Can someone help with weird headlight noise issue?

[Matthew Edward]

Have an odd issue maybe somebody knows the answer to. I have a 2016 Chevy Malibu. I have a sound quality build. The odd issue is with headlights off, its quiet. With high beams on, it's quiet. With low beams on it has an annoying buzz. It's not super loud but enough to ruin soft music or sitting without radio playing. If i turn the head unit off no sound ever comes through, which i assume is because with deck off it probably shuts off the rest of equipment maybe. I've replaced both headlights with better quality ones, brand new and no change. The headlights are a single light that has both low and high in one unit. Thats what makes it even weirder. Its same unit on high beams but they are quiet. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

UPDATE: Not sure if this helps figure out the cause but if the engine is off the low beams do not make any noise even after a long time. It's only with the engine on. Does this make a difference? Still trying to get car in to have grounds checked. Someone else told me the alternator or battery can cause this?

 

[Matthew Edward]

It's possible the head units illumination wire is connected to the cars illumination in such a way it accepts electrical noise. Perhaps to the wrong illumination source wire. GM cars need specific wire harnesses to connect aftermarket head units.

UPDATE: Not sure if this helps figure out the cause but if the engine is off the low beams do not make any noise even after a long time. It's only with the engine on. Does this make a difference? Still trying to get car in to have grounds checked. Someone else told me the alternator or battery can cause this?

 

[Matthew Edward]

Aftermarket headunit or factory with LOC?

Aftermarket. High end sony.

UPDATE: Not sure if this helps figure out the cause but if the engine is off the low beams do not make any noise even after a long time. It's only with the engine on. Does this make a difference? Still trying to get car in to have grounds checked. Someone else told me the alternator or battery can cause this?

 

[Matthew Edward]

When I install a system I ground ALL components to the battery neg, NEVER to the body. ALso good practice to replace the battery to ground 6 or 8AWG wire with 4 AWG. Even the amps ground is 4 AWG or larger as required to the battery neg. I use a ground distribution block to insure all grounds are at the same point. Never had any noise from any source, alternator, blower motors, HID headlights, ECM. You might try a ground loop isolator between the radio and crossover or amp. Sometimes the antenna ground may cause noise, I used to get antenna isolaters from PAC (https://pac-audio.com/) I looked on their website but can't find it. One other possibility, if the noise is coming in on the radio power line, perhaps use the radio power wire to operate a relay getting power directly from the power distribution fuse block through the relay. The radio will still power off with the ignition but have a clean source of power. Good luck,
Retired Trunk Monkey

UPDATE: Not sure if this helps figure out the cause but if the engine is off the low beams do not make any noise even after a long time. It's only with the engine on. Does this make a difference? Still trying to get car in to have grounds checked. Someone else told me the alternator or battery can cause this?

 

[Matthew Edward]

It's possible the head units illumination wire is connected to the cars illumination in such a way it accepts electrical noise. Perhaps to the wrong illumination source wire. GM cars need specific wire harnesses to connect aftermarket head units.

UPDATE: Not sure if this helps figure out the cause but if the engine is off the low beams do not make any noise even after a long time. It's only with the engine on. Does this make a difference? Still trying to get car in to have grounds checked. Someone else told me the alternator or battery can cause this?

 

[Matthew Edward]

If you didn't install it you shouldn't be troubleshooting it. Let the installer fix his own mistake.

UPDATE: Not sure if this helps figure out the cause but if the engine is off the low beams do not make any noise even after a long time. It's only with the engine on. Does this make a difference? Still trying to get car in to have grounds checked. Someone else told me the alternator or battery can cause this?

But in response to let the installer fix it, they "Don't have time" as they said i'm being too picky. It was supposed to be a sound quality install and i paid good money but they said it's impossible to find every little noise. This is a very irritating noise so i want it fixed. I'm not going back to the same installer in the future, going to find a new one but I chose poorly apparently for this install.

 

[Matthew Edward]

The crossovers are another good suggestion.

UPDATE: Not sure if this helps figure out the cause but if the engine is off the low beams do not make any noise even after a long time. It's only with the engine on. Does this make a difference? Still trying to get car in to have grounds checked. Someone else told me the alternator or battery can cause this?

 

[metalheadjoe 10+ year member]

UPDATE: Not sure if this helps figure out the cause but if the engine is off the low beams do not make any noise even after a long time. It's only with the engine on. Does this make a difference? Still trying to get car in to have grounds checked. Someone else told me the alternator or battery can cause this?

But in response to let the installer fix it, they "Don't have time" as they said i'm being too picky. It was supposed to be a sound quality install and i paid good money but they said it's impossible to find every little noise. This is a very irritating noise so i want it fixed. I'm not going back to the same installer in the future, going to find a new one but I chose poorly apparently for this install.

Now it's a he-said/she-said/pissing match. I don't think you are sharing the whole story.

 

[Matthew Edward]

Now it's a he-said/she-said/pissing match. I don't think you are sharing the whole story.

I have no idea what you are talking about but i'm sorry i replied to you. Please don't offer any more of your amazing insight.

 

[spokey9 5,000+ posts]

But in response to let the installer fix it, they "Don't have time" as they said i'm being too picky

I wouldn't accept that answer. You paid for a service and electrical noise from your headlights shows they didn't properly provide that service.

 

[Jimi77 Premium Member]

UPDATE: Not sure if this helps figure out the cause but if the engine is off the low beams do not make any noise even after a long time. It's only with the engine on. Does this make a difference? Still trying to get car in to have grounds checked. Someone else told me the alternator or battery can cause this?

I could be all sorts of things, but I'd look for crossovers that are close to or have the 12v+ to the amp draped over them. I'd look for a ground that is near the tail light ground. I'd check the grounds in the engine bay for corrosion and consider upgrading the grounds. Check the HU ground. Make a dedicated ground for the HU. If the HU has a dimmer/headlights lead, I'd try disconnecting that. Make sure the RCAs are snug.

That's the cheap and easy stuff.

 

[huberoy123 10+ year member]

It's a lot easier and equally effective to use the chassis as a ground path.

Using a "ground distribution block" is just plain retarded.

8 years and absolutely no problems with my ground distribution block. Try to refrain from putting down folks with mental developmental issues - not appropriate.

 

[mahc 10+ year member]

I'd run a dedicated wire with a fuse directly to the battery. Something beefy like 12 awg and same for the ground to body.

 

[huberoy123 10+ year member]

I'd run a dedicated wire with a fuse directly to the battery. Something beefy like 12 awg and same for the ground to body.

I used 4 ga for my ground to chassis.

 

[mahc 10+ year member]

I used 4 ga for my ground to chassis.

I was talking about the deck to body ground but hey, better safe than sorry.