Previous Thread
Next Thread
New Reply
Print Thread
Rate Thread

#61496 Nov 18, 12:03pm
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 101
Member
2001 Toyota Celica
Member
2001 Toyota Celica
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 101
I was coming home from work last night and I saw my battery light start to flicker. Then it came on full bright, and all the dash lights dimmed to about 50%. So instead of going home, I drove right to the dealership, because I knew the car wasn't going to start again if it was running off battery. Anyway, the checked it out, and sure enough, the alternator is shot. Every car I've ever owned has had the alternator go out. Looks like it's time to buy a capacitor for my car stereo wink

I'm without a car for 2 days frown

Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,040
ECelica Staff
2004 GMC Canyon Z-71
ECelica Staff
2004 GMC Canyon Z-71
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,040
confused how many watts do you have running to ur stereo? that shouldn't hurt it confused

Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,286
ECelica Staff
2001 Toyota Celica GTS
ECelica Staff
2001 Toyota Celica GTS
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,286
I guess that's a risk you take when adding a big ass stereo.

Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 101
Member
2001 Toyota Celica
Member
2001 Toyota Celica
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 101
I have about 500 watts... It's enough to dim the headlights and dash lights when the bass notes hit. I'm pretty sure it's putting a lot of strain on the electrical system.

Unfortunately they want $510 to replace it (that includes labor).

Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,286
ECelica Staff
2001 Toyota Celica GTS
ECelica Staff
2001 Toyota Celica GTS
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,286
did anyone see that episode of Monster Garage were the guys made a black escalade into this bad ass tail gate SUV with an entertainment system, slide out BBQ, and beer tap. They had to add another alternator for the entertainment system. heh

Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,040
ECelica Staff
2004 GMC Canyon Z-71
ECelica Staff
2004 GMC Canyon Z-71
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,040
ummm? i never heard of a 500 watt system ruining an alternator...i'd say it was just a defective one or something else effecting it grin thumbsup

Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,442
Wheezy Joe
2002 Kawasaki Ninja 250
Wheezy Joe
2002 Kawasaki Ninja 250
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,442
Originally Posted by Steven
did anyone see that episode of Monster Garage were the guys made a black escalade into this bad ass tail gate SUV with an entertainment system, slide out BBQ, and beer tap. They had to add another alternator for the entertainment system. heh

that was bad ass!



To have played and laughed with enthusiasm
and sung with exultation
To know even one life has breathed easier
This is to have succeeded.

Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 101
Member
2001 Toyota Celica
Member
2001 Toyota Celica
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 101
Originally Posted by trog2233
ummm? i never heard of a 500 watt system ruining an alternator...i'd say it was just a defective one or something else effecting it grin thumbsup

I don't know, I've owned 2 other cars before the Celica... each one had 300-500 watt systems... and I've had the alternator go out in all of them. I think maybe over time, a system, even 500 watts, will start eating away at the alternator's stability.

Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,040
ECelica Staff
2004 GMC Canyon Z-71
ECelica Staff
2004 GMC Canyon Z-71
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,040
Yea it will over time...how long have you had it hooked up in ur car..? I've had my 800 watt system in mine for 2 years now and i don't even get light dimming at all confused

Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 101
Member
2001 Toyota Celica
Member
2001 Toyota Celica
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 101
Originally Posted by trog2233
Yea it will over time...how long have you had it hooked up in ur car..? I've had my 800 watt system in mine for 2 years now and i don't even get light dimming at all confused

I got my car Janruary 2001, and a month later I had the system in it... so...
*does some math*

2 years 9 months. Your time is coming! hehe.

Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,040
ECelica Staff
2004 GMC Canyon Z-71
ECelica Staff
2004 GMC Canyon Z-71
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,040
rofl well i only drive my car 6 months out of the year... tongue

Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 101
Member
2001 Toyota Celica
Member
2001 Toyota Celica
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 101
Originally Posted by trog2233
rofl well i only drive my car 6 months out of the year... tongue

Yeah, I have 50k miles on mine already frown

I'm still going to get a capacitor for the stereo. They're only like 100 bucks for one that handles 500 watts. If it saves me 500 on an alternator, I think it's a good idea!

Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,442
Wheezy Joe
2002 Kawasaki Ninja 250
Wheezy Joe
2002 Kawasaki Ninja 250
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,442
Originally Posted by trog2233
rofl well i only drive my car 6 months out of the year... tongue

that must suck to have to put it away and still pay for it frown


To have played and laughed with enthusiasm
and sung with exultation
To know even one life has breathed easier
This is to have succeeded.

Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,040
ECelica Staff
2004 GMC Canyon Z-71
ECelica Staff
2004 GMC Canyon Z-71
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,040
Originally Posted by DiabloGTS
Originally Posted by trog2233
rofl well i only drive my car 6 months out of the year... tongue

that must suck to have to put it away and still pay for it frown

OHhhhh yes!!!! plus i only drive 6 months of the year and i have 50K on my car in 2 years cry cry cry

Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 669
Sara Sucks :P
Sara Sucks :P
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 669
I had a 1500watt system in my 1994 Impreza with the stock alternator. The only thing it did was dim the lights. That was hookep up for almost 4 years.

A 500watt system really should not damage the alternator unless you drive for hours and hours with the system on all the time.

