For all the audio "know-it-alls"
04-08-2003, 06:48 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 353
For all the audio "know-it-alls"
Hello guys,
I've been a member of this forum for the longest, but I rarely go beyond reading. However, I have run into a situation that I have no idea what to do about. I am praying that one of ya'll would be kind enough to help me out or at least me in the right direction.
Anyways, onto my dilemma:
I've recently been pining for a new deck because the Bose one skips a lot when I hit "itty-bitty" bumps on the road. However, being a debt-ridden medical student, I do not have a lot of cash to spare. To make a long story longer, I finally saved up enough money to buy a deck. I ended up getting the new Kenwood DPX-MP4030 (double din, cassette, cd), thinking that it will look nice and not require me to buy a new dash.
So, my friend and I attempt to put this in. I know NOTHING about stereos, but he is very knowledgeable. From past research (reading these forums---TY guys), I realized that it IS possible to keep the amps/speakers and only change the head unit. However, you need to buy one of those FAI (factory amplifier integrators). I end up buying a wiring harness, a FAI, and an antenna adapter.
We install everything and it looks GREAT! It fits SOOO nicely, and sounds great. However, when I turn on the engine to leave, I hear this clicking sound. To be honest, scared the living crap out of me when I first heard it. My friend assured me that the car was NOT going to blow up and promised we'd look into it later(it was getting late).
I do more research (on these forums--hard to do without a search feature) and find out that someone suggested that you connect the ground to the chassis to resolve popping coming out of the speaker. I suggest this to Kevin, my friend, and he said we could try it, but it makes no sense.
We try that, but the popping still occurs. It comes from the right speaker and right speaker only. We take everything apart to make sure the connections are good. We end up taking the FAI back (since it came in a preopened package from BestBuy) and getting a new one. We splice all the wires, add connectors, and connect the unit again. This time we add things one at a time in a futile attempt to find out what is causing the clicking. All my info is below:
Clicks ONLY whenever the engine is on.
Whenever the engine is off (only Accessory is on) the unit sounds great. Not a single clicking. NO MATTER WHAT.
Clicks ONLY when I do something else that involves electricity (braking, windows, fan, lights, etc). Does NOT click when I am ONLY driving.
We determined that it wasn't the speaker because we disconnected ALL speaker wires and left ONLY the black, red, yellow wires and we still get clicking. He says its coming from the extreme right underneath the glovebox. It's not the speaker. What is that noise?
Everything else works great and was super easy (plug-n-play)...(illumination, antenna control, etc). Features I thought I would lose when I got another head unit.
Kevin tried everything he could and he said he could not figure it out for the life of him.
We grounded it to the chassis and even spliced in a third ground. Still clicks.
We disconnected illumination and it still clicks.
I was SOOO happy to hear this and the great job he did, until this happened. Everytime I stop at a light, put on a turn signal, etc it clicks. Loud, rapid clicks.
I am praying that SOMEONE out there has run into this problem (and fixed it) or knows what it is. I would greatly appreciate any and all help ya'll can provide.
We even changed out all the connectors, etc. No luck.
I know one of the solutions (read it on the forum) is to rip out all of the speakers and get new ones. I just can't do that. I'm poor.
I am extremely sorry for this being so long. Please forgive me. I have a habit of saying things in three days, what could be said in 3 seconds. SORRY!
Hopeful and depressed,
JT
P.S. Car is a 1999 Maxima SE-L with Bose package.
I've been a member of this forum for the longest, but I rarely go beyond reading. However, I have run into a situation that I have no idea what to do about. I am praying that one of ya'll would be kind enough to help me out or at least me in the right direction.
Anyways, onto my dilemma:
I've recently been pining for a new deck because the Bose one skips a lot when I hit "itty-bitty" bumps on the road. However, being a debt-ridden medical student, I do not have a lot of cash to spare. To make a long story longer, I finally saved up enough money to buy a deck. I ended up getting the new Kenwood DPX-MP4030 (double din, cassette, cd), thinking that it will look nice and not require me to buy a new dash.
So, my friend and I attempt to put this in. I know NOTHING about stereos, but he is very knowledgeable. From past research (reading these forums---TY guys), I realized that it IS possible to keep the amps/speakers and only change the head unit. However, you need to buy one of those FAI (factory amplifier integrators). I end up buying a wiring harness, a FAI, and an antenna adapter.
