has anyone here had sucess bolting on a different alternator from a different honda or car that has high amp output than the stock one?

My crx in cold weather generates about 11.8 volts with full load not including any audio system equipment being turned on.

The idiot light doesn't light up but I'm thinking the alternator is bad or at least going out the door?

 

double post

 

that is way too low
it should be at 13.50- 14.30 volts
if your wires arent corroded
and they are all hooked up and tight

then your alternator is bad or the belt is broke

just get a capacitor if your worried about draining the battery with the stereo system

 

i have this same problem and have a semi-big audio system with CAP, what other alternators bolt up to the D-series and which cars have the highest output

 

try a bigger wire

or maybe your alternator is weak

 

Try installing a deep cycle marine application battery in the trunk; it is a good alternative if you have a system that is still draining the car’s main battery that has a Strike Cap already hooked up. Also, what size Strike Cap to RMS wattage amp are you running? You may want to upgrade the size of your strike cap. The power ranges of Strike Cap's range anywhere from .5 Farads to 60 Farads. A good deep cycle marine battery would be the Optima. Hope this helps. As far as upgrading the alternator, I tried using a universal one, it fit like a POS so I kept the stock one. Having a high powered system virtually rattled my car apart, I realized that I was ruining a good car and removed it adding just nice component set-up. Hope this was of some help, good luck.
Steve

 

took my car to honda today just to double check what I sort of already knew. Alternator is nearing its end life and not generating enough power to maintain the voltage needed to power everything.

I just got myself a lifetime warrantied alternatori for 150 bucks.

If I fry the new one I can just get another one no charge.

Any special tips on getting the most juice from the alternator? My battery is fully charged and fairly new, connections are immaculate, grounds upgraded everywhere...

 

Swap the pulley on the alternator with a smaller one so it spins faster...of course that ruins the life of it, but it will spin faster and generate a higher current.