16v at amp - The Ford Focus Forum

**rollin_loud** · 10-22-2009, 10:52 PM

Ok I put a kicker amp in my car yesterday and it went straight into protection mode. I had the wires replaced today (they were old anyways) and still the same problem. Checked it with a multimeter tonight and with the car on I am getting 16.6v to the amp. That's probably why its going into protection, my question is why am I getting that high of voltage to the amp and how can I lower it? as a side thought the green led on the amp flickers a little when i just turn the key on (not running) but goes right back to protection.

**captain_jack** · 10-23-2009, 03:00 AM

Well 16v aside one of my installers hooked the 12v and the remote backwards anf the power light flickered on it as well so double check the connections. As a side note take the power wire off the amp and test it 16 to me would indicate a bad voltage regulator sight unseen.

**Liquid_02_ZX3** · 10-23-2009, 03:51 AM

also your battery will not like 16+ volts for very long.

**Ray** · 10-23-2009, 08:35 AM

None of the components in the car will like 16V. Have that checked immediately.

**rollin_loud** · 10-23-2009, 09:35 AM

any ideas on what might be the problem?

**mrfatride** · 10-23-2009, 11:11 AM

bad voltage regulator?

**ROC585** · 10-23-2009, 11:13 AM

voltage regulator on your alt is gone. get that fixed WITHOUT driving the car. seriously, your battery can explode and many components in your car can get toasted.

**rollin_loud** · 10-23-2009, 12:04 PM

yeah i just bought a new alternator and im gonna be replacing it tonight (and probably well into the weekend) but im sure u guys all know how that goes!

**justin_jkj** · 10-23-2009, 01:55 PM

if you have a zetec an alt change should only take a 2 hours at the most ..if that

**rollin_loud** · 10-23-2009, 02:12 PM

ok so i got the old alternator out in a matter of minutes, but i cannot for the life of me get the new one over the bracket...any suggestions?

**rollin_loud** · 10-23-2009, 03:20 PM

well this just keeps getting better and better...i got the new alternator in and bolted everything up and now its putting out over 17v to the battery....what else could the problem be? this is going to drive me insane!

**Ray** · 10-23-2009, 04:54 PM

You sure your meter is correct?! Try another meter just to be sure. Do NOT drive that car until you verify the voltage is correct. 17VDC is insane.

**OmniFocus** · 10-23-2009, 05:08 PM

Meters read incorrectly when the batteries are low, don't forget to check that!

What does the battery read with the car off?

**justin_jkj** · 10-23-2009, 06:01 PM

I always thought the ecu was in control of the voltage regulator..

**Lancer211** · 10-23-2009, 08:15 PM

Sounds like a bad multimeter.

**rollin_loud** · 10-23-2009, 09:52 PM

i had it checked with another multimeter and the local advance hooked up their little diag machine and they both read over 16v with the old alternator. the multi is brand new as well i just bought it 2 days ago. I am going to take the alt off again tomorrow and have it checked and im going to replace my battery cables (pos. and neg.) as well to see if there may be a prob there.
the battery was reading 12.5 with the car off.

**Ray** · 10-24-2009, 06:47 AM

justin - the voltage regulator is integrated on the alternator.
rollin - have it checked, definitely.

**Lancer211** · 10-24-2009, 12:32 PM

Jebus Christ! Get that fixed ASAP!

**rollin_loud** · 10-24-2009, 01:52 PM

Ok as an update I replaced the battery cables today with the kit from ford and the new alternator output dropped to about 15v...is that better or should I take out the new alternator and have it checked?

**Lancer211** · 10-24-2009, 02:31 PM

15v is most likely okay.... since a 12v battery is nominally 12.6v-12.8v while charged, the alternator typically generates 13.3v-14.4v to charge it. (You need a higher voltage to charge)

15v isn't quite AS out of spec.

**rollin_loud** · 10-24-2009, 02:52 PM

ok well i will keep an eye on it for the next couple of days to be sure.

**rollin_loud** · 10-25-2009, 10:55 AM

I have it all figured out now...i forgot to bolt up the ground wire to the tranny yesterday!! i was all kinda pissed at my starter cuz i could not get the wires on for the life of me...but i bolted it up about 10 minutes ago and hit it with the multimeter and it read 14.7 at the battery with the car running. Thanks for all your help! u guys are the best!!