We install everything and it looks GREAT! It fits SOOO nicely, and sounds great. However, when I turn on the engine to leave, I hear this clicking sound. To be honest, scared the living crap out of me when I first heard it. My friend assured me that the car was NOT going to blow up and promised we'd look into it later(it was getting late).
I do more research (on these forums--hard to do without a search feature) and find out that someone suggested that you connect the ground to the chassis to resolve popping coming out of the speaker. I suggest this to Kevin, my friend, and he said we could try it, but it makes no sense.
We try that, but the popping still occurs. It comes from the right speaker and right speaker only. We take everything apart to make sure the connections are good. We end up taking the FAI back (since it came in a preopened package from BestBuy) and getting a new one. We splice all the wires, add connectors, and connect the unit again. This time we add things one at a time in a futile attempt to find out what is causing the clicking. All my info is below:
Clicks ONLY whenever the engine is on.
Whenever the engine is off (only Accessory is on) the unit sounds great. Not a single clicking. NO MATTER WHAT.
Clicks ONLY when I do something else that involves electricity (braking, windows, fan, lights, etc). Does NOT click when I am ONLY driving.
We determined that it wasn't the speaker because we disconnected ALL speaker wires and left ONLY the black, red, yellow wires and we still get clicking. He says its coming from the extreme right underneath the glovebox. It's not the speaker. What is that noise?
Everything else works great and was super easy (plug-n-play)...(illumination, antenna control, etc). Features I thought I would lose when I got another head unit.
Kevin tried everything he could and he said he could not figure it out for the life of him.
We grounded it to the chassis and even spliced in a third ground. Still clicks.
We disconnected illumination and it still clicks.
I was SOOO happy to hear this and the great job he did, until this happened. Everytime I stop at a light, put on a turn signal, etc it clicks. Loud, rapid clicks.
I am praying that SOMEONE out there has run into this problem (and fixed it) or knows what it is. I would greatly appreciate any and all help ya'll can provide.
We even changed out all the connectors, etc. No luck.
I know one of the solutions (read it on the forum) is to rip out all of the speakers and get new ones. I just can't do that. I'm poor.
I am extremely sorry for this being so long. Please forgive me. I have a habit of saying things in three days, what could be said in 3 seconds. SORRY!
Hopeful and depressed,
JT
P.S. Car is a 1999 Maxima SE-L with Bose package.
04-08-2003, 07:10 PM
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: For all the audio "know-it-alls"
Originally posted by thanjp
Hello guys,
I've been a member of this forum for the longest, but I rarely go beyond reading. However, I have run into a situation that I have no idea what to do about. I am praying that one of ya'll would be kind enough to help me out or at least me in the right direction.
Anyways, onto my dilemma:
I've recently been pining for a new deck because the Bose one skips a lot when I hit "itty-bitty" bumps on the road. However, being a debt-ridden medical student, I do not have a lot of cash to spare. To make a long story longer, I finally saved up enough money to buy a deck. I ended up getting the new Kenwood DPX-MP4030 (double din, cassette, cd), thinking that it will look nice and not require me to buy a new dash.
So, my friend and I attempt to put this in. I know NOTHING about stereos, but he is very knowledgeable. From past research (reading these forums---TY guys), I realized that it IS possible to keep the amps/speakers and only change the head unit. However, you need to buy one of those FAI (factory amplifier integrators). I end up buying a wiring harness, a FAI, and an antenna adapter.
We install everything and it looks GREAT! It fits SOOO nicely, and sounds great. However, when I turn on the engine to leave, I hear this clicking sound. To be honest, scared the living crap out of me when I first heard it. My friend assured me that the car was NOT going to blow up and promised we'd look into it later(it was getting late).
I do more research (on these forums--hard to do without a search feature) and find out that someone suggested that you connect the ground to the chassis to resolve popping coming out of the speaker. I suggest this to Kevin, my friend, and he said we could try it, but it makes no sense.
We try that, but the popping still occurs. It comes from the right speaker and right speaker only. We take everything apart to make sure the connections are good. We end up taking the FAI back (since it came in a preopened package from BestBuy) and getting a new one. We splice all the wires, add connectors, and connect the unit again. This time we add things one at a time in a futile attempt to find out what is causing the clicking. All my info is below:
Clicks ONLY whenever the engine is on.
