Need HELP - need this done today!

[Mocoso]

Ok guys I have the inside torn apart to try and fix the crappy install the audio place did...(get hum from engine not only from the AUX input but even from the CD unless I turn the gain on AMP way down)

So I can go and get a filter for the aux input but what about the cd? I guess I could get one for each amp but Im suspecting my problem is with the LOC converter - frigin installer didnt even ground it but after grounding it the noise is still there...

SHould I get another LOC and redo wiring, get a filter? Ive spent the last 2 hrs dicking around with the gain on LOC and amp and Im not sure which is the best method: small gain on LOC and large gain on amp or viceversa - only way I get no hum is to drop the gain on amp but that limits my sound levels to slightly better than stock

This is getting frustrating... any thoughts?

The Line Output Converter is a Axxecc ALOC 648 (what I could find at the time of install)

gonna go take a shower hopefully some of you will bail me out here...no point in upgrading speakers till frigin hum is gone

 

[autoxes]

you should take it back to the audio place bro.

 

[Mocoso]

Misplaced receipt and besides they scratched dash and dinged the quarter panel.. Im not letting them touch it again...

 

[CHICO2003]

misplaced receipt means nothing. Unless they did this like 7 years ago, they should remember you! lol

But he's right... you should definitely let a 'professional' fix this. The fact that they F'ed your car up is reason enough to bring it back (and have them fix everything, including what they F'ed up.)

So bring it back.. be cool... talk to the owner and explain the situation.

More than likely, he'll get his best tech on it and you'll be all set. If he gives you a hard time, rattle off some crap about how you're going to report him to the BBB, make sure the news does a report on his shady business practice and... burn his place down. down to the ground.

ok... maybe not that last one. bad idea actually.

 

[Mocoso]

they initially ran the power cable directly on top of downpipe - had smoke from hood by the time I got home...Did take it back - talked to the owner etc... it was 8 months ago and at the time given how bad they left it I decided to cut my loss and deal with the lower gain to hide the hum so long as the car was smoke/fire free... I decided to take it apart today as I "thought" it was a misgrounded LOC - turns out its a ground loop due to the way they ran the damn wires (bonehead ran power and signal and speakers all on same side in parallel)

I fixed it the "easy but expensive way" - bought a $20 ground loop isolator and plugged it right before the amp... I still have the noise from the aux port when the ipod is hooked up to the 12V and Ill fix that through inline ground loop to the aux but at least CD, Radio etc are clear now and Ive got MAX sound higher than I can handle with no distortion....

In any case thanks for the replies...

 

[CHICO2003]

they initially ran the power cable directly on top of downpipe - had smoke from hood by the time I got home...Did take it back - talked to the owner etc...

Ok... So after the bad install, you talked to the owner and he..... did nothing???

 

[Mocoso]

He fixed the cause for the fire and told me to bring it back and he would fix the rest of it but I didnt have the time or the confidence in his shops work to actually bring it back.. I finally found some time to take car apart today - Didnt think the reason why I didnt want to take it back were relevant

If I would have talked to owner and he hadnt offered to do anything I would have plastered his company's name all over this forum... I didnt given he did offer to make it right.. I chose to make it right on my own... was stuck on which way to go: new loc or ground loop filter... filter did the trick...

 

[El Ropo]

The correct fix is gona be run the RCAs down the other side of the car, or down the center console area. Gotta get 'em away from the power wire.

 

[sleeper3]

Does the hum change pitch with the engine or road noise? I've had a problem where my amp picked up vibrations in the car and put them through a speaker. I've always run my RCA cables right next to the power cable. As long as you don't have them twisted a thousand times on the way, you should be fine. What is your amp mounted to?

 

[Mocoso]

The correct fix is gona be run the RCAs down the other side of the car, or down the center console area. Gotta get 'em away from the power wire.

Agreed that would be the cheapest and most elegant but I got lucky with the filter and it saved me from taking seat off, rug, and the entire center console trim pieces... Ill separate the power/rcas when I do the shift mount thingy - prob during christmas break...

Does the hum change pitch with the engine or road noise? I've had a problem where my amp picked up vibrations in the car and put them through a speaker. I've always run my RCA cables right next to the power cable. As long as you don't have them twisted a thousand times on the way, you should be fine. What is your amp mounted to?

Its def. alternator noise.. it changes pitch with engine rev... amps are mounted under seats.


Thanks everyone - will let you know if hum from hell comes back...

 

[sleeper3]

if separating the power and signal cables doesn't work, you might want to try mounting the amps to something soft or sticking a pad underneath them so they don't pick up on the vibrations of the car so much. that's what I did and it solved the problem instantly.