**Ray** · 11-03-2009, 05:44 AM

Amazing how it's the simplest error, normally done when you're in a hurry...

Next time ask yourself this:

"What is the last thing you did before it broke all by itself?"

10-22-2009, 10:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
rollin_loud TEAM Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Leesburg, Fl Posts: 146	16v at amp Ok I put a kicker amp in my car yesterday and it went straight into protection mode. I had the wires replaced today (they were old anyways) and still the same problem. Checked it with a multimeter tonight and with the car on I am getting 16.6v to the amp. That's probably why its going into protection, my question is why am I getting that high of voltage to the amp and how can I lower it? as a side thought the green led on the amp flickers a little when i just turn the key on (not running) but goes right back to protection.

10-23-2009, 03:00 AM	#2 (permalink)
captain_jack TEAM Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: TucsonAZ Posts: 957	Re: 16v at amp Well 16v aside one of my installers hooked the 12v and the remote backwards anf the power light flickered on it as well so double check the connections. As a side note take the power wire off the amp and test it 16 to me would indicate a bad voltage regulator sight unseen. __________________ 09 gsxr-600, white chocolate New daily driver 05 ST, pitch black to many things to list...

10-23-2009, 03:51 AM	#3 (permalink)
Liquid_02_ZX3 Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 1,450	Re: 16v at amp also your battery will not like 16+ volts for very long. __________________ '02 Liquid ZX3 Power Premium MTX It has a few mods, lol

10-23-2009, 08:35 AM	#4 (permalink)
Ray Driver > Car Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: CT Posts: 28,121	Re: 16v at amp None of the components in the car will like 16V. Have that checked immediately. __________________ Vacuum Vulture Racing - I can fix your car with a hammer. Intelligence is largely at the mercy of self-control *Roadtrippin.org* \| CART

10-23-2009, 09:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
rollin_loud TEAM Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Leesburg, Fl Posts: 146	Re: 16v at amp any ideas on what might be the problem?

10-23-2009, 11:11 AM	#6 (permalink)
mrfatride TEAM Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: South Rockwood, MI Posts: 404	Re: 16v at amp bad voltage regulator? __________________ 2004 Ford SVT Focus www.wootparts.com MECP Certified Installer

10-23-2009, 11:13 AM	#7 (permalink)
ROC585 TEAM Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 184	Re: 16v at amp voltage regulator on your alt is gone. get that fixed WITHOUT driving the car. seriously, your battery can explode and many components in your car can get toasted. __________________ www.powerbassusa.com Have a common sense question?

10-23-2009, 12:04 PM	#8 (permalink)
rollin_loud TEAM Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Leesburg, Fl Posts: 146	Re: 16v at amp yeah i just bought a new alternator and im gonna be replacing it tonight (and probably well into the weekend) but im sure u guys all know how that goes!

10-23-2009, 01:55 PM	#9 (permalink)
justin_jkj Rookie Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 28	Re: 16v at amp if you have a zetec an alt change should only take a 2 hours at the most ..if that

10-23-2009, 02:12 PM	#10 (permalink)
rollin_loud TEAM Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Leesburg, Fl Posts: 146	Re: 16v at amp ok so i got the old alternator out in a matter of minutes, but i cannot for the life of me get the new one over the bracket...any suggestions?

10-23-2009, 03:20 PM	#11 (permalink)
rollin_loud TEAM Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Leesburg, Fl Posts: 146	Re: 16v at amp well this just keeps getting better and better...i got the new alternator in and bolted everything up and now its putting out over 17v to the battery....what else could the problem be? this is going to drive me insane!

10-23-2009, 04:54 PM	#12 (permalink)
Ray Driver > Car Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: CT Posts: 28,121	Re: 16v at amp You sure your meter is correct?! Try another meter just to be sure. Do NOT drive that car until you verify the voltage is correct. 17VDC is insane. __________________ Vacuum Vulture Racing - I can fix your car with a hammer. Intelligence is largely at the mercy of self-control *Roadtrippin.org* \| CART

10-23-2009, 05:08 PM	#13 (permalink)
OmniFocus Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Mowin' down the cones. (CA) Posts: 29,403	Re: 16v at amp Meters read incorrectly when the batteries are low, don't forget to check that! What does the battery read with the car off? __________________ Vacuum Vulture Racing: The masters of ape latexing.

