Underdrive Pullies + Alternator Problems = questions

meyers2211

New Member
Sep 4, 2005
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Lindenhurst
Ok since i've got the car the headlights are slightly dim at idle, but when i hit the gas all my instruments/headlights brighten up. Now this problem has been getting worse and now at nite i pull up to a light and the volts drop so bad my stereo turns off. (and no i don't have a system its mainly stock). Is this normal behavior for underdrive pullies? or is the alternator going?

the pullies are blue anodized and idk what brand they are
 
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When my alternator went it was started at wot, the lights would dim. Then when i was on the highway it they would dim get bright dim get bright. I dont have underdrives though. My alternator on my town car went a few years ago with no notice though.
 
so u guys would consider this to be normal behavior for UDP's? with the exception that the volts are really dropping bad now, when i have the moeny a new alternator will be in. I can understand a small drop in volts but not so far my stereo shuts off

If i check the volts coming out the alternator would that tell me anything?
 
How long has this been happening?? my alternator started to do the same and i figured it was the pullies, but 2 days later my alternator went and i was stuck in the middle of the road. better to get it done now rather than to have to pay a towing bill too. (at least my insurance covered the tow job thank god.) but ya the light dimming is normal, but you should hardly notice it.
 
Yup, this happened to me when I put my UD's on. If you have a decently old battery the UD's will probably kill it.

I had the same thing happen, lights dimmed (still do a little), and in drive-thru's my stereo would shut off due to lack of power.

Pretty soon you'll be getting stranded so you may want to go get a new battery with a decent warranty on it now.

After the new battery you can still see the volts dropped but everything still works properly.
 
Kevin R. said:
Yup, this happened to me when I put my UD's on. If you have a decently old battery the UD's will probably kill it.

I had the same thing happen, lights dimmed (still do a little), and in drive-thru's my stereo would shut off due to lack of power.

Pretty soon you'll be getting stranded so you may want to go get a new battery with a decent warranty on it now.

After the new battery you can still see the volts dropped but everything still works properly.


WEll mine has already gone last month, got a new duralast in there now 65 bux at autozone
 
My car is doing the same thing but i dont have underdrive pulleys but i was about to order some. Mine has stock pulleys but the headlights get real bright when you give it like more than half throttle, and when it does it the battery light flashes.

????
 
Has anyone here had a problem with their wipers ever since they got u/d pulleys. Mine only work when my highbeams are on and my turn signals are on. Sometimes I can leave the highbeams on for a couple minutes, then turn them off and the wipers will work. I'm guessing it's an alternator problem. Any thoughts?
 
If you have a bad ground, it will do this exact same thing. You need to remove, clean & reinstall the battery battery connections, including the 2 that go to the body. Make sure you sand the body frame so those 2 connections are making very good contact.

Also, you need to repeat this procedure at the engine ground, which is hooked up to one of the front oil pan bolts (actually a stud, so you can just remove the nut and off comes the ground wire).

Hopefully this helps.
Scott
 
Yeah the dimming thins is normal with the Underdrives. and if you look at the voltage gauge you can see it drop some too. But it should not go down enough to shut off the stereo, i would get the alt tested and the batt tested.
 
whitesnake1994 said:
no thats definetly not normal.. when at idle your headlights will dim but not that bad. i would say your alternator is going. mine did about a month after i got pullies. dont know if that is common or not.


If you have the money you may want to go with a larger amp alternator to offset the UDs. I went with a 200 amp alternator recently. I have the March Amp UDs which is suppose to be for large stereo systems. Probably has the overdrive alternator pulley. You may be able to get your current alternator rebuilt to a higher amperage. Check around. Peace
 
Kevin R. said:
BTW - I don't know if you guys have stereo's or not so this could be why your not having as large a problem with the volts draining as a stereo system takes.

HPIM1462.jpg


Plus the full Mach460 set up? Total 10 speakers and 5 amps? :Word:
 

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