XM radio noise.

[ronnorth10304 10+ year member]

Hi, I have a 99 mitsubishi eclipse spyder GST with a panasonic CQ8100 head unit. For Christmas I recieved a audiovox XMC-10A XM radio reciever which has an output for the aux input on my head unit since you get better sound quality with that rather than the included FM modulator. The problem is that I get noise when the car is on or off, but the noise is much worse when the car is on and it changes pitch with RPM's. I have tried 2 sets of RCA jacks, and I also purchased a RCA ground loop isolator, which gets rid of the noise somewhat, but it also lowers the volume, and distorts the signal to the point where it sounds like you are under water. I am lost on what to do from this point forward.

Please help.

Click to read more...

 

[dinty01 10+ year member]

maybe the headunit itself isnt grounded very good?

 

[ronnorth10304 10+ year member]

Well since it is a DSM, you have to find your own ground. I used a bolt that connects the shift linkage to the chassis, and it hasn't ever given me trouble. Does that sound like a good place to ground it?

 

[dinty01 10+ year member]

not sure what a DSM is, but it sounds like it would be a good spot but I would take the bolt out and use some sand paper to scratch the surfaces of anything being held down by that bolt, chassis included and make sure its nice and shiny, there may be some surface rust prohibiting a good ground from happening. But Im sure there will be other people who will chime in with thier opinions, Im just guessing since thats where Id start with it, lemme know how it goes---Dinty

 

[azbass 5,000+ posts]

change that ground

 

[ronnorth10304 10+ year member]

There's really no other bolts to change it to, and I'm not going to drill my own, there's just too much risk there.

 

[jj4475 10+ year member]

aux quailty blows

 

[ronnorth10304 10+ year member]

it has to be better than FM modulation

 

[azbass 5,000+ posts]

There's really no other bolts to change it to, and I'm not going to drill my own, there's just too much risk there.

you need to find a better area then where its at.

 

[ronnorth10304 10+ year member]

that'll get rid of the sound? I'm just making sure because I have to pull the entire console up to the climate control. It's bloody cold here in IN, and I'm just trying to get a quick fix considering I'm selling this as soon as I can.

 

[dinty01 10+ year member]

I think its a good start but Im not 100% sure it would fix the problem, its tough for me to diagnose a problem if the vehicle isnt right infront of me, but the ground would be my first guess and Id go from there, maybe try finding a bolt that would have easier access incase you need to change it. And I dont see how your Fm modulation is that bad, I have 9 XM radios, 2 are wired to my headunits and the other 7 float from vehicle(s) to my home etc and they all use the FM modulation and its great. Try changing your channel to something more obscure, like 107.7 or 107.9, use a station that wouldnt normaly be used for any radio broadcasts, that be my first guess and if that didnt work then Id go afer the ground.

 

[ronnorth10304 10+ year member]

Ok, well if I go with FM modulation, could I connect the little clip that attaches to your antenna to somewhere inside the car? I have a power antenna and I can't clip it to the antenna as it will prohibit it from going up or down

 

[dinty01 10+ year member]

I dont know what you mean by the little clip that attaches to your atenna, from the XM radio? for mine I just plug in the power to the cig lighter and tune the headunit to lets say 107.9 and go into the settings for the XM unit and select the 107.9 station and Im good to go, try that first . .

 

[ronnorth10304 10+ year member]

no this one has a "sureconnect" thing. the XM antenna plugs into this wire, and then you plug that into the unit itself then run this wire to the outside of your car and clip it to your antenna, but since I have a power antenna I can't use that.

 

[youngcoke]

xm RADIO SUCKS