Station Fuzzy when car is on?

[skatingrocker17 10+ year member]

I am in the process of installing a Pioneer DEH-X9500BHS into my 2007 Buick Lacrosse. I noticed when I turn the key once (just power to radio) all my local Toledo stations come in clear and all HD radio stations lock in, most Detroit stations come in as well (25 minutes south of Toledo). However, when I turn the key once more to power the whole car or even start the car all of my stations because fuzzy. The 50,000 watt stations come in OK but HD radio won't lock in and Detroit stations are just static.

I was just grounding it to the ground that was coming from the harness but then I tried re-grounding it and the same issue was occurring. I noticed the radio didn't turn off when I disconnected the ground, it my experience disconnecting the ground has always shut off the device.

What could be causing this?

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[Kingstroker 10+ year member]

I never ever ever make or break any connections with the battery hooked up. It can do bad things. Sometimes you get away with it, other times you do damage. I would recheck you harness. It should not stay powered up if you remove the ground, so it is most likely not. The harness I got for my truck had one of the power wires in the wrong place, ended up cutting the factory harness out and soldering my radio harness direct. Search online for a vehicle specific schematic.

 

[skatingrocker17 10+ year member]

I will try that, it just seems strange as to why it doesn't work well with the car on. The harness is the Metra GMOS-04 and it's just a piece of crap the way it's set up just causes all sorts of weird problems if you have a factory amp. I will try wiring it directly to the 12v from the factory harness.

 

[skatingrocker17 10+ year member]

Direct line to the battery does not fix the issue. I'm out of ideas.

 

[Kingstroker 10+ year member]

I think someone on here said that harness had some issues. Google your issue, you probably aren't the only one having this problem.

 

[skatingrocker17 10+ year member]

Yes the harness is junk. Lots of little issues you have to find your way around if you have a factory amp.

HOWEVER.... I figured out the issues. When my HID Headlights are on it messes up the reception. When they are off it's great. I spend two days and tried every possible thing I could think of before I figured out the issue.