Battery or alternator?

[JB_VNv6]

Gday guys im having problems with my vn first off a couple of weeks back i was driving along the high way all of a sudden everything got brighter in the car and the fan was going like crazy it only did this for a short time as the weeks went on it kept getting worse and a few days back battery light came on but everything got dim i checked the battery and it was low on fluid so i topped it up and finally at about 300 this morning the battery light came on and everything started dying i pulled over over and had a look under the hood checked if evrything was connected properly had a look over the altenator car died tryed to kick it over and whattaya know tick tick tick nothing so i had a lovely campout in the car and ive still got the basterd sitting there help

[levymetal]

voltage regulator on the alternator. sounds like your battery is now stuffed as well though.

[accentstencil]

voltage regulator on the alternator. sounds like your battery is now stuffed as well though.

I second the voltage regulator.

[omaz78]

i had this same problem about 6 months ago so i bought a new voltage regulator and everything was fine until two - three weeks ago same problem lights really bright for about 20 seconds battery light faintly coming on then everything normal this would happen from every couple of minutes to every hour so got a new alternator and problem fixed
so you could try the voltage regulator but i reckon change the alternator

[bennyt4036]

had the exact same problem but was happening for like 4 months before the alternator finally packed it in, got stranded on the side of the road, bought a new alternator, jump started the car, no problems with dimming or battery light since, and still running the same battery

[azzfox]

Had the same problem in mums VP. Lights would go extremely bright every now and then and the battery light would come on. Then one morning the battery was dead. Tried jump starting it but as soon as you would take the leads of it would splutter and die. Checked the voltage regulator and it still had a fair bit left on it. I even swapped regs with the one in my VN and still no go. Then swapped alternators and ran fine. Quick trip to the wreckers and all good lol

[Rossbx]

Definately the voltage regulator in the alternator. I had that same problem not long ago with my VP. I got a new aftermarket alternator and fitted it and it is all good now. A new genuine Bosch Alternator will set you back close to $400 where as the aftermmarket one will cost you $226 (retail) and comes with a 2 year warranty.

[peter65]

On my S1 VP V6 the voltage regulator is a screw-on to the alternatior so that you can replace the regulator alone yourself in about 30 min. i think that the genuine ones retail for about $50 (i got mine trade fora bout $40). peter.

[skunks.monks]

Instead of my lights going brighter, when I have music on, everytime the bass comes on, the lights dim really badly, and when i am driving the battery light comes on every now and then, and when I am parked sometimes as well...

Altinator?
voltage regulator?

[rob drag racer]

Instead of my lights going brighter, when I have music on, everytime the bass comes on, the lights dim really badly, and when i am driving the battery light comes on every now and then, and when I am parked sometimes as well...

Altinator?
voltage regulator?

]

id be more interested in what size amp ya use sounds like the alternator isn't keeping up ya may need a higher voltage one mind you i run my 1000 w right on the max and i dont have those issues

[skunks.monks]

]

id be more interested in what size amp ya use sounds like the alternator isn't keeping up ya may need a higher voltage one mind you i run my 1000 w right on the max and i dont have those issues

The amp is suposedly 5600watt (ebay amp) but its only been recently that it has started doing this, and it doesnt do it all the time, just sometimes...

[rob drag racer]

get a bigger alternator that's way to much drag on the stock one at peek wile ya at it look into a higher capacity battery id say its fine till the battery gets down the the alternator cant cope so ya start to get the dimming

[skunks.monks]

the battery should be big enough, its the second biggest/most expensive RACV could give me for my car..
will look into getting a bigger altinator tho..
where do you get these? and how much?

[rob drag racer]

look for a v8 one to suit

the wreckers would be a good start

[ghog1726]

before you go buying anything to fix that check all yours grounds etc make sure they are decent. DON'T use pre existing ones there usually there for something else - make one. as for that you could look into getting a better alternator or higher voltage reg or w/e. But you'd be better off getting a capacitor then doing either if its the stereo draining it. 1.1 - 1.2 farad is recommended for every thousand watts (that you are actually using not that the amp produces).

If you don't know what a capacitor is its basically a quick charge trickle release battery

[rob drag racer]

there ya go