Okay... I got my car fixed yesterday. Since the problem started, I've had my system out of my car, and I've been really missing the bass. I am going to get a yellow-top battery and put my system back in, but before I do that, I have a question about the capacitor.

I have a 2 farad capacitor, and it stays on when the car shuts off. Is this normal?

Thanks in advance,
Matt

 

A capacitor will store an electrical charge, and a 2 farad cap will store a lot of charge. Yes, this is normal. It will store the charge until enough bleeds off thru the loads (which might be a while if everything is turned off). I assume you notice that it stays on because there is a built in voltmeter or indicator lights that remain on after you shut the car off and remove the key.

Steve

 

Yes, it has a voltmeter and a couple led lights. So do you think running a 2 farad cap and a bigger battery will be enough to keep the juice to a 2000w rms system w/o draining the battery quickly?

 

What was the original problem?

Ng

 

The original problem wasn't anything that had to do with the sound system. However, the first dealer I took it to blamed the system for the problem, saying my battery had a short in a cell, but it didn't. So they disconnected my amp, cap, and sub. Since then, I've had the system out of the car. Took the car to another dealer twice, and the second time they found out it was a loose ground somewhere that was making my factory electronics system go berserk.

So yea... all that for a damn loose wire.

Oh, well, I'm going to put my system back in, but I want to find out the best way to not kill my battery. The only thing I can think of other than a cap is putting a bigger battery in (i don't want to run 2 batteries, as that is double load on the alt.). And I had the cap question, which has been answered.

 

My son was having a similar problem, the battery couldn`t keep up and he couldn`t start up after a while. Now he has two batteries, a yellow top and a larger cap.. His cap comes on when any door is opened, and goes off in about 30 sec..
He doesn`t seem to have any starting problems, hearing is another issue.
PS, He has a 2002 Regal, not a HHR.