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Spark Plug Noise through radio

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=57974
Printed Date: March 29, 2024 at 5:13 AM


Topic: Spark Plug Noise through radio

Posted By: XCITR
Subject: Spark Plug Noise through radio
Date Posted: June 18, 2005 at 11:56 AM

I'm one of the few out there who still like listening to AM radio, problem being, I'm getting "Spark Plug Noise" when the engine is on. I've had an aftermarket Alpine radio (that AM worked fine on with another vehicle) installed in my 91 GMC Sierra. FM Radio works great, but I'm getting interferrence with all AM stations. THe installer can't seem to find where the problem is, even after trying a new antennea, etc. I've also replaced the braided engine ground straps. Anyone have any other ideas of what the solution may be? I'm at a loss...




Replies:

Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: June 18, 2005 at 12:33 PM
Install a dedicated ground for the HU, don't use the ground lead in the OEM wiring harness, and make sure the antenna is grounded really well, not sitting on paint.  Unfortunately this kind of problem is often caused by a failure in the vehicle's ignition system.  It could be a cut or bad spark plug or coil wire, a broken spark plug ceramic, a cracked distributor cap, a worn rotor, a bad ignition coil, a fault in the vehicle's ECM (engine control module) or any combination of these and more.  If upgrading the grounds doesn't help, it can be a real pain to find and fix.

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Posted By: XCITR
Date Posted: June 19, 2005 at 7:48 AM

DYohn] wrote:

nstall a dedicated ground for the HU, don't use the ground lead in the OEM wiring harness, and make sure the antenna is grounded really well, not sitting on paint.  Unfortunately this kind of problem is often caused by a failure in the vehicle's ignition system.  It could be a cut or bad spark plug or coil wire, a broken spark plug ceramic, a cracked distributor cap, a worn rotor, a bad ignition coil, a fault in the vehicle's ECM (engine control module) or any combination of these and more.  If upgrading the grounds doesn't help, it can be a real pain to find and fix.

DYohn, would you suggest cutting the ground from the HU that goes into the OEM harness, and running it to a dedicated ground then? If so, where's best? Firewall? Through firewall to groundstrap's ground point? Somewhere else?





Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: June 19, 2005 at 10:02 AM

XCITR] wrote:

Yohn, would you suggest cutting the ground from the HU that goes into the OEM harness, and running it to a dedicated ground then? If so, where's best? Firewall? Through firewall to groundstrap's ground point? Somewhere else?

Yes, that's exactly right.  Anywhere you can get a good ground to the chassis: firewall would work, or floor of the car, or on the transmission tunnel, or yes through firewall to the ground strap.  Just try using a point that is not already part of the vehicle's electrical system, and be sure it's not a dash mounting screw as these seldom connect to chassis ground.



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Posted By: XCITR
Date Posted: June 19, 2005 at 10:39 AM
Great! thanks for the advise! I'll let you know if the grounding was the problem!




Posted By: sparkie
Date Posted: June 20, 2005 at 12:44 PM
Engine noise on the AM band will be caused by a problem in the antenna. Scrape the metal around the two screws that mount and ground the antenna base for a good ground. Make sure that there is no corrosion on the antenna lead connector at the antenna base. Check the antenna lead connector in the passenger's kick panel. Make sure you are using a good and proper antenna lead adaptor to convert the factory antenna lead tip to your aftermarket radio.

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sparky




Posted By: joe_1
Date Posted: June 20, 2005 at 4:48 PM
use a 0.3 supressor this should sort out your problem it connects to your coil and goes to ground




Posted By: Francious70
Date Posted: June 20, 2005 at 5:24 PM
Taken from another forum I visit. I thought it was to good to not pass around.

daitr0ng wrote:

The Ten Commandments

I. The best cure is prevention. I can't overemphasize this point. If you've ever spent an entire weekend tearing an installation apart in order to eliminate some noise, you know what I mean. Take the time to sketch the system out before you begin the install. This graphic representation of the installation will help you to avoid introducing ground loops and will serve as a road map for eliminating noise if it is present.

II. Don't introduce ground loops. Ground loops are created whenever an audio ground is established at more than one location. Theoretically, the only place the audio ground should be connected to the chassis ground is at the source unit. In my experience, I've found that in systems that have noise problems, a ground loop is the culprit nine times out of ten.

III. Never run signal wires alongside power cables. This is especially true in installations where high powered amplifiers are used. Large amplifiers are capable of drawing large currents. These currents vary with the musical demand of the program material as does the electromagnetic field surrounding the power cable. The more current that flows through the wire, the bigger this field becomes. If audio cables are located in close proximity to this fluctuating electromagnetic field, noise could be induced into the system.

