SC3001

97 sc300...I installed a pioneer double din stereo and added an amp and 1-12'' sub in the trunk.. sounds great. Everything is wired with 4g power and ground. My problem is that when the bass hits the headlights severly dim, no other lights dim, not dash lights or anything, just the headlights. It's driving me insane. I have checked battery terminals, all the body grounds and all connections are good.. I assume it's gonna be the alternator but it does everything else fine so I'm not sure. Also have a friend with a 98sc300 with 2 amps and 2 12" subs, his alternator went bad where the car wouldn't run so he replaced it, he never had a diming prob. and still doesn't. wtf...anyone else had this prob?/fix?

peter1965

Sounds like you may need to install a capacitor to store up a bit extra power for the "big hits" of current drain.

The other q that pops to mind is where did you the amp power from? Directly from the battery (via fuse) etc or from another feed.

Re the headlights (only) dimming: the other lights may be dimming too but the headlights are jus tthe most obvious (just thinking out loud here). the best way to check is look at the battery voltage as you load it up - the more load, the lower the voltage.

cheers. pete

SC3001

Power is straight from the battery and is fused, Yeah I'm positive its only the headlights! Ill put a meter on it and see, but if thats the case it's probably a bad alternator

mtparker18

I have the same problem, but I deal with it. but some believe capacitors work, some don't. Theres a battery out thats as small as a cap and installs like a cap.

^^this is what my local audio guy told me.

SC3001

hmm, I might look in to that

Infamous 1

iTrader: (20)

make sure to get a digital capacitor.