Got ignition noise only in one speaker!

[Pete]

Guys I have an ignition whine in the left front speaker. It is only in that speaker. It is not there all the time but it happens most of the time. Sometimes I can turn off the unit and the whine will be gone when I turn it back on, but usually that doesn't work and the whine is there.

Sometimes the system will be working fine, then all of the sudden there is this loud crackling static noise, only in the left front speaker, to be followed shortly by the ignition whine.

I don't think it's a fuel pump whine because the whine goes up and down with engine speed, and as far as I know the fuel pump only runs one speed, all the time.

The whine does not go up and down with the radio volume, it stays constant.

What would cause this? Bad head unit? Speaker wire shorted against the chassis? My system has the stock premium sound system. The head unit though was replaced with a Sony.

Thanks for your help!!!
Pete

 

[beavis195]

the only thing I can think of is a the wire grounding against the chassis. taking out the speaker and running new speaker wire to it and wire it to the headunit, if it still does it, take your headunit back.

 

[duck210]

1994 CRACKLING STOCK STEREO

I am looking for some advanced advise. I have a 1994 xlt with the factory system. The problem with this stereo is a Crackling sound through my speakers that I can only temporarily remedy by beating the dash or pushing the face plate until it stops. The noise comes back just about anytime I hit a small bump. That leads me to believe there is a short. I have gone as far as to
wrap the stereo case in plastic (cutting the vent holes) and install the unit believing the case is shorting. That did not work. I have taken all the door panels off to look for stressed and loose wires. That did not work (see where I'm going?) I replaced the radio insert thinking I had a basket case. That did not work. The ford dealership claimed I had a bad speaker, so I replaced it. That did not work.
I am wondering if the spring clamps that hold the stereo in place also serve as a ground? The dealer cant figure this one out......can you?

I wish not to drive this thing off a cliff, but I had this problem since I bought it, and am thinking that may have been a reason it was traded in. When I fix this issue I'll be back to talk about the door panels falling apart. Thanks!

 

[KMac]

Go to a stereo store and borrow another used head unit just to plug it in and see if the noise goes away. I suspect you may have a cracked solder joint somewhere in the head unit.

I would also inspect the wires where they go into the connectors and make sure they have good connections to the sockets.

Then make sure the sockets make good contact with the pins on the other half of the connectors going to the head unit.

Intermittent problems are a BEOTCH to find!!

Stick with it!

 

[duck210]

Been there and done that. I have actually replaced the stereo unit itself with another identical unit, and have inspected the wires at all of the bend points for cracked wire insulation. Do you know where the ground is on this unit? I may even try to solder a ground to the case, and run it directly to the frame?
Thanks....Don

 

[Beastb15]

Re: 1994 CRACKLING STOCK STEREO

Originally posted by duck210
I am looking for some advanced advise. I have a 1994 xlt with the factory system. The problem with this stereo is a Crackling sound through my speakers that I can only temporarily remedy by beating the dash or pushing the face plate until it stops. The noise comes back just about anytime I hit a small bump. That leads me to believe there is a short. I have gone as far as to
wrap the stereo case in plastic (cutting the vent holes) and install the unit believing the case is shorting. That did not work. I have taken all the door panels off to look for stressed and loose wires. That did not work (see where I'm going?) I replaced the radio insert thinking I had a basket case. That did not work. The ford dealership claimed I had a bad speaker, so I replaced it. That did not work.
I am wondering if the spring clamps that hold the stereo in place also serve as a ground? The dealer cant figure this one out......can you?

Nah man, this is a simple one. I can tell just from your problem that you either have your speaker wires crimped to the headunit or just twisted and electrical taped. The problem is that the wire moves when you hit a bump, the noise comes from the speakers losing a little connection. Solder all 8 of these wires and your problem is solved. Trust me, I had the same problem.

 

[pauvre]

Any updates on this? I have the same exact problem as Duck210. Added to his description: When I move the heater control slider between floor/panel/def the speakers crackle, the static moves from different speakers, and sometimes clears up. It is never consistent though...

Could be loose speaker wiring I guess, but seems like it is related to engine noise also. Would trying the stereo with the engine off determine anything?

By the way, when the speaker(s) are producing static/fuzz there is no other sound coming from them. It does not sound like engine whine over top of my music, the speaker seems to go out when it is fuzzing.

 

[Nixthebomb]

you brought back a 7 year old thread, shoulda stated a new one IMO

 

[pauvre]

It is easier to leave the previous input from the thread.

Does anyone have any thoughts on the issue?