But to be on the safe side just buy a cap. That should eliminate the dimming of the headlights for you as well. thumbsup thumbsup

Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 669
Sara Sucks :P
Sara Sucks :P
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 669
Originally Posted by trog2233
Originally Posted by DiabloGTS
Originally Posted by trog2233
rofl well i only drive my car 6 months out of the year... tongue

that must suck to have to put it away and still pay for it frown

OHhhhh yes!!!! plus i only drive 6 months of the year and i have 50K on my car in 2 years cry cry cry

You drive to damn much!!!!! grin

Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,040
ECelica Staff
2004 GMC Canyon Z-71
ECelica Staff
2004 GMC Canyon Z-71
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,040
Ok...first of all...if you really wanna save ur alternator...Get a dry cell battery and put it in the trunk...the cap is only gonna slow down the drain on the alternator thumbsup

Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 669
Sara Sucks :P
Sara Sucks :P
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 669
Originally Posted by trog2233
Ok...first of all...if you really wanna save ur alternator...Get a dry cell battery and put it in the trunk...the cap is only gonna slow down the drain on the alternator thumbsup

That's alittle extreme for only a 500w system don't you think!!!!! spineyes spineyes

Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,040
ECelica Staff
2004 GMC Canyon Z-71
ECelica Staff
2004 GMC Canyon Z-71
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,040
I didn't say for the 500 watt system...i was referring to ur 1500 watt system grin

Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 101
Member
2001 Toyota Celica
Member
2001 Toyota Celica
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 101
Originally Posted by Jamey
I had a 1500watt system in my 1994 Impreza with the stock alternator. The only thing it did was dim the lights. That was hookep up for almost 4 years.

A 500watt system really should not damage the alternator unless you drive for hours and hours with the system on all the time.

But to be on the safe side just buy a cap. That should eliminate the dimming of the headlights for you as well. thumbsup thumbsup

I do actually drive it 2+ hours a day with the system on... usually loud! thumbsup


Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 583
Senior Member
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 583
Originally Posted by DiabloGTS
Originally Posted by Steven
did anyone see that episode of Monster Garage were the guys made a black escalade into this bad ass tail gate SUV with an entertainment system, slide out BBQ, and beer tap. They had to add another alternator for the entertainment system. heh

that was bad ass!

Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 669
Sara Sucks :P
Sara Sucks :P
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 669
Originally Posted by ArchV
Originally Posted by Jamey
I had a 1500watt system in my 1994 Impreza with the stock alternator. The only thing it did was dim the lights. That was hookep up for almost 4 years.

A 500watt system really should not damage the alternator unless you drive for hours and hours with the system on all the time.

But to be on the safe side just buy a cap. That should eliminate the dimming of the headlights for you as well. thumbsup thumbsup

I do actually drive it 2+ hours a day with the system on... usually loud! thumbsup

Yeah that might cause damage over time.

Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,547
Likes: 1
Pizza Geek
2002 Toyota Celica GT
Pizza Geek
2002 Toyota Celica GT
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,547
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by Steven
did anyone see that episode of Monster Garage were the guys made a black escalade into this bad ass tail gate SUV with an entertainment system, slide out BBQ, and beer tap. They had to add another alternator for the entertainment system. heh
OMG that was off the hook! Esp. w/ the 26" Jessie James rims

Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,286
ECelica Staff
2001 Toyota Celica GTS
ECelica Staff
2001 Toyota Celica GTS
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,286
yea I know I've never seen 26'ers before.

Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,408
Specialist
2000 Toyota Celica GT
Specialist
2000 Toyota Celica GT
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,408
im installing a 1500 watt amp for my two 800 watt subs, will this strain the battery, I know that only if i bridge it will i need a cap, but should i get one sooner or later just incase? Ya i saw that Monster Garage, Stupid ass broke the window...

Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 286
Member
2001 Toyota Celica GT
Member
2001 Toyota Celica GT
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 286
I second the dry cell battery. The problem with a cap is it makes the alternator think it's always dead, so the alternator constantly has to be "re-charging" the cap causing it to work overtime. Just a little side note, a company called H-O alternators (high output) makes a direct bolt in alternator that shells out 200 friggin' amps of juice plenty for any system, or television, or washer, or dryer...

Join the conversation - Register Now or Log In to add your comment


Link Copied to Clipboard
Member Spotlight
LoFlyer
LoFlyer
2004 Toyota Celica
Covington,GA

Posts: 96
Joined: May 2004
Random: She's breakin' up, Captain!!
Show All Member Profiles 
Recent Topics
Spyder Headlight LEDs
by Dxnxld - Mar 25, 2024 6:51am
Anyone ever hear this noise?
by CeliacCelica - Mar 21, 2024 10:51am
Clunking sound (not sure where from)
by Juliansky - Mar 20, 2024 3:01am
Does anybody know where i can find a S53 trans rebuild kit?
by MoreRamenNoodles - Mar 19, 2024 8:57pm
Urgent
by SoloXKay - Mar 19, 2024 11:58am
OEM speedometer on aftermarket ecu
by Penaman99 - Mar 5, 2024 11:23am
Brake master cylinder
by Nigel100 - Mar 5, 2024 2:45am
newly purchased 2000 GTS
by CantShift - Feb 27, 2024 9:06pm
Customize Your Toyota Celica Privacy Policy · About · Contact
Privacy Policy · About · Contact
CelicaHobby.com is an independent Toyota Celica enthusiast website. CelicaHobby.com is not sponsored by or affiliated with Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. in any way. The Toyota and Celica names and logos are trademarks owned by Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.
© CelicaHobby.com, 2001-2024
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 8.0.0
(Preview build 20230331)