IV. Always use 100% shielded audio cable. This will insure maximum protection against induced noises by power cables and other sources of electromagnetic interference. Good audio cables are not cheap. If you prefer to make your own cables, I would recommend using a wire with a foil shield surrounded by a drain wire.

V. Never use the ground wire in the vehicle's OEM radio harness. This wire usually makes a very poor ground due to it's length, small wire gauge, close proximity to other power wires, and unknown termination point. Instead, ground the source unit directly to the chassis or firewall.

VI. Make sure the amplifiers have a good audio ground reference. In order for the amps to function properly, the audio ground must be referenced to chassis ground at the source unit. If it is not, the amplifier could oscillate. To check for a good ground reference, take a volt-ohm meter (VOM) and measure the resistance between the chassis of the radio and the shield of the RCA line level outputs of the radio. This reading should indicate a direct short. If this is not the case, grounding the shield of the RCA line level outputs to the chassis of the radio will probably be necessary.

VII. Keep amplifier power ground wires as short as possible. The longer a wire, the more resistance it has. When a current flows through a resistance, a voltage drop is produced. Because of this, the ground reference at the amplifier's circuit board is no longer the same as that at the chassis of the vehicle. This ground potential differential can lead to noise and improper operation of the amp.

VIII. Don't connect all of your amplifier ground wires under one bolt. Contrary to belief, this is not required if the rest of the system is installed properly. If you do connect more than one power ground wire under a single bolt, you run the risk of amplifier ground modulation. This is caused by the current demands of, for example a woofer amp, modulating the power ground wire of a tweeter amp. This results in a squeaking noise that can be heard over the tweeters whenever bass notes hit.

IX. Make sure all levels are set correctly. Level setting is a critical part of the installation process. If done properly, maximum system signal to noise ratio can be obtained. Keep in mind that you want to drive the audio cables that feed the amps in the rear of the car as hard as possible. To do this, reduce the gain of the amplifiers to minimum. Turn up the volume on the source unit to 80% of maximum. Now adjust the input sensitivity of the amplifiers upward until the maximum intended loudness is obtained.

X. Noise filters can only reduce noise, not eliminate it. A noise filter is just that, a filter. And like any other filter (crossover network, etc.), it works by modification, not elimination. Some installers rely on filters heavily. In some instances a filter may prove necessary, but I believe that if the system is installed properly, a filter is usually not required.

About now most of you are probably making strange faces and saying "Now you tell me!" Well, all is not lost. If you have already installed your auto sound system and are unfortunate enough to have some noise, here are a few suggestions on where to look and what to do.
Alternator Whine

To me, alternator whine is the most annoying form of noise. For those of you who are lucky enough never to have been exposed to alternator whine, it sounds like a miniature siren that rises in pitch with the speed of the engine. Alternator whine is almost always caused by a ground loop. The following steps will aid you in locating and correcting a ground loop problem.

1. Verify that all levels are set properly. (Click here for related article.)
2. With the system turned off, unplug the RCA inputs to the amplifier.
3. Start the vehicle and turn the system on. If the noise is gone go to step 8. If the noise is still present, it is coming from the amp or the speaker wiring. Continue.
4. Turn the system off and disconnect the speaker harness.
5. Start the engine and verify that no noise is present. In a few rare instances, I have actually heard speakers reproduce noise without being connected to an amplifier. This noise was being induced by power cables that were very close to the speaker wire. If you do have this type of noise, reroute the appropriate speaker lead and go to step 3.
6. With the speaker harness still disconnected, check to make sure there are no shorts between the speaker leads and the chassis of the vehicle. A shorted negative speaker lead will create a ground loop by establishing a second audio ground reference point. If you do have a short, trace the wire out and repair it then go to step 3.
7. With the RCA inputs and speaker harness still disconnected from the amplifier, use your VOM to measure from the shield of the RCA jacks on the amp to the chassis of the vehicle. This reading should not be a direct short (100 ohms or more is acceptable.) If this reading does indicate a direct short, you might have a defective amp and should contact the manufacturer for verification. (Note that there are a few "inexpensive" amps or boosters on the market that have their audio ground and electrical ground commoned internally. For units of this type, the information in this article will be of very little value.)
8. If you've made it here, you know that the amplifier and speaker wiring are okay.
9. Connect the accessories in front of the amp (crossovers, equalizers, etc.) one at a time and check for alternator whine. When each device is tested, there should be nothing plugged into the input of that device. In this way, we will work toward the source unit piece by piece. Be sure to turn the system power off before connecting or disconnecting any cables or accessories.
10. Repeat step 9 until all accessories have been tested.
11. If a particular accessory is causing noise, try disconnecting it's power ground wire. Go to step 9.
12. Now it's time to connect the source unit. Do that now and test for noise.
13. If noise is present, try unplugging the antenna. If the noise goes away, you will need to use an antenna isolator. This little gismo opens the shield wire of the coax to eliminate the ground loop caused by the ground at the antenna.
14. If you still have noise, try connecting the source unit's ground wire in another location,. preferably as close to the source unit as possible.
15. Does the noise vary in amplitude when you adjust the volume control? If it does, the problem is probably power line related and not a ground loop. If this is the case, run the source unit's B+ (yellow) wire directly to the positive terminal of the battery. If this doesn't do the trick, you will probably have to use a power line filter on the source unit's B+ (Yel) and Ignition (Red) wires.

