I recently installed an FD alternator on my FC. It was all working great, volt meter reading high, brighter headlights, etc.

Now, it seems that there is too much power. My CD player only works (speakers) below 1500 RPM, so only in idle will it play. The volt meter is up above 16 (top of the gauge)

When I turn on my headlights, it usually works fine. The volt meter lowers a bit.

What is the problem? How can it be fixed?

 

How many amps is the FD alt pushing? you dont need more than 80 or 90 max. Upgrade your wiring under the hood. Bigger better Ground and bigger main wire. that'll help

 

i had the exact same problem with my fc alt, turned out the internal voltage regulator was gone. i swapped alts and had no more problems. i would get the fd alt bench tested. did you have this problem before you switched alts ?

 

Do not drive the car until the alt is fixed. 16 volts is the max limit for almost all the electronics in the car. You will start burning things out running for too long at that voltage.

The FD alt is either wired wrong or the internal regulator has failed.

 

thats really weird, i never had that problem in mine the volt meter sits around 14.5-15 most the time

 

good chance you hooked those 2 little wires wrong.... either that or the alt is bad

 

Basically when the voltage regulator is gone, your voltage will drop below 12 at least that's what happen in my case, check your connection to the alternator as stated above.

 

15 is also a little high.

14.5 is the ideal

 

I just guessed which of the two little wires attached to the car. Ill probably just awitch those. 50/50 chance... and I failed.

 

hmm really, 15 is the highest it will ever get, not always at that pooint usually in the mid 14's

 

ummm ya that would do it

hopefully you didn't just fry everything in the car.

 

Most of the voltage variable parts in the ECU are spec'ed at 15 volts max, so I don't know how much you want to be running at the very very very top of the limits. Things like capacitors, just go out of tolerance at 15 volts but other things can burn up at 15.1 volts

All the dash bulbs in the car are 14 volt bulbs as well...

 

Mine never goes above 13v You guys are lucky

 

Then you probably are not charging your battery very well, since it needs 13.5 volts just to charge.

 

The battery has 14 volts... but it cant get that much into the car cuz the main power wire is corroded... Thats gonna suck to replace...

 

if that was true would that mean my bulbs would burn out if it goes over 14 volts? ive had no problem with my dash light bulbs, maybe im reading the volt meter wrong or something

 

Nah, bulbs typically take about 125% of their rating before they overheat

 

I always get 14.5 and 12.5 to 13 with everything on, oh its an FD alt btw.

 

ive been looking at it more closely lately since this post, and it seems to be consistently 14 or a tiny bit above, with 14.5 being the max it hits, i was just being careless when looking at it i guess