10-23-2009, 06:01 PM	#14 (permalink)
justin_jkj Rookie Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 28	Re: 16v at amp I always thought the ecu was in control of the voltage regulator..

10-23-2009, 08:15 PM	#15 (permalink)
Lancer211 Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 2,330	Re: 16v at amp Sounds like a bad multimeter. __________________ For sale: Eibach Pro-Kit springs, sedan taillight, lower grille, DPFE, EVR, MAFS, side markers, trunk handle, fuel door, gas pedal, headlight switch, AC/vent/defrost button, hazard switch, ashtray, silver console bezel, HVAC controls. 2004 infrared Focus SE Zetec ATX sedan "Ruby" CarDomain Page

10-23-2009, 09:52 PM	#16 (permalink)
rollin_loud TEAM Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Leesburg, Fl Posts: 146	Re: 16v at amp i had it checked with another multimeter and the local advance hooked up their little diag machine and they both read over 16v with the old alternator. the multi is brand new as well i just bought it 2 days ago. I am going to take the alt off again tomorrow and have it checked and im going to replace my battery cables (pos. and neg.) as well to see if there may be a prob there. the battery was reading 12.5 with the car off.

10-24-2009, 06:47 AM	#17 (permalink)
Ray Driver > Car Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: CT Posts: 28,121	Re: 16v at amp justin - the voltage regulator is integrated on the alternator. rollin - have it checked, definitely. __________________ Vacuum Vulture Racing - I can fix your car with a hammer. Intelligence is largely at the mercy of self-control *Roadtrippin.org* \| CART

10-24-2009, 12:32 PM	#18 (permalink)
Lancer211 Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 2,330	Re: 16v at amp Jebus Christ! Get that fixed ASAP! __________________ For sale: Eibach Pro-Kit springs, sedan taillight, lower grille, DPFE, EVR, MAFS, side markers, trunk handle, fuel door, gas pedal, headlight switch, AC/vent/defrost button, hazard switch, ashtray, silver console bezel, HVAC controls. 2004 infrared Focus SE Zetec ATX sedan "Ruby" CarDomain Page

10-24-2009, 01:52 PM	#19 (permalink)
rollin_loud TEAM Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Leesburg, Fl Posts: 146	Re: 16v at amp Ok as an update I replaced the battery cables today with the kit from ford and the new alternator output dropped to about 15v...is that better or should I take out the new alternator and have it checked?

10-24-2009, 02:31 PM	#20 (permalink)
Lancer211 Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 2,330	Re: 16v at amp 15v is most likely okay.... since a 12v battery is nominally 12.6v-12.8v while charged, the alternator typically generates 13.3v-14.4v to charge it. (You need a higher voltage to charge) 15v isn't quite AS out of spec. __________________ For sale: Eibach Pro-Kit springs, sedan taillight, lower grille, DPFE, EVR, MAFS, side markers, trunk handle, fuel door, gas pedal, headlight switch, AC/vent/defrost button, hazard switch, ashtray, silver console bezel, HVAC controls. 2004 infrared Focus SE Zetec ATX sedan "Ruby" CarDomain Page

10-24-2009, 02:52 PM	#21 (permalink)
rollin_loud TEAM Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Leesburg, Fl Posts: 146	Re: 16v at amp ok well i will keep an eye on it for the next couple of days to be sure.

10-25-2009, 10:55 AM	#22 (permalink)
rollin_loud TEAM Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Leesburg, Fl Posts: 146	Re: 16v at amp I have it all figured out now...i forgot to bolt up the ground wire to the tranny yesterday!! i was all kinda pissed at my starter cuz i could not get the wires on for the life of me...but i bolted it up about 10 minutes ago and hit it with the multimeter and it read 14.7 at the battery with the car running. Thanks for all your help! u guys are the best!!

11-03-2009, 05:44 AM	#23 (permalink)
Ray Driver > Car Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: CT Posts: 28,121	Re: 16v at amp Amazing how it's the simplest error, normally done when you're in a hurry... Next time ask yourself this: "What is the last thing you did before it broke all by itself?" __________________ Vacuum Vulture Racing - I can fix your car with a hammer. Intelligence is largely at the mercy of self-control *Roadtrippin.org* \| CART

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