Just out of curiosity...

[99CouGSweetRide]

Does anyone else's dash and headlights dim when they push the window up/down buttons at night? I noticed this tonight, and I also noticed that my dash lights flicker a tenth of a second when I step on the brake, and my neons get slighty brighter...what's going on here?

Mike

[JMS20]

mine do the same thing

[Loyalty]

Mine do the same thing...I also think they do it when I push the brakes.......

[99CouGSweetRide]

OK when I tried this all I had on was the headlights and the neons under the dash (2 6" streetglows)...the radio and heat was off. So I don't need to turn on all that other stuff to believe you ;) When I go to press the window up/down buttons the lights dim....so what you're telling me is that ford put an alternator in our cars that can't keep up with something as simple as that? But apparently this happens in other cars too so I guess it's no big deal.

blast: I didn't install the cap yet but I hope to after christmas and i'll update this post. And as for those two scenarios, I get #2, the lights dim for only a sec then come back on. Same thing when the bass hits...it'll go into a low bass note, the lights'll dim but get bright again right away. Also, what do you mean by upgrading your electrical system? Getting the alternator rewound to a higher output?


Mike

[01blkcat]

This really isn't a big deal... if you look, on most stock vehicles, there is a slight change in the lighting when the brakes are applied, the power windows/locks are used, the radio is turned on/off, the accessories are used, etc.

I cured most of my problems by using a cap on the line that runs the neon, and another cap on the line for the system.

[01blkcat]

Originally posted by: blast

Originally posted by: 01blkcat
This really isn't a big deal... if you look, on most stock vehicles, there is a slight change in the lighting when the brakes are applied, the power windows/locks are used, the radio is turned on/off, the accessories are used, etc.

I cured most of my problems by using a cap on the line that runs the neon, and another cap on the line for the system.

Thats not true, not all stock electrical systems, there is a slight change in the power windows/locks are used, the radio is turned on/off, the accessories are used, etc.
I had A Nissan and my wife still does, the new altima, my brother has a maxima, anyway you can turn all the accessories on, step on brakes, and roll windows up down it don't matter. the lights don't deem. I have tried it.


Hence the reason I said 'most' :)

[blast]

Nope no one is upset.

kean I understand the difference of the regulated versus unregulated power supplies, and in the past I had regulated amps, ppi for one. with the same problems.

and if you are stating, "there is no problems with light dim, with a factory system and NO additional electrical accessories -- so be it?" :banghead:

that is a very week response, so why bother to do anything about it at all - I mean so be it - why bother with it then. Right?

Wait here is the solution - So lets all look, and buy sheep @$$ equipment :cool: that states will do 500rms(example), but in reality only putting out 100 watts if that much. sure that would be the fix and the light would probably not even glitch.

You'll all have a merry Christmas, and safe one. and god may be with you'll

[99CouGSweetRide]

that's the last time I post anything in the audio/electrical section lol :banghead:

[blast]

ok I came across another thread and no keane I am not gonna quote no one, but do read it, it actually might shed some light on you.
True or False: Upgrading stock alt/batt wiring will improve current flow (http://www.carsound.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=020234;p=)
Anyhow decide for your self's, but do read. and I am gonna get a cold one:beer:

[BrantlyJ]

I gotta agree with 01blkcat. every car I have owned or ridden in the lights will dim for a fraction of a second when using an accessory. And no ther isn't anything wrong. Just slow reactting components. Thehigh end cars that blast mentioned probably use better more expensive equipment. you also pay for it too.

Brant

[cougar4life]

okay first off both of you are acting childish. it's obvious both of you have a lot of knowledge when it comes to car audio. but instead of helping others you are busy argueing with each other. and from reading what both of you are posting it seems as though neither of you are actually giving the other guy any credit and not giving their insight a chance.

and back to the main question. my lights did the same thing b4 i added any stereo stuff and after i added it ddin't seem to get any worse. obviously my lighst dim when my bass hits. but they will brighten up b4 the note is done so it is obviously the voltage regulator. i have asked a few of my friends that own a stereo shop and have many trophies in SQ comp. they weren't competing in IASCA it was the other one like usca or something like that. and they told me that a cap may or may not help with the lights. the amp is geting a enough power so they said not to worry about it.

thats just my take on things i dont want to start fighting with both of you but i would just like to see you two just stop argueing and try to help people with out turning the thread into a contest.