Whenever the engine is off (only Accessory is on) the unit sounds great. Not a single clicking. NO MATTER WHAT.
Clicks ONLY when I do something else that involves electricity (braking, windows, fan, lights, etc). Does NOT click when I am ONLY driving.
We determined that it wasn't the speaker because we disconnected ALL speaker wires and left ONLY the black, red, yellow wires and we still get clicking. He says its coming from the extreme right underneath the glovebox. It's not the speaker. What is that noise?
Everything else works great and was super easy (plug-n-play)...(illumination, antenna control, etc). Features I thought I would lose when I got another head unit.
Kevin tried everything he could and he said he could not figure it out for the life of him.
We grounded it to the chassis and even spliced in a third ground. Still clicks.
We disconnected illumination and it still clicks.
I was SOOO happy to hear this and the great job he did, until this happened. Everytime I stop at a light, put on a turn signal, etc it clicks. Loud, rapid clicks.
I am praying that SOMEONE out there has run into this problem (and fixed it) or knows what it is. I would greatly appreciate any and all help ya'll can provide.
We even changed out all the connectors, etc. No luck.
I know one of the solutions (read it on the forum) is to rip out all of the speakers and get new ones. I just can't do that. I'm poor.
I am extremely sorry for this being so long. Please forgive me. I have a habit of saying things in three days, what could be said in 3 seconds. SORRY!
Hopeful and depressed,
JT
P.S. Car is a 1999 Maxima SE-L with Bose package.
Hello guys,
I've been a member of this forum for the longest, but I rarely go beyond reading. However, I have run into a situation that I have no idea what to do about. I am praying that one of ya'll would be kind enough to help me out or at least me in the right direction.
Anyways, onto my dilemma:
I've recently been pining for a new deck because the Bose one skips a lot when I hit "itty-bitty" bumps on the road. However, being a debt-ridden medical student, I do not have a lot of cash to spare. To make a long story longer, I finally saved up enough money to buy a deck. I ended up getting the new Kenwood DPX-MP4030 (double din, cassette, cd), thinking that it will look nice and not require me to buy a new dash.
So, my friend and I attempt to put this in. I know NOTHING about stereos, but he is very knowledgeable. From past research (reading these forums---TY guys), I realized that it IS possible to keep the amps/speakers and only change the head unit. However, you need to buy one of those FAI (factory amplifier integrators). I end up buying a wiring harness, a FAI, and an antenna adapter.
We install everything and it looks GREAT! It fits SOOO nicely, and sounds great. However, when I turn on the engine to leave, I hear this clicking sound. To be honest, scared the living crap out of me when I first heard it. My friend assured me that the car was NOT going to blow up and promised we'd look into it later(it was getting late).
I do more research (on these forums--hard to do without a search feature) and find out that someone suggested that you connect the ground to the chassis to resolve popping coming out of the speaker. I suggest this to Kevin, my friend, and he said we could try it, but it makes no sense.
We try that, but the popping still occurs. It comes from the right speaker and right speaker only. We take everything apart to make sure the connections are good. We end up taking the FAI back (since it came in a preopened package from BestBuy) and getting a new one. We splice all the wires, add connectors, and connect the unit again. This time we add things one at a time in a futile attempt to find out what is causing the clicking. All my info is below:
Clicks ONLY whenever the engine is on.
Whenever the engine is off (only Accessory is on) the unit sounds great. Not a single clicking. NO MATTER WHAT.
Clicks ONLY when I do something else that involves electricity (braking, windows, fan, lights, etc). Does NOT click when I am ONLY driving.
We determined that it wasn't the speaker because we disconnected ALL speaker wires and left ONLY the black, red, yellow wires and we still get clicking. He says its coming from the extreme right underneath the glovebox. It's not the speaker. What is that noise?
Everything else works great and was super easy (plug-n-play)...(illumination, antenna control, etc). Features I thought I would lose when I got another head unit.
Kevin tried everything he could and he said he could not figure it out for the life of him.
We grounded it to the chassis and even spliced in a third ground. Still clicks.
We disconnected illumination and it still clicks.
I was SOOO happy to hear this and the great job he did, until this happened. Everytime I stop at a light, put on a turn signal, etc it clicks. Loud, rapid clicks.
I am praying that SOMEONE out there has run into this problem (and fixed it) or knows what it is. I would greatly appreciate any and all help ya'll can provide.
