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

[traksta15 10+ year member]

ive owned several pioneers and so have my buddys and never had a problem........weird, good luck!

 

[ultimate157 5,000+ posts]

Okay, I ran a 14 gauge wire from the HU ground to the battery. Did not help at all.
I also have tried running a source directly to my amp's RCAs. No noise.

Any more ideas, I'm so stumped.

That means your noise is coming from the HU directly. Clearly a direct ground isn't working, nor is grounding the RCA to the HU case.

During all these tests, have you been using a CD in your player? Have you tried an external source (Aux input) to the HU or the radio?

 

[katodevin 10+ year member]

That means your noise is coming from the HU directly. Clearly a direct ground isn't working, nor is grounding the RCA to the HU case.
During all these tests, have you been using a CD in your player? Have you tried an external source (Aux input) to the HU or the radio?

Ultimate, thank you so much for your continued advice, I really appreciate it.

For all of these tests, I have tried my pioneer IPOD interface box, as well as simple radio with no antenna connected. The steady hum is present even with the volume at 0.

I also just tried grounding my HU all the way to my trunk to where my amps are grounded, with no change as well.

Additionally, I found a very thick metal support beam behind my dash, drilled into that, and tapped a screw for a ground. I also used a dremel there to expose raw metal to ensure a good ground. This resulted in 0 change as well.

I think crying may be in order.

 

[ultimate157 5,000+ posts]

Well, that's all I've got to offer ... it sounds like you have a bad head unit, I'm sorry to say. All of the tests you ran should have pointed out the source of the noise, if it was anything besides the HU itself.

Is it under warranty?

 

[katodevin 10+ year member]

Well, that's all I've got to offer ... it sounds like you have a bad head unit, I'm sorry to say. All of the tests you ran should have pointed out the source of the noise, if it was anything besides the HU itself.
Is it under warranty?

I'm not exactly sure, I bought it off of ebay, so I don't know if pioneer requires an authorized dealer sale or not. I took it into a repair place, they bench tested it, and of course, it didn't make the noise, so they said they couldn't fix it or anything.

I mentioned the internal microfuse, they had no idea what I was talking about. They said that if I could tell them the location of said fuse, they could fix it.

Does anyone know where this mythical fuse is located?

 

[ultimate157 5,000+ posts]

I mentioned the internal microfuse, they had no idea what I was talking about. They said that if I could tell them the location of said fuse, they could fix it.
Does anyone know where this mythical fuse is located?

I'm pretty sure its not a real fuse, but more like a weak ground that is easily burnt.

If they bench tested it and it didn't make the noise ... then its probably fixable in your vehicle.

When you did the external source - to - amp test, did you use the RCA's that are run through your vehicle or did you plug in new ones?

 

[katodevin 10+ year member]

I'm pretty sure its not a real fuse, but more like a weak ground that is easily burnt.
If they bench tested it and it didn't make the noise ... then its probably fixable in your vehicle.

When you did the external source - to - amp test, did you use the RCA's that are run through your vehicle or did you plug in new ones?

I used both new and existing RCAs in my car to test. Same results with both. I am using very high quality RCA cables with braided shielding, run on the oppsite side of the car from the power cable.

The reason there was no noise when they bench tested it is reflective of it making NO whine in my car until I turn the ignition to the 2nd notch. If I leave my car powered up on the 1st notch, there is no whine. It is when the car powers up the A/C, starter, heater, etc that the whine manifests itself.

If I have blown this weak "fuse" will I be able to see it with the ***** eye if i take the unit apart?

 

[ultimate157 5,000+ posts]

The reason there was no noise when they bench tested it is reflective of it making NO whine in my car until I turn the ignition to the 2nd notch. If I leave my car powered up on the 1st notch, there is no whine. It is when the car powers up the A/C, starter, heater, etc that the whine manifests itself.
If I have blown this weak "fuse" will I be able to see it with the ***** eye if i take the unit apart?

It sounds like your HU is fine, and there could be electrical issues elsewhere.

 

[katodevin 10+ year member]

It sounds like your HU is fine, and there could be electrical issues elsewhere.

LOL, that sounds no fun.

 

[audiobahnuser18 5,000+ posts]

Jeeper07 is right i've also seen this before happened to my friend pioneer he had in his ride.

 

[katodevin 10+ year member]

Jeeper07 is right i've also seen this before happened to my friend pioneer he had in his ride.

May I ask what your friend did to fix it?

 

[Pyro_By_Nature 5,000+ posts]

Okay, I ran a 14 gauge wire from the HU ground to the battery. Did not help at all.
I also have tried running a source directly to my amp's RCAs. No noise.

Any more ideas, I'm so stumped.

Try taking off the wrapped wire.I don't see why you put it on if you had no noise before.I doubt that'll help, but it's worth a shot.

Let me brainstorm, and I'll get back to ya.

 

[katodevin 10+ year member]

Try taking off the wrapped wire.I don't see why you put it on if you had no noise before.I doubt that'll help, but it's worth a shot.
Let me brainstorm, and I'll get back to ya.

I had no noise before when i was using the high level outs to power my speakers directly. The noise manifested itself the moment i began using the RCA outs to my 2 brand new amps.

Thanks, hoping your brainstorm comes up with something good!

 

[katodevin 10+ year member]

I have discovered that if i plug in any SINGLE RCA, the whine stops. The whine immedately resumes as soon as I plug in another RCA, and gets worse as I plug in all 6. Keep in mind, this is ANY RCA, which rules out the possiblity of them being bad.

This has no effect on my massive alternator whine.

Any more ideas?