Engine noise when AM is on

[TANSTAAFL]

Have a 98 Eddie Bauer Explorer, OEM premium sound system, on CD or FM, no problem, but when on AM, the engine noise is horrible, with engine off, works fine. Thanks for any suggestions or advice?

 

[my pos mounty]

Buy new spark plug wires, and get the motorcraft ones. Problem solved

 

[ragajungle]

When the plug wires are worn out the sound carries through to the radio... usually sounds like a wirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr sound that varies when you hit the gas. Get new/or BETTER Plug wires. Just did mine today - prob solved

 

[TANSTAAFL]

Thanks guys, SE members always come through with commonsense solutions. At about same time AM noise started, gas mileage started dropping, so may kill two birds with one stone on the plug wire replacements. Replaced the plugs couple years ago, should have done the plug wires to old as they are.

 

[rhauf]

i recent replaced my plugs and wires in my '93, hoping to make the am radio usable.. did not help (i used bosh wires). i also replaced the radio (for other reasons) but that didn't help either.

 

[ragajungle]

i recent replaced my plugs and wires in my '93, hoping to make the am radio usable.. did not help (i used bosh wires). i also replaced the radio (for other reasons) but that didn't help either.

On the newer explorers they started wrapping the speaker and receiver wires with Mylar or tin of some sort to illuminate feedback noise. Sounds like there is a wire insulator issue goin on....

 

[rhauf]

On the newer explorers they started wrapping the speaker and receiver wires with Mylar or tin of some sort to illuminate feedback noise. Sounds like there is a wire insulator issue goin on....

i've been thinking my next step would be to make a simple little inductor/capacitor filter for the radios power.... but i haven't gotten a "round tuit" yet.

 

[ragajungle]

On the back of all the power and data cables that come on new Copiers - they have these "Ferrite" rings... they use them on HDD harnesses etc... they are noise cancelers... I grabbed a bunch from work and started puttin em around wire harnesses and it actually WORKED! I wasn't bout to wrap all the wires in my 89 B2 so I figured why not? and was surprised...