Engine Noise

Anyone had a problem with engine noise coming through your speakers when using an amp and subs? Anyone know how to fix it?

The reason you're getting engine noise could be because of your grounding. Try regrounding your head unit and amps or grounding them to a different spot. Make sure where you are grounding them is connected directly to the chassis. Also, for better results, scrape the paint off (if any) around where you are grounding.
There are also, I believe, things called "ground loop isolators" that will get rid of engine noise. That's about all I know though.

Any other suggestions? I've tried all mentioned above

And you've ran your speaker wires away from any power wires?

yes I have

Hmm.. do you have any of your wires ran near anything like, for example, spark plug wires in your engine compartment?

no my wires are run as far away from everything as they can get

I'm trying to think of something else. Only thing I know that will most likely work would be putting ground loop isolators in. Gimme some time.. I'll come up w/ something.

Alternator going?

Alternator going? Im getting alternator whine comeing from the engine

I think he means, is your alternator crapping out on you

Also, tell me exactly where your head unit and your amp(s) are mounted

The head unit is mounted in the normal DIN opening. The amp is mounted on top of my speaker box.

whoops meant grounded, not mounted

head unit is grounded with the factory ground wire
amp is grounded to bare sanded metal in the trunce

Ok, I'm 99% sure it's your head unit grounding. Ground it to something other than the factory ground. Grounding it to the factory ground is what causes 90% of engine noise in sound systems.

would that be the case even if the engine noise isnt there when the RCA's arent hooked in the head unit?

Could be. It's not that big of a deal to reground it and I'm pretty sure thats whats wrong.
Of course there would be no engine noise with the RCAs not hooked up.
How would you hear the engine noise if the speakers aren't hooked up?

Wow, I've been wondering what that was. The noice gets louder as u accelerate and is awfully annoying. All you have to do is take the ground from the harness and reground it somewhere else? Where are some suggestions to ground it? Thanks

BTW, I have no amp and subs. Just a new head unit (grounded in harness) and 4 Polk audio speakers. All original wiring. Still think it would be the same problem? Thanks

The stock system runs power wires all over the car for the Stock Amps. If they are still hooked up, then anywhere you run the RCA cables, (with exception to the roof), you will still get static. MoReace, the reason your speakers have electrical noise is because witrh your stock system, your head unit sent out an un amplified signal, so it could not get interfered with the power cables. your stock amps, (in the rear deck) then sent the amped signal to your speakers. when you got your aftermarkert head unit, you were then sending an amplified signal to the amps, which then amplified the signal again, making the noise much more noticeable. All stereos have that hissing, especially high powered systems

If you have an aftermarket headunit, and you are not using the pre-outs from that to go to the factory amps, then you need to get an in-line dB reducer to cut out some of the amped signal from the aftermarket headunit.

Originally posted by A380Driver
If you have an aftermarket headunit, and you are not using the pre-outs from that to go to the factory amps, then you need to get an in-line dB reducer to cut out some of the amped signal from the aftermarket headunit.

either that, or rewire the speakers entirely so you are only using the amped signal from just the head unit, not both stock amp and head. They do make a DB reducer harness that you can buy instead of the regular harness

If you have an aftermarket headunit, and you are not using the pre-outs from that to go to the factory amps, then you need to get an in-line dB reducer to cut out some of the amped signal from the aftermarket headunit.

that will only reduce the noise, not eliminate it right? Would it affect the sound, I'd assume using the factory amps as well would provide better sound.

I get noise in my interior speakers and subs but only when my RCA's are connected to my amp and head unit....When you unplugg them from either end the noise goes away

Originally posted by MoReace
that will only reduce the noise, not eliminate it right? Would it affect the sound, I'd assume using the factory amps as well would provide better sound.

The inline decible reducer lowers the signal output from the head unit. This creates the affect that the headunit does not have an amp, therefore, the signal is only amplified from the stock amps, so you would get the same distortion you would get if your system were stock.

Originally posted by 93InfG20
I get noise in my interior speakers and subs but only when my RCA's are connected to my amp and head unit....When you unplugg them from either end the noise goes away

Your noise is cause because the RCA cables pick up an electrical signal from a wire running near them.

ok, I regrounded my head unit last night but the noise is still there. The RCA's aren't near any other wires either

No, the ground makes no diffrence. The factory wires for the stock amps run all over the place. Where did you run the RCA cables? tot he left, right, or middle?

The rca's are run down the middle...I have also had them on the right side before

everyone suffers from whining noises of some sort. some arent as obvious. from my experiences, if youve tried all the above mention solution, then the only other explaination is the quality of your sound system. I have kenwood and still get some noise, due to the amount of electricals in the car. you'll find it hard to get rid of it, but you can reduce it, with a supressor. try keeping the ground to the amps as short as possible. some amps are cheap due to the quality of the circuitry that helps reduce things like noise, so sometimes its best to buy good quality gear.

yeah i think im just going to have to get rid of my cheap junk and get some good gear

I don't know if quality of the sound system matters. I have a new Pioneer head unit and a Rockford Fosgate amp and sub, but I still get a lot of noise...