Headlights cause interference?

[samuraiz]

Here's the deal, my speakers make a static-y interference-y noise when my system is put under an additional power load, such as my headlights. I've been told to check my grounds before i go buying a new alternator. Can anyone tell me where a d16y8 should be grounded? It is possible i missed a ground when swapping it in. Pictures would be useful, or any other advice.

[nedgeworth]

check all your system grounds as well. This might even include trying a new ground for your amp and deck.

If you can explain the problem a little more we can be of more help. Is it when your system is turned up? when a bass note hits? or just always there once another device is turned on?

My suggestion is check grounds first, then nice big new battery (optima), get alternator checked. well the last 2 are check at the same time. Don't want you going out and spending money on something for no reason now!

[ABTsportsline]

i hesitate to blame it on a ground because it only happens when you have your headlights AND another accessory on... if it was a bad ground, it would happen ALL the time (unless its a bad ground on the headlight wiring).

my best guess would be load on your battery.... you said in the first thread you posted on this that you had a 1400 watt system. all those watts use power whether you have it cranked or not, and chances are you stereo is on everytime your headlights are on.

getting a capacitor for that sound system wouldn't be a bad idea, as you have a serious draw on your electrical system with that sound system powered on... and headlights use juice too... could just be a fight for voltage.... and to narrow down the "ground" argument, the bad ground would have to be somewhere around the headlight wiring, if it was what triggers the static. the speakers are just the outlet - not the cause.

you could have some moisture around the electrical sockets of your headlights or something. they do have a ground, but that ground is the car chassis itself. so if your ground is bad, it will transfer that bad ground to a lot of other functionalities of the car.

[samuraiz]

It's definately involved in the electrical system. Running just off battery everything is fine no matter what, so i don't think i need a new battery. With the car on, running just stereo w/out headlights is fine. Its when i add some sort of lights (head, tail or turn) or additional power draw into the mix that things get screwy. However it isn't always and it doesn't seem to matter what volume the stereo is at as long as it's on. Either 15 minutes or so into driving with headlights and stereo the static starts up, though sometimes it only shows up when the turn or tailights are on.

Sounding more and more like alternator? Amp grounds are fine, i still feel like i'm missing an engine ground, i'll look around for some under hood pics to see if i can find one.

[Lule]

A picture of all of the grounds are in your Helms manual.

I suspect you have a poor ground that is increasing in resistance as the current draw increases and as the engine bay temps rise. Use a set of jumper cables with one end clamped to the negative battery post and start touching around the engine bay. Listen for the static to change or go away or watch for a spark as you pull the clamp away, indicating breaking a current path.

If your car runs, it's unlikely that it's your alternator.

Also, I disagree with ABT, amps are like all other electrical devices, they draw current relative to need.

[ABTsportsline]

Also, I disagree with ABT, amps are like all other electrical devices, they draw current relative to need.
i agree with that. when did i say otherwise?

[samuraiz]

my best guess would be load on your battery.... you said in the first thread you posted on this that you had a 1400 watt system. all those watts use power whether you have it cranked or not, and chances are you stereo is on everytime your headlights are on.

I believe this is what he was referrring to, i'm assuming what you meant is that the amp is drawing SOME power despite the volume, where he may have interpreted it as you saying that the amp draws the exact same amount of power no matter the volume.

[ABTsportsline]

I believe this is what he was referrring to, i'm assuming what you meant is that the amp is drawing SOME power despite the volume, where he may have interpreted it as you saying that the amp draws the exact same amount of power no matter the volume.
thanks, you actually understood what i was trying to say. i may not have made myself clear, hence his misunderstanding. at any rate, it doesn't matter as apparently that isn't your problem. but thanks for clearing that up samuraiz.

good luck with your problem. keep us updated on how you get it resolved.

[Lule]

Yes, I misunderstood. My apologies.

[MLD211]

It sounds like you have a ground loop. Are you running any amps or is it just running off the deck. As you probably know DC stands for direct current. That means the circuit runs from positive to negative in a big circle. When you have multiple grounds at different points you create whats called a ground loop. So I would say not that you have a bad ground just try another location. Also you want to make sure your illumination wire (orange or orange/blk) at the radio harness isnt causing it, try disconnecting it. Okay heres a way to fix it also if running amps. Ya know that 3rd little wire that some RCA's come with in the middle many think thats there for a remote wire. Its not. what that is used for is grounding your amp to your deck to try and eliminate the ground loop. Secure a wire to the metal case on your radio and run it to your amp try touching it on the amps ground if that doesnt help try touching it on the outside contact on the RCA some times this will help. If all else fails best buy or almost any car audio shop sells whats called a ground loop isolater about $15 it puts your RCA's in through a box and has a set coming out the other end almost always clears these things up. However it can some times cause a slight loss of sound quality.

[samuraiz]

Yeah 1400 watt amp powering 2 6x9s and a 12" sub, i'll try that third ground wire.

[ABTsportsline]

if nothing else most car audio shops charge 40-50 bucks to troubleshoot, maybe if you can't fix it just pony up the dough.... ;)

[OniFactor]

don't get me wrong, but wouldn't it be even worse for the signal, if you ran a power wire up to the deck, right with the RCAs? lol. honestly? pull all the grounds you can find on the car 1 at a time, sand down the metal on the chassis, and get some electrical contact creme, and put some of that between the chassis and the groundstrap.. and look into a DIY groundstrap upgrade kit.. i'd do a write-up but i haven't gotten around to doing it on mine, yet