We even changed out all the connectors, etc. No luck.
I know one of the solutions (read it on the forum) is to rip out all of the speakers and get new ones. I just can't do that. I'm poor.
I am extremely sorry for this being so long. Please forgive me. I have a habit of saying things in three days, what could be said in 3 seconds. SORRY!
Hopeful and depressed,
JT
P.S. Car is a 1999 Maxima SE-L with Bose package.
04-08-2003, 07:20 PM
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Other than the air bag I don't know what would be up behind the glove box. But I don't have bose. Maybe there is a bose amp up there? I think I had a pop similar to what you describe in my first car, '81 Accord. But fixing amp grounds took care of it. It's also possible that you have a bad ground somewhere else in the car and the noise is coming in through one of the stereo harnesses. Or it could be that you ran power wire from the factory fuse block. There is a lot of noise in the fuse block.
But I am far from knowing what specifically what this is. It would be a trial and error for me to find this. You could sit around and wait till someone who has experienced this same problem reads this thread. Or you could post a better description of the noise in the subject line of this or a new post. "WTF is popping noise under passenger side dash?" or similar.
But I am far from knowing what specifically what this is. It would be a trial and error for me to find this. You could sit around and wait till someone who has experienced this same problem reads this thread. Or you could post a better description of the noise in the subject line of this or a new post. "WTF is popping noise under passenger side dash?" or similar.
04-08-2003, 08:09 PM
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 353
Picture of FAI
It is a FAI made by install edge. They are owned by Rockford Fosgate. It is the IECPSI2 Interface.
Picture can be found at www.installedge.com under Products/Mobile Electronics/Interfaces/IECPSI2. It's a javascript picture and I don't know how to include that in here.
JT
P.S. THANK YOU SO MUCH for your extremely quick replies. This forum never ceases to amaze me. Starting to feel a little better.
JT
P.P.S. Here is a link to the cd-player if that makes a difference:
http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S...=0&cc=01&avf=N
And here is a link to the antenna adapter that I'm using:
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-Ih6qlZV...NI10&s=0&cc=01
Picture can be found at www.installedge.com under Products/Mobile Electronics/Interfaces/IECPSI2. It's a javascript picture and I don't know how to include that in here.
JT
P.S. THANK YOU SO MUCH for your extremely quick replies. This forum never ceases to amaze me. Starting to feel a little better.
JT
P.P.S. Here is a link to the cd-player if that makes a difference:
http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S...=0&cc=01&avf=N
And here is a link to the antenna adapter that I'm using:
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-Ih6qlZV...NI10&s=0&cc=01
04-08-2003, 08:13 PM
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 353
Originally posted by jmax
Other than the air bag I don't know what would be up behind the glove box. But I don't have bose. Maybe there is a bose amp up there? I think I had a pop similar to what you describe in my first car, '81 Accord. But fixing amp grounds took care of it. It's also possible that you have a bad ground somewhere else in the car and the noise is coming in through one of the stereo harnesses. Or it could be that you ran power wire from the factory fuse block. There is a lot of noise in the fuse block.
But I am far from knowing what specifically what this is. It would be a trial and error for me to find this. You could sit around and wait till someone who has experienced this same problem reads this thread. Or you could post a better description of the noise in the subject line of this or a new post. "WTF is popping noise under passenger side dash?" or similar.
Other than the air bag I don't know what would be up behind the glove box. But I don't have bose. Maybe there is a bose amp up there? I think I had a pop similar to what you describe in my first car, '81 Accord. But fixing amp grounds took care of it. It's also possible that you have a bad ground somewhere else in the car and the noise is coming in through one of the stereo harnesses. Or it could be that you ran power wire from the factory fuse block. There is a lot of noise in the fuse block.
But I am far from knowing what specifically what this is. It would be a trial and error for me to find this. You could sit around and wait till someone who has experienced this same problem reads this thread. Or you could post a better description of the noise in the subject line of this or a new post. "WTF is popping noise under passenger side dash?" or similar.
JT
04-08-2003, 08:53 PM
#9
How is the interface grounded? Try changing the ground to the interface. Also, if you have a voltmeter try measuring voltage on the radios power wire as you hit a light switch or window switch and see if voltage drops. I would have to say it is something power related. I'm really thinking ground somewhere.