Ignition Noise

Ignition noise is another type of noise that is quite annoying. It usually sounds like a popping or buzzing sound whenever the engine is running. The best cure is to remove the motor but since we can't do that, we will have to rely on some other form of remedy. Follow the steps below to eliminate or reduce ignition noise.

1. Make sure you are using resistor type spark plugs and resistor type plug wires.
2. Determine where the noise is coming from. If the noise is a popping sound that occurs 2 or 3 times a second, you probably have a loose or bad plug wire. First, make sure that all plug wires are seated properly. If this doesn't do the trick, you may have a bad plug wire. Usually this occurs due to a pinhole in the insulation of the wire. Whenever the plug wire is energized, an arc jumps through the pinhole to the chassis of the vehicle. Replace with silicone resistor plug wires.
3. If the noise is a buzzing sound, the problem is usually associated with the points, distributor, or coil. Try replacing the condenser on both the coil and points. Make sure all plug wires are seated properly in the distributor cap. Additionally, you might try adding a 2200 uF cap from the positive terminal on the coil to chassis ground.
4. Don't use the fuse block in the vehicle to derive power for the source unit. Run the Constant Hot B+ (memory) wire directly to the battery's positive terminal.
5. If you still have noise, it could be occurring because of induction. Try pulling the source unit out of the dash and check for noise. If the noise is eliminated, try rerouting any wiring harnesses that are close to the deck. If this is not possible, try using self adhesive metal shielding. This might just do the trick.

Turn On/Off Thump

Turn on thump can vary from a slight pop to a mind shattering, teeth rattling BOOM! This thump is caused by the audio circuitry stabilizing when power is applied. Most amplifiers and source units have muting circuitry that lasts a couple of seconds to allow these fluctuations to subside before passing a signal. However, if the amplifier un-mutes before the source unit or any other accessory, you better watch out. Here are some things to try if you have turn on thump.

1. Verify that the amp has a good audio ground reference. (See rule 6 of the Ten Commandments of noise free installation.)
2. Don't install the system so the amplifiers can be switched on when the source unit is turned off.
3. If you still have thump, add a turn on delay module in line with the remote turn on wire to the amp.
4. This concludes the section on turn on thump.

System Hiss

Hiss is usually most noticeable over the midrange and tweeters. The reasons for this are simple. The human ear is more sensitive to the frequencies reproduced by these drivers. Mids and tweets are usually far more efficient than their low frequency counterparts. And, these drivers are usually mounted closer to the listener. If you have hiss, you probably have your levels set improperly. See rule 9 of the Ten Commandments of noise free installation.

While I know that I haven't covered all the forms of noise or even all of the methods of dealing with it, I hope that I've made a good start. By adhering to the Ten Commandments and investing a little persistence, you will be rewarded with a noise free installation.

By:
Wayne Harris


Paul




Posted By: XCITR
Date Posted: June 20, 2005 at 9:44 PM

wow... thanks for the great posts!

I've re-done the ground from the head unit, and checked the antenna's connections. Still having the same problems. joe_1 had suggested a "0.3 supressor " and the "10 Commandments" lists a 2200 uF cap from the positive terminal on the coil to chassis ground." Are these the same things? Where can I purchase them? Is this something that Radio Shack would carry, or more likely found at an auto parts store?

