ignition static picked up on satellite radio

[mbouse]

So, i changed CD players this past weekend after a several week abstainance of all sound from the speakers. had mixed emotion about spending the money....but anyway.

so the satellite transmitter (Sirius) worked just fine with the old radio; but now picks up ignition static with the new radio. the CD player, iPOD connection, and regular FM do not give any ignition static... just the satellite radio.

makes no difference which power source i use for the satellite, same static. still the same FM setting i used to use.

what should i use to either eliminate the source, or filter out its effects?

[pope]

[pope]

Drive fast with the windows and top down. You wont hear anything anyways.

Do they give a few choices to switch to different FM stations? Try a new one.
Did you recently change spark plugs or wires?
Is the Sirius connected to the same power wire as before?
Does the static go faster as you drive faster?
Switch to XM

[mbouse]

same brand of plug, but new plugs
same results on two different power sources (one switched one unswitched)
same results on two different frequencies
static sounds like it is ignition and directly increases as the rpm increases


idle is the only speed which does not produce the static noise.


yeah, driving fast is a great idea, except with the new amplifier, i cannot drive faster than the music (finally)
yes, new CD player/radio and new amp.

[pope]

One thing that could help significantly is the use of a resistor spark plug. There is an "R" in the spark plug number that indicates it as being a resistor plug. This helps stop electrical (whining) noises from coming through audio equipment. Most of the manufactors make an R and a non R plug.

Good Luck

[rlux4]

Mike, when I got out of the navy, 1971, my first job was in an auto parts strore. Back then ignition static was eliminated by a condenser at the coil. The radios then even came with instructions on where to wire it in. Electronics have changed a bunch since then, so I'm not sure if this still holds true, but it makes sense. I don't remember where they wired in.
Ron

[mbouse]

wowzers, Ron ! you ARE older than me; i didn't graduate high school until 1975.

the coil has a condensor on it already. Plugs are champion Resistor plugs (but new at time of the head job....while the radio was not working). same plug wires, but new cap and rotor from Vick Autosport.

[manoa matt]

Mike,

Are you running your old wires or your new accel wires. The copper core wires do not provide radio supression, the newer wires have radio frequency supression built in.

Are you still running that old radiovox capacitor? Maybe time to switch out a known good one. http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductList ... +Capacitor
The part numbers are the same for points condensers, I dont know if they got their parts numbers mixed up, or of the points condensers will also work as a radio interference capacitor.

One more thing. I recently saw this ignition pickup on ebay: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigtimes_fiat/2568046787/
I've never seen one of those auxillary ground connections on our vendors pickups. The part number is in black in the background. That may also help.

Make sure your coil bracket is grounded to the body.

Matt

[mbouse]

well i listen, and i comment... not much has changed from before.
same coil, never touched the bracket
same condensor...could it have gone bad while the old radio was down and before the new radio was installed?
same wires... no not the new ACCELL wires

my son-0-law assures me that once i hard wire my Sirius to the radio this static will be eliminated. has anyone used the AUDIO OUT port on their Sirius for a direct wire to an Aux in on a radio?


i will look at advanced auto tomorrow for a noise blanking capacitor.

[Daniel]

Hi Mike

So i take it your running a RF Sirus Unit transmits via FM does the Unit have Antenna plugs or just transmits RF to
your FM ? but has a Port Audio output as well ? what size plug is it 3.5mm Stereo or RCAs and does your Radio have
Aux input if so yes no issues with direct connection will have better sound via direct . What Brand is the Radio ?

There are a number of ways to pickup engine noise and maybe different issues for a number of Brands, Some have
better Filtering built into them then others . Some odd ways to inject noise into a sound system is to end up with
a ground loop, having grounds at different locations, you may even wire the grounds at the same place but have the
Radio Body grounded as well . Wires running close to noisy parts or other wires with a lot of current running through
them will tend to pickup noise .

I'd say check your Antenna Connection you may have a good signal ( the center Wire or connector ) but poor ground
the outer connection . If you remove the radio to fix this try playing it outside of the dash see if the noise is there still .
If the noise is gone pulled out then maybe the Radio Chassis grounded to metal from the dash is the issue to solve run a ground wire to Chassis of the Radio . Weak Grounds can play games as well .
You also mentioned you have an Amp was that installed before the new radio came into play here ? Even if it was working
with the old Radio Electronics as you know have a mind of there own sometimes they tend to choose what they like to
work with . Sometimes adding a Amp can allow noise to enter a system in a few ways .
If all else fells unplug the RCAs running to the Amp from the Radio turn everything on and see if you have noise without
any music playing . If so your Amp needs better Cables or a better path way for the wires . If none of this makes a difference your Fiat is Doomed and should be burned to the ground or given to me I'll be glad to take that
crappy radio with the Car off your hands for free ! Keep us posted ...

Good Luck

Daniel

[mbouse]

Thanks, Daniel. You've added some thoughts i've not considered at this point.

I am waiting on the son-0-law to assist with a different direct connection than we previously attemted. Right now i am transmitting RF to the radio from the Sirius. We're hanging our hat on noise elimination with direct connect. The Sirius output is the small banana stereo plug. Alpine is the radio make.

Never heard of a ground loop noise, however, the radio and Sirius have the same operating ground. Neither have a body to chassis ground.

I doubt that the car will burn to the ground, but if it does, you can have dibbs on what is left. Other than that, i doubt that you'll be able to obtain possession. The stereo is secondary to the true, beautiful sound of classic Italian machinery in motion.

[pauljdav]

Is the sound a "buzzing" or a "whining?

If it is buzzing that is ignition. If it is whining that is alternator. The first thing to check on either is the ground. Often ensuring that the ground from the affected electronic device is isolated fixes the problem.

If the noise continues and it is the whining (both noises increase with engine speed) then a noise suppressor will correct this.

Good luck,

Paul

[mbouse]

it's definitely a buzzing, not a whining. of course, it increases with speed. at idle it is imperceptible, but as soon as the car moves it is noticible at any speed.

ummm.... an isolated ground! See, the son-o-law made those connections, i will have to double check that. that is something I overlooked.

[Jazgeek]

at the risk of waxing technogeek (I went to college for electronics) I have found that 100% of the time whine or whir on the radio is due to ground loop interference.

here's a good wiki to explain what that is

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_loop_(electricity)

ensure that both units are on the same ground will mostly clear up the problem, but a good ground loop isolator will clear it up completely. Do an ebay search on Ground Loop Isolator will provide you with a multitude of makes and models.

[mbouse]

umm, would that include the amplifier? or is it just the Alpine radio and the Sirius receiver?

the amplifier uses the battery ground as its ground... can't get any better than that. also, the postive terminal feeds the amplifier directly. So, if it is a ground loop issue - - - - can i eliminate the amplifier as the culprit ?

I am checking with the son-0-law to insure that the other two units share a ground.