Maserati Newbie Voltage Gauge Question

M

MaseratiMike

New Member
Messages
4
I've replaced my alternator twice in a month. The issue started when I had an upgraded stereo system installed, which brings me to my first question. What should I upgrade in my coupe so that it can support extra load from a pretty powerful stereo system? Question two is, I've noticed the voltage meter in dash fluctuating.... Is this normal? Or should it be steady? Last night while driving back from Denver I noticed it above 14, however just an hour earlier while driving in the city it had dropped to about 11. I've had it for 1 month, and F1 pump went out week 1, battery week 2, alternator week 3.... If not for this forum I would have taken it back as a lemon.
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,806
That must be a **** of a stereo. Mike, what are your symptoms? Other than the fluctuating dash meter. You probably don't want to set too much store by that one....

C
 
M

MaseratiMike

New Member
Messages
4
First off you guys are awesome for answering. The stereo is pretty powerful, but I would have never guessed it would cause such a fuss.
Cobratwin.... My current battery that came in the coupe is 690 cca, that's considerably lower than the battery you suggest. Is the battery I have way too low in cca or does that not matter? Looks like I'm gonna pull a complete restoration on this **** car if this keeps up.
CatmanV2.... Other than the fluctuating voltage that eventually ended in a complete frying of my alternator, there was no other symptoms. I'd love to put the stereo back in, but I wanted some advise on what I can do to save the next alternator. I took out the stereo system and all seems well now.
My logic could be completely flawed, but if my battery isn't sufficient enough to support the amount of power needed to run the stereo, the alternator would work over time trying to keep the battery charged causing the alternator to eventually fry????? Is that possible?
 
conaero

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,632
This sounds very odd. What I would do is pull the fuse to the Hifi and see if the car runs normall for a while. My worry is that it won't be long before something else gets fried and you could then be on for big bucks.

What alternator did you buy? New OEM, pattern part or reconditioned?

The issue would appear to be the regulation of the power and pretty sure this is dealt with within the alternator itself. Other than that you need to check the battery cables for shorting and the terminals and the earth strap.

If it were me I would just take the car to a n auto electrician and let him diagnose it.

Good luck.
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,806
Sensible suggestions from Matt, there. I'd be rather surprised if fluctuating voltage would fry the alternator, given that the alternator is what is creating the voltage anyway.
I'd *doubt* that the alternator is having to work so much harder, but I could, of course, be wrong.

Other things: Don't trust the voltage gauge that much. It's not, I feel, in general opinion that accurate. If you want to see if you're stereo is having issues, conenct it up, crank up so bangin' choons and put a proper voltmeter across the battery. See what happens. I have the bog standard stereo in mine, and see similar fluctuations on the dash gauge. I'm not worried (I guess the rest of the forum will be along to tell me I should be panicking at this point :))

My money would be on something iffy with the wiring of the new stereo. Have you measured how much current it's drawing? (Meter time again, or get one of those neat fuse / current testers) and do you have it properly fused?

If you waste another alternator, or the voltage issues persist, I think Matt's got it in terms of it'll be a dodgy connection or earth somewhere.

C
 
Emtee

Emtee

New Member
Messages
8,446
Hi Mike, Have you had any alternator squeal? if there was excess load being requested, there would be drag on the belt.
 
B

bigbob

Member
Messages
8,972
Maserati realised that the voltmeter on the 3200/4200 is useless which is why the GranTurismo does not have one.

Do you have a tracker which has drained it's own battery?
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,806
It's a bit odd, really, isn't it, Bob? A proper voltmeter will pretty much stick about 13-14 ish volts. So it's pointless. A rubbish one (like the 4200) will wander all over the place, and is thus, equally pointless.

An alternator warning light will do me just fine :)

C
 
cobratwin

cobratwin

New Member
Messages
1,822
a Low CCA will cause starting problems even if the battery in it self is good, you need to ether match what is recommended or go for a high CCA ..
Just for clarification CCA is the COLD CRANKING AMP, and a quick explanation. As the temperature drops, the cranking power required by the car increases. However, as more cranking power is used, the amount of battery power available decreases. Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) is critical for good cranking ability. It refers to the number of amps a battery can support for 30 seconds at 0°F until the battery voltage drops to unusable levels. For example, a 12 volt battery with 600 CCAs means the battery will provide 600 amps for 30 seconds at 0°F before the voltage falls to 7.20 volts (three cells). The higher the CCA, the more powerful the cranking ability.

So if it recommended to use a 750CCA but you have a 690CCA then you will struggle to start the car. even if the 690CCA battery is Fully charged.

Hope this helps a little.
 
M

MUC3200GT

Junior Member
Messages
127
bigbob said:
Maserati realised that the voltmeter on the 3200/4200 is useless which is why the GranTurismo does not have one.
Click to expand...

hm, I would say ..its not so simple to tell something from a voltmeter in a car, but with real experience it is - but this is not for mass rollout,
 
davy83

davy83

Member
Messages
2,823
Definitely would not pay attention to the meter in the dash it drifts all over the place and makes no sense at all. Get a regular volt meter on the battery and make sure it read 12 when engine not running (or close) and the voltage rises when engine running typically 13-14 volts. If this higher voltage drops a lot with your new stereo on then the alternator is not coping. if the voltage stays up then alternator is ok (it may be getting a little warmer than usual!) The most noise your ears can deal with in a car is about 40-50W (true RMS not peak power nonsense) which will draw 6amps out of the 12 volts system, which should be easy. Your stereo may say 1000W but it will be commercial silly numbers, check the fuse rating they ask for and the maximum current required? it is quite hard to overload a car system with audio equipment, not saying you cant do it but be careful!
 
M

MaseratiMike

New Member
Messages
4
Okay guys it was the Stereo after all. Looks like it was pulling so much from the battery that the alternator had to work overtime to keep it charged. Eventually it would discharge leaving the alternator carrying the full load which I'm assuming resulted in its burnout.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.