[1aRIDE]

Blast is right about the wiring problem, definately use thicker wiring to help with the lights dimming.

However, the point of a Cap is not to help the lights dimming but to keep the amps supplied with power when they need it. Instead of drawing power strictly from the battery, the amps can used the stored power in the cap and use it to play. This MAY or MAY NOT help the lights dimming problem, just a matter of luck. Basically, the cap relieves the strain that is placed on the BATTERY not the alternator. The battery pulls the power from the alternator (in terms of amps and music), causing the power loss.

[dv6cougar]

Originally posted by: 99CouGSweetRide
Does anyone else's dash and headlights dim when they push the window up/down buttons at night? I noticed this tonight, and I also noticed that my dash lights flicker a tenth of a second when I step on the brake, and my neons get slighty brighter...what's going on here?

Mike

ya they do.... and I have a 1 farad cap... and about 900 watts of power total... it's just something that happens :)

[dv6cougar]

Originally posted by: blast
Thank you dv6cougar for your input.
Thats my whole point, caps do not solve the light dim:smoke-g:

well that's not true.. depending on what you mean... yes it does work... makes your amps get more power... your lights will still dim hwen you go to roll up and down the windows b/c it does that from the factory :)

[1badcat]

blast, are you yourself ase, or mecp certified? do you have a degree in electrical engineering?
-keane is a well respected member of iasca, and usaci. he has proven himself in the competition area and deserves at least that much-give it to him at least for having one of the best(finished!!hehe) audio systems around. you are an eddie, no doubt. or a carlton.
since you know so much about audio, and general electronics, you say that you wont use caps. so does this mean that you took your whole cougar apart, and took out the caps installed inside the factory electronics?? im just curious because im thinking that YOU dont know what youre talking about. did you know a cap can be used as a timer? did you know that they can be used as a power filter to help against noise as well? and did you know that under some, not all circumstances that a "cap" can stop the light dimming? i thought so. you need to stop and realize that on a message board you cannot see the problems others are having firsthand. so you need to help in any way you can so the problem can be fixed. im sure in your long career in this trouble shooting feild that youve seen all sorts of weird things that are sometimes vechicle specfic, because of a factory fault. maybe you just havent taken your cougar apart enough to know all the problems and solutions, so maybe somebody else does. blast off!!

josh hanson
"top 100 installers of 2002"-mobile electronics magazine

ps- keane hope things are going well for you!!congrats on you recent endevors!!

[cougar4life]

well just to throw my opinion out there. i talked to blast through pm's and yes he has much knowledge when it come to this stuff. and also caps are intended to help maintain power going to your amp(s) not to stop your lights from dimming. that is just a possible side bonus but does not always work. and it wont do anything to stop them from dimming when rolling up or down your windows they are not part of your stereo and the cap will have no effect on the power being used by the window motor. this is all information i have gathered from prior posts from both blast and keane.

WOW using both peoples knowledge you can actually get a straight answer.

does everyone agree with what i have stated regarding caps? also from what i have seen in prior posts the only way to stop the lights from dimming with the windows would be upgrading your stock electrical system in some way. that is more or less common sense if you just think about it. it does the same thing in my car with my 1500 WATT stereo as what it does in a stock cougar.

[dv6cougar]

agreed coug4life....

that's basically what i said in the post above yours.... if you want it to stop your lights from dimming, hook a cap up to your windows haha! :rofl:

what you've learned seems 100% right :)

[cougar4life]

mainly what i was trying to get at is that i was able to take information stated by both keane and blast and come to that conclusion.

kinda makes the argueing back and forth seem useless.

cant we all just get along. :poke:

[dv6cougar]

Originally posted by: cougar4life
mainly what i was trying to get at is that i was able to take information stated by both keane and blast and come to that conclusion.

kinda makes the argueing back and forth seem useless.

cant we all just get along. :poke:

ya... i like to do that... use what i learn and come up with my own conclusions... good stuff......

and we do get along.... no need to argue... sometimes you just need proof and you got it arguement over :biggrin:

[SLaPiNFuNK]

mine is stock... been doin it since day one...

its definatly a weak altinator...

my ford explorer 96 had the same problem... it eventually went around 60000 miles and had 3 alternators put in after that... grrrrrrrrrr...

i bet if enough of us on NECO get together and go to ford about this they will do a recal and replace with stronger altinators!