So I recently installed an amplifier and subwoofer and everything was great for a few weeks and suddenly my battery voltage was dropping so I turned the sub off but it kept going and going and I barely got where I needed to be but I'm sure the alternator took a dump.

Should I just get rid of the sub idea and take it all out? I mean, everything was wired "correctly" and didn't have a short anywhere. Everything was good til last night.

 

Alternators go **** up sometimes. It just happens. Did you upgrade your wiring at all when you did the installation, or do you still have the factory wiring from the alternator to the positive post, negative post to ground, and engine to ground? Because if you are, that could be your problem, right there. I'd take the alternator off and have Auto Zone do a bench test (it's free). If the alternator checks out, wiring would your next culprit.

 

everything is wired "Correctly" why did you quote correctly? just curious.. and like witchinghour said, did you upgrade the big 3?

 

I did not upgrade any of the wiring, so I think just scrapping the subwoofer setup is my best option. I just put correctly in quotes for emphasis.
I recently (within the last year) bought the truck and it had been under 100,000 miles... I know the road life on the alternators are roundabout a hundred thousand or so, so it is possible it was the original alternator still on it. Then again it IS a 13 year old vehicle now.
Everything had been working fine for a few weeks and then just had the alternator go south. I guess it was fun while it lasted.

New alternator/new battery/disconnected sub system
>>everything is right in the world again

 

The wiring upgrade isn't difficult... no more than what you did wiring up your amp and subwoofer, certainly.

http://www.s10forum.com/big-three-big-3-upgrade-how-to

Here's a comprehensive article on doing the upgrade. If you can wire in and amp and sub, you can do this upgrade.

 

how powerful was your amp, I think the alt going bad was just a coincidence.

 

300w, I mean it's just a little thing. I was thinking the alternator was on its way out to begin with. I don't really want to chance it though.

 

It was not the amp that made the alt fry, it was on its way out. I am running 1000w amp on the stock alt and its just fine, been kickin for a year now.

 

Okay, well thanks for the information. I may at least leave it wired up and decide whether or not to hook up the positive terminal at a later date. I do need to save space to move some things anyways.

Thanks again.