Static in stock Radio
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Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 16
Static in stock Radio
Anybody got any suggestions for this:
I replaced the stock radio head in my 86 max with another from a Junkyard but the problem persists. When I turn the key to ACC every radio station in my area comes in crystal clear. The moment I start the car all but the local FM station have static and the farther the FM station the louder the engine whir is thru the speakers. Coincidentally, I can distort even the local stations by just turning on the rear defrogger. I figure this has to do with the Rear defrogger messing with the FM diversity antenna in the rear window, but what gives for the engine whir? I have tried a filter before the power going into the radio but to no avail the problenm persists without any relief. I have been told to sand down the connections to my distributor cap from the plug wires to re-grounding the antenna. Anybody have a remedy? I have also run a separate ground from the battery and ground the radio to that but it did not help. I suspect something is up with the alternator as I have witnessed the volt meter bounce back and forth when the blinkers are on and drop and not recover when I turn the lights. The drop is minimal but nonetheless, it doesn't recover like it should.
I replaced the stock radio head in my 86 max with another from a Junkyard but the problem persists. When I turn the key to ACC every radio station in my area comes in crystal clear. The moment I start the car all but the local FM station have static and the farther the FM station the louder the engine whir is thru the speakers. Coincidentally, I can distort even the local stations by just turning on the rear defrogger. I figure this has to do with the Rear defrogger messing with the FM diversity antenna in the rear window, but what gives for the engine whir? I have tried a filter before the power going into the radio but to no avail the problenm persists without any relief. I have been told to sand down the connections to my distributor cap from the plug wires to re-grounding the antenna. Anybody have a remedy? I have also run a separate ground from the battery and ground the radio to that but it did not help. I suspect something is up with the alternator as I have witnessed the volt meter bounce back and forth when the blinkers are on and drop and not recover when I turn the lights. The drop is minimal but nonetheless, it doesn't recover like it should.
Re: Static in stock Radio
Normally, when your alternator is going out, you will get a high pitched whine from the speakers, that changes in pitch and volume as the engine RPM's change while driving.
The noise your getting does sound like a ground-loop problem, but it could be isolated to the antenna. It's possible that the original antenna's ground is bad, due to age, rust, etc...if possible, try another antenna, or maybe a noise filter on the antenna lead.
If you've tried a noise filter on the +12V lead, not the ACC lead, and moved the ground wire contact to a good ground location within twelve inches of the head unit, I'd say you most likely do not have a problem on the power side. You couold try placing a filter on both the +12v AND the ACC leads, relocate the ground, and see how that works, but I'd bet it's probably the antenna.
The noise your getting does sound like a ground-loop problem, but it could be isolated to the antenna. It's possible that the original antenna's ground is bad, due to age, rust, etc...if possible, try another antenna, or maybe a noise filter on the antenna lead.
If you've tried a noise filter on the +12V lead, not the ACC lead, and moved the ground wire contact to a good ground location within twelve inches of the head unit, I'd say you most likely do not have a problem on the power side. You couold try placing a filter on both the +12v AND the ACC leads, relocate the ground, and see how that works, but I'd bet it's probably the antenna.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19
Ground Problems
You have ground problems, there is a problem with your grounds, either your attena or your ground to the casstete player or the eq, so check all of those out, if you need to make a new ground, remeber ot sand away any paint ot make a good connection to the frame. I know about these problems from car audio issues.
my website about my stereo in my maxima.
http://pages.prodigy.net/esemann/
Thats my 2 cents.
my website about my stereo in my maxima.
http://pages.prodigy.net/esemann/
Thats my 2 cents.
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