Humming noise as soon as radio turns on....

[Pearson 10+ year member]

As the title says. I wired a system in my wife's bug and i'm on the second amp. I have the power and rca's ran on opposite sides of her car, ground for the amp has been changed three time, taken to local audio shop and they rigged the rca's on the old amp to not move but it didn't last more than 2 days. I've been searching and reading up on solutions but nothing is working. The shop is charging $80 just to look at the amp and troubleshoot and i'd rather not pay that again. The first amp was a power bass 600.2 and the new amp is hifonics 1000.1. When I bought the hf amp i tested it and it wasn't making the humming noise when it was hooked up to a different system but when it's in my wife's bug, it hums.

Sorry for the longer post but I don't have any idea what could be the issue.

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[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

Have you tried changing the rcas/swap them out yet?Just run another set of them exposed across the seats or? just to test to see if you have a bad set of rca installed?Where is your ground located. and what size is the Ground wire?What yr model is the bug? Existing HU, or aftermarket.Most existing HU may have an internal amp,in which adding an external amplifier may be creating issues as well.There may be an option for you to purchase an LOC to add external amplifiers.

 

[BT96SS 10+ year member]

If your amps are not grounded to the same point you might try that. Also what radio are you using. You might check to see if the rca ground on the radio is still good. Also I have seen some amps hum if the gain is turned up to far.

 

[Pearson 10+ year member]

Haven't changed the rca's.

Ground is located at the rear seatbelt bolt. i sanded down all the paint so it's bare metal.

2008 Volkswagen Beetle.

Pioneer DEH-6300UB.

 

[BT96SS 10+ year member]

since you have a pioneer radio try checking the rca ground. Those radios are prone to poping the micro fuse inside of them that connects the chassis of the radio and the rca grounds.

 

[double 07 10+ year member]

I would try running a set of RCAs over the seats to see if it goes away....If that doesn't work it may be the head unit.....seems like Pioneer had some issues in this dept..

you could try wrapping a wire around the jacket of the rca at the head unit and hook it in with ground wire...

 

[double 07 10+ year member]

BT may have your answer then^^^^^^^^

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

You have changed the HU,which is first thing I do when upgrading stock.Sounds like a decent ground point.I use the same size ground wire as the power wiring,No less than 4ga,with double washers sanwitched inside.It could be the RCAs /pinched maybe somewhere,or even a time or two I have ran a screw beside them penetrating the rca sleeve, and the screw grounding them out on the door seals putting them back together.Honest mistake, but it does happen/rushing it in there.If you have an extra set of rca not installed ,try running as I stated before and see if you have a bad pair of rcas, or, it could be that amp???

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

I would try running a set of RCAs over the seats to see if it goes away....If that doesn't work it may be the head unit.....seems like Pioneer had some issues in this dept..you could try wrapping a wire around the jacket of the rca at the head unit and hook it in with ground wire...

Ive heard of this being done with the HU, also,wasnt sure it was the pioneer.Its worth trying as well.Everyone has some good recommendations it seems.

 

[Pearson 10+ year member]

since you have a pioneer radio try checking the rca ground. Those radios are prone to poping the micro fuse inside of them that connects the chassis of the radio and the rca grounds.

So open the deck?

I would try running a set of RCAs over the seats to see if it goes away....If that doesn't work it may be the head unit.....seems like Pioneer had some issues in this dept..you could try wrapping a wire around the jacket of the rca at the head unit and hook it in with ground wire...

I'll have to see if I can find some spare rca's. If I go buy some it'd be from the guy that sold me the install kit and i'd prefer not to have the same rca's. Noob question but is there really a difference in rca cables? If there is, what brand would you prefer?

You have changed the HU,which is first thing I do when upgrading stock.Sounds like a decent ground point.I use the same size ground wire as the power wiring,No less than 4ga,with double washers sanwitched inside.It could be the RCAs /pinched maybe somewhere,or even a time or two I have ran a screw beside them penetrating the rca sleeve, and the screw grounding them out on the door seals putting them back together.Honest mistake, but it does happen/rushing it in there.If you have an extra set of rca not installed ,try running as I stated before and see if you have a bad pair of rcas, or, it could be that amp???

Upgrading the HU is always my first besides the Big 3 but the wife said she didn't want the Big 3 yet so HU was first. lol Ground and power wires are all 4ga. I have the ground at the back seatbelt, no more than 6in to a cap, and then 2-4in to amp. everything's tight and no spare wires hanging out of the amp. I tried to hide everything pretty well so it's a possibility that they are pinched but I haven't drilled any screws so they aren't ripped/penetrated anywhere. I hope it isn't the amp because i've already replaced it once and this amp was supposed to be the amp that powers my sa-8 when i get it in my truck. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

You have a cap? If so, Try bypassing the cap, and see if it may be the issue also.Just another suggestion.