Power Loss & High Output Alternator Recommendations (3 Viewers)

[BWolfe]

2000 LC ~166k miles
Over the last few weeks I’ve been working on some interior improvements (new shifter plate, cup holders, 3rd row a/c vents, etc…), and knew I was depleting the battery. I cranked the engine a few times but didn’t drive it anywhere.

Decided to take it out yesterday and it wouldn’t start so I jumped it. It ran for a couple minutes before I took the cables off. Once I started driving it, I started to loose power on some things, starting with the radio, and the battery symbol started turning on and off. Came back home, checked the battery with my multimeter and was seeing ~10v, so I put the battery a charger this morning and the battery got up to 12.2v. Started up when I got home this afternoon, so I drove it and noticed the power loss was even more severe to the point I almost didn’t make it back home. Battery / ABS / VCS / Brake lights were all on.

Battery is 4 years old, and alternator is original. Should I just go ahead and replace the battery and the alternator?

I’m planning on doing the double battery setup (sooner than later), so I thought it might make sense to installed a higher output alternator now - any recommendations? Thanks

 

[BWolfe]

Recharged battery to 12.3v so I could turn the engine. Starts up fine, voltage drops to 11.3-11.7

 

[2yotanerd]

My original alternator was making a whirring noise and measuring about 11.4 Volts so it was time to replace it. I been running a DC Power 180 Amp alternator for about 5 months with a big 3 wire upgrade and I got not complaints. My local Land Cruiser shop said they've never had an issue with DC Power alternators as well.