Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Audio ATTN instal experts! prob!

Here is what i'm running: zapco studio 100x-MB quart pwd 254 sub; mbquart psd 213 components-zapco studio 100;kenwood head excelon head unit and 6 disk changer. Anyway, I've got this buzzing sound ever since I hooked up the quarts in the front. I also get a little alternator whine. The sound is constant, and does not increase with increased volume. Also, the sound is there only when the car is one, completely clean when car is off. What i've done for a quick fix is just turn down the gain on my amp, and put the NF the whole way up to the fronts. Its still there, but not as bad. Anyway, i've sanded all my grounds, for both amps, and the ground stiffener for the battery(4 gauge). I'm running 4 guage wire, with 8 going into the amps. Ground length for the amps is like 6-8 inches(8 guage). I have racked my brain and can't seem to find whats wrong. It seems like a ground problem...but i checked everything. Also, i checked the rca's and its not that. So I'm asking all the experts out there....what the heck did i do wrong?

One more note, I re-did my front ground to make sure it wasn't that, I drilled through the floor...thats fine right?...didn't use seat bolt or anything like that....

How many grounds do you have in the car? That would be the best place to start. Any large install I do, I run power and ground to the radio from a block in the back. This would elimiate the possiblity of a ground loop to begin with. If you use a common ground you'll have less problems (or at least less chance of it) Everything then connects to blocks that are then all connected to the same large ground cable. A common grounding point is the best thing to do

Another thing is the radio's chasis maybe grounded (not likely) you can try taking it out of the dash and see what happens.

Try process of elimination too, disconnect the rca's to one amp, one at a time and see if the noise persists. Do this for all the components.

I went through that same problem when i first hooked up my battery and isolator. I tried searching far and wide in my car with no luck. So, i got pissed one day, and totally removed the entire set up. Next i redesigned where everything goes, and made more room. I moved everything MUCH farther away from where the power cables were, and now it's sounding great. I don't know if this will help, but i did go through the same thing you did.

keep the power cable away from anyother rca cables or speaker wires. If need be wrap it in electricle tape. Worked for me! All it takes is a power wire that crosses even only one a RCA wire.

Is the buzzing only when you play cd's from your changer, HU? I have had problems with some RCA connectors that are not insulated at the end points picking up ground interference. check to see if any wires are passing under your RCA's at their connection points. Happy Hunting.

Later,

Chris

I checked the rca's, its not them

I have three gounds that I put in myself. One for the rear amp, one for the front amp, and one extra for the battery(ground stiffener)

99,

I would have the two amplifier grounds connected to the same point. Unless of course they are half a cars lenth apart from eachother, umm maybe they are though. When making grounds, make sure the metal is not painted or sand of some paint to get a bare metal connection. also go for a thick pice of metal on the body of the car, somewhere on a lap joint or reenforced area.

try this, it is good practice anyway.

later,

chris

yeah, one amp is under my passanger seat, other is in the trunk. As far as the grounds, once i hooked everything up and found the problem, I re-did all my grounds, like sanding them down and "polishing" them. This didn't help at all. As far as finding a thick piece of metal, the first ground I had under my seat was very thick, part of the frame that the seat bolts on to, but does not share a hole with the seat or anything like that. When I had trouble, I relocated it to the "floor" of the car, and drilled straight down through...sanded and polised that ground too....this is really starting to disturb me. I wanted to do the install right, i had my car in peices in my garage for over a week, and during that time i drove my other car. I took my time, did everything very detailed, and didn't cut any corners at all...this is why i'm asking for the experts help on this one