04-08-2003, 09:08 PM
#10
Guest
Posts: n/a
lemme get this straight...
headunit connected to interface to adaptor harness to car harness correct??? if so...are they connected color for color???i suspect that it's the interface...i bet that interface is taking power and ground from somewhere to power the bose amps...u said the popping is only from the front speakers correct??? or just located somewhea in front??? if from speakers...try to install the headunit w/o the interface...here's a ghetto way to troubleshoot...eliminating the interface...wire ur deck to the harness wire...color for color except for the speaker wires...the one whea it says amp power or wateva...tap that into either the ignition wire...the amp ground tap that into the ground wire...here's the ghetto part...buy a cheap rca cord...from dollar store...cut it...should be 2 wire per connector...one end goes to rca out from deck...the other end wire it to the 4 speakers wire harness...turn it on...drive for a while and see...if no more popping then it's the interface...
headunit connected to interface to adaptor harness to car harness correct??? if so...are they connected color for color???i suspect that it's the interface...i bet that interface is taking power and ground from somewhere to power the bose amps...u said the popping is only from the front speakers correct??? or just located somewhea in front??? if from speakers...try to install the headunit w/o the interface...here's a ghetto way to troubleshoot...eliminating the interface...wire ur deck to the harness wire...color for color except for the speaker wires...the one whea it says amp power or wateva...tap that into either the ignition wire...the amp ground tap that into the ground wire...here's the ghetto part...buy a cheap rca cord...from dollar store...cut it...should be 2 wire per connector...one end goes to rca out from deck...the other end wire it to the 4 speakers wire harness...turn it on...drive for a while and see...if no more popping then it's the interface...
04-09-2003, 09:26 AM
#12
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 353
More specific info...
Since I don't have a clue as to what I'm doing....Here is some info my friend told me to post. He took apart the right floor panel and found the source of the clicking:
OK...found the source of the clicking...it is a relay in the right front kick panel. 4 wires: black, red, tan/black, green/white. What is it? Anyone have a wiring diagram?
Kev
JT
OK...found the source of the clicking...it is a relay in the right front kick panel. 4 wires: black, red, tan/black, green/white. What is it? Anyone have a wiring diagram?
Kev
JT
04-09-2003, 10:55 AM
#13
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: More specific info...
Originally posted by thanjp
Since I don't have a clue as to what I'm doing....Here is some info my friend told me to post. He took apart the right floor panel and found the source of the clicking:
OK...found the source of the clicking...it is a relay in the right front kick panel. 4 wires: black, red, tan/black, green/white. What is it? Anyone have a wiring diagram?
Kev
JT
Since I don't have a clue as to what I'm doing....Here is some info my friend told me to post. He took apart the right floor panel and found the source of the clicking:
OK...found the source of the clicking...it is a relay in the right front kick panel. 4 wires: black, red, tan/black, green/white. What is it? Anyone have a wiring diagram?
Kev
JT
04-10-2003, 04:52 PM
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 353
FIXED THE PROBLEM!!!
I'm just posting this as an FYI and to those who have similar problems.
After spending over 5 hours trying various things...we fixed it. It turns out that running a blue/white wire labeled P. CONT through the FAI was eating all the voltage and not sending enough to the relay.
So, Kevin just bypassed the FAI for that one wire and connected it directly to the stereo. Problem solved. No clicks, no sounds other than what the CD is playing.
The thing we were talking about in the front right kicker panel is a relay for all 4 amps (contacted Nissan about that) that consists of a switch and a coil--no, I do NOT (grammar teacher would kill me for that double negative) know what that means....just repeating what Kevin said. The relay costs $20 to replace in case anyone would ever need that info.
Thank you guys for all your help and suggestions.
JT
After spending over 5 hours trying various things...we fixed it. It turns out that running a blue/white wire labeled P. CONT through the FAI was eating all the voltage and not sending enough to the relay.
So, Kevin just bypassed the FAI for that one wire and connected it directly to the stereo. Problem solved. No clicks, no sounds other than what the CD is playing.
The thing we were talking about in the front right kicker panel is a relay for all 4 amps (contacted Nissan about that) that consists of a switch and a coil--no, I do NOT (grammar teacher would kill me for that double negative) know what that means....just repeating what Kevin said. The relay costs $20 to replace in case anyone would ever need that info.
Thank you guys for all your help and suggestions.
JT
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