Lighting

DaveD

Active Member
Jan 23, 2007
75
0
Manchester
My headlights are starting to dip when my subs on, it's getting really noticable, I've been told to change the battery to a diesel one, I've got a 1.4 Petrol Ibiza at the moment, so is changing to a diesel battery a good idea? Or do people have other ideas, any help will do.

Cheers
 

RichieRich

Mk4 Golf GT TDi
Sep 17, 2005
2,367
0
Oxfordshire :)
www.bebo.com
changing it to a deisel one wouldt make any difference except helping out with the higher power output to help stop your headlights blinking... i now have a deisel battery but no ice lol as of yet....
 

lard44

Watching C beams...
Apr 30, 2007
474
0
Braintree, Essex
Voltage saaaaaag.

Upgrade the alternator or the battery, or get a digital amp for the sub? What ICE are you running anyway? 2 efficient amps not being pushed is far better than a 4/6 channel jobbie having to do all the work...

PS. People might suggest a power cap but IMHO they're just another burden on your charging system - I would avoid them...
 

DaveD

Active Member
Jan 23, 2007
75
0
Manchester
I've got an infinity amp and sub running around 500rms, it doesn't affect the power of the car at all, it's just getting on my nerves watching the lights dim everytime I drive in the dark with the sub on, Wheres the best places to get a new battery and alternator? What sorta price am I lookin at?

Cheers
 

RichieRich

Mk4 Golf GT TDi
Sep 17, 2005
2,367
0
Oxfordshire :)
www.bebo.com
you may have more problems upgradein your alternator than you may think as i asked a question on icecavern they said either upgrade your battery or put a cable straight from your alternator and your batt (so u can still use it without the engine being on) that helps apparently... do u have sufficient earth cables? like upgrading the chassis to the battery? will also help!!
 

Icecavern

Active Member
Jun 12, 2001
6,214
4
Berkshire, UK
www.icecavern.com
OK things to do to solve this...

Firstly DON'T go fitting a power cap, it'll not work, it'll just casuse more drain n the system.

Upgrade the battery earth to chassis. Put a big fat cable there instead, or as well as, the current earth. And make sure it's a good earth by cleaning up the contacts.

Get a higher capacity battery, generally you can find a higher capacity battery to fit the standard location.

Upgrade the alternator to a higher rated one. This can be tricky but you may well find a higher spec one from a TDI etc will fit without too many issues.

Also what cable do you have running from the battery to your amps? Thicker cable doesn't give as much voltage drop so the amps pull less current, and if they draw less current they put less strain on the electrical system of the car.

Pete
 

mikey_b

Active Member
May 18, 2008
322
0
Manchester
2 kick the bass or not 2 kick the bass???

ive got the same problem ive got a leon cupra mk1 and now when i sit at idle and kick the b-line it just cuts out completly the stereo cuts out aswell!!!?? what dose that mean?
 

lard44

Watching C beams...
Apr 30, 2007
474
0
Braintree, Essex
Could it be a resistance issue? In terms of the subs and amps - are they 2 Ohm stable?

Just a thought - I had the same problem with a relatively small amp because my sub was wired up for 2 Ohm and the amp wasn't stable below 4 Ohm.
 

Poverty

Guest
Upgrade the battery earth to chassis. Put a big fat cable there instead, or as well as, the current earth.

This usually does the trick for the average persons system as long as the wiring to the amps are all of a good healthy size!
 
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