please help- grounding problem

[expo5.0]

i have a major problem. i installed all my audio stuff and everything worked great. my rca's run throught the middle of the truck, the ground is very solid etc. after playing the system for a few days i now have a whining noise like my ground was no good or the rca's were next to power wire. neither one of those things is the case. the noise is only coming through my components in the front- and it happens no matter which set of the three rca's i have running are used (and it only happens through the components when the rca's are switched)

i have a couple of thoughts about what it could be.

1. i used cheap 14 gauge to install the front speakers- could it have degraded itself with the 200 watts per side running through it that i am sending to my components? is it possible that the noise could be introduced downstream from the amplifier? how would this have changed over a few days? could the rca's be introducing the noise but then only have the noise play through the front speakers- not the subs or the 5 by 7s in the rear.

2. is it that my amp is bad? how would i check that?

 

[boominXplorer]

you need a ground loop isolator (sp?) about 15$ i had the exact problem. My noise was caused by my EQ

 

[expo5.0]

sorry i didn't mention the fact that the ground loop isolator didn't fix the problem.

also, the amplifier is already mounted in a wooden amp rack about 3 feet from the nearest metal.

i have purchased but haven't installed a new grounding strap for from the engine to the chassis proper. i have already upgraded the ground from the battery to the engine as well so maybe that is the missing link. i will also add a new upgraded ground from the negative to the body itself (as of right now i just have the little stock one)

upgrading the speaker wire seems as if it may be the real solution though. i will try to get my hands on the best that i can soon and try that. the current stuff is from walmart (and no i don't have any idea what i was thinking installing 500 dollar speakers with wire from walmart)

thanks for your quick responses guys.

the ground loop isolator would have been a great suggestion- its my fault i forgot to add that part about already trying it.



question- if the ground loop isolator doesn't fix the problem... does that mean it is definitely occuring downstream of the amp? i guess i've always thought of sound being introduced before the amplifier. also, if i have the music on pause and i increase the volume level the whine gets louder (i thought that was probably becuase it was getting amplified) or could that be a result of just having more current going throught the tainted wires?

 

[liquidx9]

are you running the 14 gauge wire to your three way crossover, or from the crossover to the speakers? you may want to move down to 12 gauge to the crossover (or less?)

 

[expo5.0]

i'm talking to the amp to the crossover the wire from crossover to speaker is the stuff provided by audiobahn for these speakers i'm sure its good enough.


your write about the gauge though i wasn't thinking i needed better wires than that to door speakers but it makes sense with this much power.



now i'm hearing a whistle from somewhre under my car even when the system is not on? what in the world?

 

[boominXplorer]

yeah i started hearing a wine underneith my car the other day... then my tranny whent that night. A grong loop isolater should fixe the speaker problems

 

[VairKing]

The whine might be your fuel pump telling you its lifespan is about up, they can make a lot of noise when they are on their last leg...

 

[mohog]

first off your car is possesed. does the noise happen when the car is on? is there a noise when it's just on accessory? try upgrading your wire or redoing your rca cables. possibly remounting the speakers. again your car is possesed