Engine Noise, New Ground, Rca, Crossing Wires?

[The Reverend]

I have been getting engine noise, and I am sure I am going to be getting a lot more of it when I install my kicks running off of my amp. I have had a few suggestions made. The first is to relocate my ground (it was grounded at the same spot as a component underneath the rear seat). I did this, and I think it helped a bit, but I am still getting engine noise. The next was to upgrade my RCA cables to monster cables. One thing that really puzzles me is the suggestion to not cross wires. Everyone (including amp manufacturers) insist that the cables should not cross. To me, a logical design would have the ground, remote, and RCA on one side with the power on the other side of the amp.

Anyway, I have moved my ground to one of the screws that holds my rear deck's speaker box, and I am still getting noise. I don't have the money right now to replace my cables, so I need another suggestion. I am going to intall my kicks this weekend, and if I get engine noise I am going to go insane.

Thanks.

Colin

[theunderlord]

To me, a logical design would have the ground, remote, and RCA on one side with the power on the other side of the amp.

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Colin,

I ran all the RCA's from the HU to the amp down the left side of my car, and the Remote & Power down the right side. The amps are in the back obviously. you want the shortest & (biggest gauge) amount of ground wire possible on the amps.

I'm also gonna throw this out there for thought. what about shielding the power line with sheet lead or something... would that be pointless?

[Modus]

Wow I didn't think that there would be so many issues with noise. I don't knowtice any noise from my system. I have my 4 guage power, RCA's and return lines from the amps going to the stock radio harness. All running down the left side of the car, with no noise.

you could try sheilding the power cable, (pain in the arse) and grounding the shield, but if the noise is in the cable that won't make a difference. However if the noise is bleeding through on to the RCA's then the monster cables might get rid of the noise even the power cable sheilding thing. Those high end RCA's are in a twisted pair configuration and or sheilded that will choke out the noise.

I have a small ferrite on my powercable after it leaves the battery, i don't know if it really makes any difference suppressing noise As well as a BASS CAP in line with the power. I never tried by passing the CAP to see if i have noise. Maybe you could try adding a cap and see if you got noise.

most likely its your RCA's, i had a bad one at one time.

Good luck

[The Reverend]

In hindsight, i kind of regret posting this, because it has been discussed at great length in tboyko's case. I am going to try swapping my RCA cables (they aren't twisted interconnects, I guess that must make a difference!). I just need some $$$, lol.

What I meant by the "logical design" is as follows:

Since amp manufacturers recommend running the RCA and Remote separately from the Power, they should put the POWER terminal on the opposite side from the remote, Ground and RCA cables. Maybe I should try moving my remote wire... ???

I currently have my power running on the driver's side and the RCA/remote on the other side, with the ground only in the trunk. The power and ground are 8 awg, and the remote is much smaller. Anyway, I will do some tests and see what I come up with.

lol, it seems like you have to be an engineer to install a car stereo and have it work properly

Colin

[The Reverend]

Alright, well I had an engineer's help today (My gf's dad has a degree in aerospace engineering)

Still no dice. I went and bought monster 201XLN ($60 stupid) cables and they didn't make ANY difference. My gf's dad wanted to try running a ground directly from the battery to the amp, which actually made the noise louder . I ended up returning the cables because the manager was very nice, and I still have noise. My wires are all seperated, my ground is seperate, my RCA's didn't do the trick, and I don't really want to try a ground loop isolator. What's next?

My gf's dad suggested resistor spark plugs, which I know nothing about. He doesn't know car stereo equipment, but he seems to know cars. I guess that is what he did when he installed a stereo in his car back in the day

Colin

[The Reverend]

OK, I did a google search and found crutchfield advisor's site which had a flowchart on it for engine noise. I went through a bunch of diagnostics and it said that I need to buy a power line noise filter

Will that do the trick without messing up my sound? It is supposed to go to my HU.

[Guest Guest_tallahasseegreys_*]

Yo Rev,

I'm no expert, and maybe I did this wrong and just got lucky, but....I ran my power and remote wires on the drivers side and RCAs and speaker wire on the passenger side. I have zero engine noise.

[V Tuning 850]

I have a 500 watt set of Monster Cables, that I will sell for $50+ shipping.

[The Reverend]

Well it seems that when I turned off the power to my HU and let the amp power everything, I lost the noise problem. So it was something with my head unit, not the wiring from the HU. That is kind of a relief :)

[bogelo]

What kind of amp, HU, and power cable are you running? Try to solder the ground to the car' body instead of tapping it to some bolt.

[The Reverend]

Thanks Bogelo, but problem solved at post #9. This posst should die a peaceful death :)