Everything installed... Alternator Whine

[bwong337]

So, I just installed my amp, headunit, and speakers in my P5. It sounds so much better now. The highs are crisp and detailed, the mid/midlows are punchy and tight.

The how-to-install-6.5inch-speakers post really helped me out on this install. Thanks chuyler1!

For those of you who are interested, the setup is this:

Phoenix Gold RSD 6.5in Component Speakers (front)
Stock rears
Proton 250 Amp, rated at 50w/ch, 2 channels
Eclipse 5425 Head Unit
A custom built bracket for the 6x8 opening
Dynomat around speaker hole in the front


all in a white Protege 5


I did run into an issue though... when my stereo system AND my headlights are on, i hear an alternator whine from the engine bay (not from speakers). I don't think it's a ground loop issue, since I don't hear anything from the speakers.

When my headlights are on and my system is off, no whine.

When my system is on and headlights are off, no whine.

Any help would be much appreciated!

(help)

 

[shyndashu]

A lil late on reply but try a capacitor? Dunno if it'll fix but throwin it out there.

 

[chuyler1]

A capacitor shouldn't make a difference.

Are you positive the noise isn't coming from the speakers?

Double check the following:
1) RCA cables are run down the passenger side of the car and do not pass by the fuse box in the driver's side foot well.
2) Power cable is run down the driver's side of the car and therefore does not run parallel with the RCA cables at any time.
3) You have a decent ground point for both the amp and the head unit, that means NOT using the ground lead on the factory wiring harness for the head unit, but instead grounding it to a part of the chassis or inner dashboard.
4) All connections are secure
5) RCA cable solder points are secure (if you can unscrew the end caps to see the solder points)
6) Speaker wires and leads do not come in contact with the chassis at any point (make sure you didn't accidently strip a wire while pulling it past metal).

 

[aerales]

Same here...

Im having the same problem with my 6, do you think that I should ground the Hu directly to the chassis?? For now its grounded thru the harness here is my configuration:
4 infinity Kappas 682.7cf
2 Rockford Fosgate Fanatic Q
1 10 Bazooka DVC
Pioneer GM-6300f (For the speakers and tweeters)
Pioneer GM-D7400M (for the sub)
Kicker KQ9 eq
Axxess ipod adapter

Thanks

 

[chuyler1]

The harness ground is never sufficient and almost always causes whine. Often times the wire isn't even attached to a ground point and the head unit ends up finding a ground point through the RCA cables (which in turns adds feedback to the signal).