Removing alternator whine?

Z

ZenkiS14

Luis R.
Driver
Alright so its kinda a ricer question but its really driving me nuts. If anyone does not know what alternator whine is, it has to do with audio. You hear a whining noise that follows the revs of the engine. the higher you rev, the higher the pitch the noise is. The whine comes out from the stereo speakers.

So the problem first started when I installed an amp into my car to power up four new speakers I replaced my stock ones with. Its only heard when the volume is really low but I still want it gone. Sounds like the car has a supercharger or something.

Ok so some things I have done to prevent this with no results:

-Grind all the paint off to bare metal where the ground is placed.
-Ran the RCA cables through the center of the car to avoid any interference from a power cable. (Amp power cable runs through the right side of the car)
-RCA cables are well insulated and protected. They look like I can use them as a chain to protect my bike from getting stolen.
-The gain on the amp are ALL the way down.
-Amp is not mounted on a metal surface.
-Ground wire is very short. I'd say less than a foot.
-Disconnected my antenna.(Made sure it wasent causing a ground loop)
-Head unit grounded to chassis not stock harness.

I have read about the RCA Filters that you connect your RCA's too and the filters go plugged into the head unit. I keep getting mixed reviews so I am hoping someone here has used them and could shed some light on them.

I think thats the best I can describe it. If anyone has used the filters or knows how to get rid of it some other way lmk!

Thanks!
 
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That supercharger pwns you. Yeah, that shit is quite annoying, especially since I always ride in the back and the speakers are next to my ears. lol. Good luck solving the problem dude.
 
just supercharge you car and be done with it..
ok but really ground the head unit to a cassis ground not threw the factory harness
 
How big are your power and ground cables? May need to get thicker wires. Also, ground the radio to the chassis, not the the factory ground
 
bigger ground wires and move the location. It doesnt matter if your ground wire is 4 ft long... I have 2 4' strands of 4awg in my blazer with 4 10s and dont get any ground loop. Thats really the only thing it can be since you already have your RCA's and power separate.
 
get a better ground and install a new noise filter. More than likely it isnt coming from the alternator but the ignition. 10kv is more prone to cause noise then an alternator
 
homeskillet305 said:
how many ground locations have you tried? try diffrent places even if it means a longer cord
Click to expand...

I have only tried one. Ill try some more tomorrow

IThaJokaI said:
bigger ground wires and move the location. It doesnt matter if your ground wire is 4 ft long... I have 2 4' strands of 4awg in my blazer with 4 10s and dont get any ground loop. Thats really the only thing it can be since you already have your RCA's and power separate.
Click to expand...

I have a single 4 gauge wire as a ground. Another 4 gauge wire will not fit into the amp, so wil it be ok to run 2 smaller gauge wires? Are your two grounds grounded in the same place or are they both in different places?

flip3d said:
Get better cabling?
Click to expand...

Do you mean better RCA's?

ya tu sabes said:
get a better ground and install a new noise filter. More than likely it isnt coming from the alternator but the ignition. 10kv is more prone to cause noise then an alternator
Click to expand...

I don't have any noise filters on it yet. Do you know of any that really work and not distort the audio?



Thanks for everyones response! I really appreciate it!
 
You shouldnt need a noise filter. first off, get new connectors. Use gold plated ones cause the cheap ones will not ground correctly.

Re ground the stereo to the frame(with a new connector)
reground the amp to the frame (with a new connector)
And 1 4awg should be fine up to ~800watts. Im running dual 800w amps is why I use 2 ground wires.

Just make sure NOT TO USE shitty connectors. They walmart and harborfrieght connectors will not ground right.
 
Listen man, I had the same exact problem on my car shortly after installing my amplifier. Take the belt off of the alternator and start the car. If the problem goes away then you need to replace your alternator. I replaced my alternator and I never heard that whine again.
 
The Ground Noise Dilema

Lo0ok First Off Ur Not Supposed To Run The Rcas Thru The Center Of The Car
Nd Ground Filters Werk Jus Dependin On The Circumstances...
I Got An Audio Shop In The Swapshop......
Nd I Deal Wit That Shit Every Day......
I Kno I Can Fix It For Very Cheap......
U Can Cum C Me Nd I Can Help U....
Im At Audioland....names Steve So If U Want Help ....
Nd Only Ppl From This Site Ill Help
 
INFECTED said:
Lo0ok First Off Ur Not Supposed To Run The Rcas Thru The Center Of The Car
Nd Ground Filters Werk Jus Dependin On The Circumstances...
I Got An Audio Shop In The Swapshop......
Nd I Deal Wit That Shit Every Day......
I Kno I Can Fix It For Very Cheap......
U Can Cum C Me Nd I Can Help U....
Im At Audioland....names Steve So If U Want Help ....
Nd Only Ppl From This Site Ill Help
Click to expand...

WTF did you just say LMAO:ugh:
 
My rca's are ran down my trans tunnel... all three sets of them... power is ran passenger and remote/ground is driver side... Ive never had alt noise.... So that shit about not running rca's down the center your nuts...
 
ok i do this for a living so maybe im jus dum nd my who job is a fantasy.....
i never run the rca down the center cause theirs many secondary computers for seat belts or wateva.....in the instance u didnt get noise on your car its not his car ive seen things in this business that sum would never believe......
two of the same cars with the same equipment one car gets noise the other doesnt...
nd my main installer is a 25yr vet....so maybe were both nuts.....
 
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