My first install gone horribly wrong. Please help with whining issues.

[katodevin 10+ year member]

Hi,

I've just completed an install using the following components

Pioneer 880 deck

Power acoustik gothic 4 channel

power acoustik gothic 2 channel

Type R sub

Focal access 6.5 set

4 gauge power wire distributed to 8 gauge in trunk

14 gauge walmart speaker wire

Here are the grounding procedures that I have taken.

- Used 8 gauge wire to ground each amp to a well stripped/raw portion of the trunk floor. Ground wires are ~ 12-15 inches.

- Grounded head unit to metal support beam behind the dash.

- Used raw speaker wire to ground RCA breakout cables to the chassis of the head unit.

Here is what I am experiencing

A steady whine coming from both tweeters that does not change in volume or pitch. This is NOT present when the key is in the ignition and turned only 1 notch (even though the stereo is on). It only presents itself when the key is turned to the next notch (the one right before ignition). This noise also disspears when the RCA cables are unplugged from the amplifier.

A variable whine that is seperate and distinct from the first whine. This whine varies according to the RPMs of the car and vairies in volume and pitch.

Where should I start? Are these two seperate grounding issues, or are they stemming from the same source?

This is my first install, spent over 25 hours doing it! Please help out so I don't cry. Thanks in advance, you guys are a huge help.

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[BoomBoomBoy 10+ year member]

- Used raw speaker wire to ground RCA breakout cables to the chassis of the head unit.

Exactly what you you mean by this? I mean exactly?

 

[LinxuS 10+ year member]

I had the same problem when I first did my speakers. It's called alternator whine. I bought some higher end RCAs, and it fixed my problem.

Are you running your RCAs next to or close to any power wires?

 

[kizzo 10+ year member]

Exactly what you you mean by this? I mean exactly?

I think what he means is that he grounded the RCA's to the headunit.

You dont ground them to the HU, you ground them to the bare chassis of the vehicle. Change your headunit ground first and see if that works, dont use the stock one.

 

[ultimate157 5,000+ posts]

You dont ground them to the HU, you ground them to the bare chassis of the vehicle. Change your headunit ground first and see if that works, dont use the stock one.

Wrong.

http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=147694&highlight=alternator+whine

He did it correctly.

 

[bdawson72 5,000+ posts]

ahhhhhh alternator whine

 

[ultimate157 5,000+ posts]

Were you having ground issues before you wrapped the RCA's ?

 

[katodevin 10+ year member]

Were you having ground issues before you wrapped the RCA's ?

Yes, I tried wrapping the RCA's in an attempt to help the issue, no change.

and YES, i am using very high quality RCA cables. Kanari cable to be exact, has braided shielding. I am not running them next to the power wire. They are on the opposite side of the car.

Thanks so much for the brainstorming.

 

[LinxuS 10+ year member]

Just remove your alternator, and charge your battery every where you drive //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

That'll fix it!

Maybe try upgrading the grounds on the amp?

Also, its just in your tweeters? Maybe check all connections on those and see if they're grounding out somewhere or something.

 

[ultimate157 5,000+ posts]

Yes, I tried wrapping the RCA's in an attempt to help the issue, no change.

Try upgrading the HU harness ground.

 

[jeeper07 5,000+ posts]

ik the problem!!!

 

[jeeper07 5,000+ posts]

the problem is the pioneer deck bottom line. I have seen numerous problems exactly like this and they are all pioneers i myself had a premier deck and had the same problem. Re do the grounding of the deck and you should be fine.

 

[ultimate157 5,000+ posts]

Re do the grounding of the deck and you should be fine.

Beat ya to it //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[katodevin 10+ year member]

Exactly what you you mean by this? I mean exactly?

I did this except to all 6 of the RCA outs of my head unit:

 

[katodevin 10+ year member]

Here is one MAJOR piece of info i forgot to give.

When i was using the deck without external amps, I had no noise problem. It was only introduced when I installed the 2 amps.

Sorry for not saying this upfront.