place for car Bose stereo's is the trash, that isn't really an answer to his question.

[Danimal84]

it died on me again without the amp fuse in (yea i have one near the batt..100amp)jumped it and the car ran fine...started it up this morning and the red battery light is on also the red brake light.

i disconnected the positve cable on the batt with the car running and it died right out

i also probed the battery and it read 12.4volts...........started the car and it read 11.85 and would drop like a 1/10 of a volt every couple minutes or so..

so it looks like i need an alternator and a capacitor?

[PoorManQ45]

Alternator definately.

You need to be between 13 and 15 volts while the car is running

[Lazyron007]

Even though many people think capacitors are stupid and pointless, this is exactly why i got one. Because without one your alternator and battery die extremely prematurely. It is definately worth it to buy and install one.

[PoorManQ45]

It is definately worth upgrading the alternator before hand!

A cap in a band aid. It will help to stop the lights from dimming, but you're still drawing that power.

[joe603]

The band aid statement is mostly true, but what the CAP does, is store power for dynamic bass hits, while maintaining a constant current draw on the car's electrical system. Because of this, it stops some of the abuse that hungry bass amps will inherently do. The battery is another key component in the system. A battery designed for heavy current draw from stereo systems will help with the problem, and last much longer than a stock one. Yellow topped Optima's are a good choice. I would start by replacing the battery and installing a 1F Cap. If you still run into problems, upgrade you're car ALT. With compitition systems, an additional battery is usually required to keep up with the extra load as well as ALT upgrades. This is the price for BASS!

[PoorManQ45]

I personally would go the other way around.

I'd upgrade the alternator. Then possibly go with a cap. Then upgrade the battery. The last two should come together.

I understand the point of a cap. When a bass heavy sequence comes up the battery/alternator can't respond fast enough. A capacitor can deliver the power instantly. So yes, a cap does have its place, but without upgrading the alternator you're still going to have a problem