Ironicly, I called 3 or 4 "well-known" installers in the area today, and was told virtually the same thing from all of them regarding the AM ignition noise: That it was just something that aftermarket decks are notorious for, and that there was nothing I could do to fix it. Even had one installer suggest I get rid of my 3 year-old head unit and replace it with a newer satellite radio head unit. Guess I can't fault him for trying. But in my thinking, if the factory stereo could pull AM channels without the ignition noise, a $300+ head unit should be able to do the same thing - or, there should be some way to "make" it work. I am very thankful for the suggestions and advise I'm getting here!





Posted By: kgerry
Date Posted: June 21, 2005 at 11:06 AM

the antenna on the 88-94 C/K chassis all experience water intrusion in the base assy and the junction under the hood... we deal with probably 10-15 customers a month with these vehicles complaining about static on AM.... plug in a test antenna and i'm sure you'll find that the problem disappears...

replace the base assy and lead in cable together, don't do just one or the other... part #'s are 15573236 & 15963441



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Kevin Gerry
Certified Electronics Technician
MECP First Class Installer

Owner/Installer
Classic Car Audio
since 1979




Posted By: XCITR
Date Posted: June 21, 2005 at 8:01 PM

I've now replaced the HU ground - direct to firewall, tried a new antenna, and even tried "shielding" the wiring harness to the HU with some shielding material. Still no better results. The noise I'm getting is definitely a buzzing, and varies in strength with the engine's RPM's.

As for the capacitor on the coil... can anyone explain this for me? How do I do it, and where can I get the supplies. Also, are the "noise suppressors" for antennas and HU's power lead (sold through Crutchfield and the likes) worth the money? Anyone tried them? 





Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: June 21, 2005 at 9:31 PM
Sorry that didn't work, but it's still a good idea.  There are several noise filter selections HERE that you could try, including a dedicated antenna noise filter about 1/2 the way down the page.  Also make sure you are using "suppression" type spark plug cables.  Some high-preformance spark plug wires or coils can make radio noise problems impossible to find.  Good luck.

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Posted By: kgerry
Date Posted: June 22, 2005 at 10:19 AM

you'll notice a fair bit of signal loss using an antenna filter (50-100 miles less range) and unfortunately i dont think it will correct this problem....

i'm curious where you tried a new antenna? plugged directly into the CDM (tuner logic box)?  as an AC Delco Radio Centre whose territory covers an area larger than the state of Texas, we see a lot of these vehicles with that exact same problem (static on radio ( most noticeable on AM) with the engine running, static stops as you turn off the ignition, also poor signal once out of town and on the highway)......and the fix is almost always to replace the antenna and lead in cable... ....did you plug a new good antenna into the tuner box and make sure it is grounded properly?  i would be quite surprised if the problem you are experiencing was not an antenna problem.....   but hey, what do i know.......



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Kevin Gerry
Certified Electronics Technician
MECP First Class Installer

Owner/Installer
Classic Car Audio
since 1979




Posted By: XCITR
Date Posted: June 22, 2005 at 10:43 AM

hi, kgerry....

I had taken the truck back to the installer, who in turn, said he had tried a new antenna. I'm not sure of his process or methods, but supposedly he had tried a new antenna. Guess it's one of those things I'll have to try myself to know for sure.





Posted By: XCITR
Date Posted: June 27, 2005 at 8:27 AM
OK, Installed a new antenna, base unit, ant. cable and also an antenna noise supressor this weekend. I now receive about 10 more stations on AM band than I did previously, but everything below the 1400 band is still horrible affected by engine noise - no louder, no quieter than before. All that I know of to try next is a noise supressor on the lead power line, and a "cap" on the coil. Can anyone be a little more specific about the coil "capacitor"? Where can I get one, how do I install it, etc? Thanks.




Posted By: joe_1
Date Posted: June 27, 2005 at 4:14 PM
also try a 20 uf supressor if you can on the coil




Posted By: XCITR
Date Posted: June 27, 2005 at 5:17 PM

joe_1] wrote:

lso try a 20 uf supressor if you can on the coil

Where do I get such a supressor, and how to install it?





Posted By: joe_1
Date Posted: June 28, 2005 at 1:21 PM
you should beable to get it from a car spares place as this one i have seen is a standard part on a car it is not aftermarket it goes from the wire that operates the coil not the ignition live but the pulse one that turns it off on for sparking and then ground it, it should come with instructions if not that is how it is done.




Posted By: tcss
Date Posted: June 28, 2005 at 3:02 PM
You didn't mention if you tried the resistor plug, suppresser wire fix that DYohn suggested. That's where I always look first especially with mid 90s GM trucks.





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