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Alpine Power Pack Amp Install: Whistles At Start-Up???

Discussion in 'Audio & Video' started by MolonLabeTaco, Jun 23, 2018.

  1. Jun 23, 2018 at 7:38 PM
    #1
    MolonLabeTaco

    MolonLabeTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    i installed an Alpine Power Pack amp. When I turn the key to acc. or on I get a whistle sound out of what appears to be the tweeters. It sounds great other than that. I didn't get this before the amp. I have the remote wire from amp running to the 12V+ ignition wire in the stock wiring. How can I fix this?
    This is wired to my stock head unit via Metra harnesses.


    ***It was the remote turn-on wire. I snipped it (luckily it was easily within reach) & the noise is gone.***
     
    Last edited: Jun 24, 2018
  2. Jun 23, 2018 at 8:04 PM
    #2
    MolonLabeTaco

    MolonLabeTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Just noticed also when I turn my parking/headlights on, I lose the illumination on my radio. This is the stock plane Jane 2 knob head unit with no entune, touchscreen, nav or JBL.

    **ETA**
    Fixed the illumination issue. Still have the noise issue.
     
    Last edited: Jun 24, 2018
  3. Jun 23, 2018 at 8:07 PM
    #3
    LeftCoastNerd

    LeftCoastNerd Old 'nuff to know betta

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    the amp remote wire should be connected to the blue or blue-and-white wire out of your stereo, at least if its an aftermarket stereo.

    is this whistle proportional to the engine RPMs ? eg, blip the throttle, and the pitch of the whistle changes?
     
  4. Jun 23, 2018 at 8:07 PM
    #4
    TacoJova

    TacoJova Well-Known Member

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    Noise might be from a bad ground
     
  5. Jun 23, 2018 at 8:07 PM
    #5
    LeftCoastNerd

    LeftCoastNerd Old 'nuff to know betta

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    the stock stereos, when you turn on your headlights (or parking lights), the stereo lights should DIM, not go out, just like the rest of the dashboard lights...
     
  6. Jun 23, 2018 at 8:58 PM
    #6
    MolonLabeTaco

    MolonLabeTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    It only does it when it first powers up. It's not a constant sound. It's like a "zip" sound for .10 second then all is good.
     
  7. Jun 23, 2018 at 8:59 PM
    #7
    MolonLabeTaco

    MolonLabeTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Every light on the head unit goes to black when I turn the parking lights on.
     
  8. Jun 23, 2018 at 9:25 PM
    #8
    MolonLabeTaco

    MolonLabeTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I fixed the illumination issue. The Metra harness doesn't include the illumination wire so I had to improvise. Still have the wicked "whiz" sound when turning key to acc/on.
     
  9. Jun 23, 2018 at 10:14 PM
    #9
    MolonLabeTaco

    MolonLabeTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    And to add a little more confusion, it's only coming out of the passenger side tweeter.
     
  10. Jun 23, 2018 at 10:27 PM
    #10
    LeftCoastNerd

    LeftCoastNerd Old 'nuff to know betta

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    hmmm. if its only one channel, then I'd double check the signal wire into that channel of the amp. I'm not familiar with this setup, I've only used amps with RCA 'line' signals from aftermarket decks, in that case, I'd suspect a bad RCA cord, or a loose RCA ground (pinch the shield 'petals' on the plug in a bit, and reseat plug). but this setup is probably speaker-level signal from the deck to the amp, eh?

    btw, odd re the illum light, the metra adapter I got for wiring a generic aftermarket head unit certainly had the dash lights signal... I had to connect it to the deck's 'dimmer' signal. the aftermarket decks I've used just have normal/dim mode, they don't get brighter/dimmer with the dashboard dimmer like the factory decks do.
     
  11. Jun 24, 2018 at 12:54 AM
    #11
    MolonLabeTaco

    MolonLabeTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks.
    It is thru speaker level, not RCA, since it's the stock deck.
    After searching more, it appears the Mtra harness not illuminating the HU when lights are turned on is a common issue. I had to create a jumper from the factory wiring to the Metra for the missing illum. wire. The stock wiring has a 5th wire in the rear wiring harness that is the illum. wire (green w/white stripe). Once I jumped that, all illum. went back to normal.
    Still haven't figured out the "zipp"/"whip"/"whistle" sound when it powers up initially. I've determined it makes no odd sounds except for when the amp initially gets power. I did notice on FM radio the sound is much louder/clearer/bass'ier than when using AUX or Bluetooth, but it's been this way even when it was bone stock.
    I'd still like to get rid of the initial "zipp/chirp/whistle/whip" sound if anyone has any input on that.
    Thanks for all the input!
     
  12. Jun 24, 2018 at 1:40 AM
    #12
    LeftCoastNerd

    LeftCoastNerd Old 'nuff to know betta

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    huh, if it only does it on power up, and then only on one channel, I'd think its a defective amp. there's a funky/sketchy capacitor on that channels power circuit. RMA it.
     
  13. Jun 24, 2018 at 6:32 AM
    #13
    Deacon Blues

    Deacon Blues Well-Known Member

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    You probably already know this but just in case, each source has independent sound settings. You checked them all?
     
  14. Jun 24, 2018 at 7:44 AM
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    MolonLabeTaco

    MolonLabeTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Could it be because I have the input selected as speaker level and I also ran a remote turn on wire?
    I thought since I was using speaker level input, not RCA, that I had to have that selected but I read where it wouldn't turn on for people using that method so I also ran a remote turn on to the factory gray wire (via the harness).
     
  15. Jun 24, 2018 at 7:45 AM
    #15
    MolonLabeTaco

    MolonLabeTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    How do you do this? I have the basic stock head unit. The only adjustments I see are:
    Bass
    Treble
    Fade
    Balance
    ASL (I think that turns it up and down internally for the speed you're traveling)
     
  16. Jun 24, 2018 at 8:42 AM
    #16
    MolonLabeTaco

    MolonLabeTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    @destin_meeks you're real knowledgeable on this amp so I hope you don't mind I summonsed you here!

    Could this initial turn-on sound be because I have a remote turn-on wire hooked up AND the speaker level input selected?
     
  17. Jun 24, 2018 at 9:13 AM
    #17
    Deacon Blues

    Deacon Blues Well-Known Member

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    That's all there is but its independent for each source. Meaning that if you set them for FM they don't carry over for AUX or Bluetooth. You have to set each one separately .
     
  18. Jun 24, 2018 at 9:22 AM
    #18
    MolonLabeTaco

    MolonLabeTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I adjusted them all like you said. It sounds better but it just doesn't get near as loud.
    Radio volume on 25 is = USB/BT on 40. It's always been this way as far as loudness goes.
    Thanks for the heads up!
     
    Last edited: Jun 24, 2018
  19. Jun 24, 2018 at 1:36 PM
    #19
    MolonLabeTaco

    MolonLabeTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    It was the remote turn-on wire. I snipped it (luckily it was easily within reach) & the noise is gone.
     
    Deacon Blues and Biscuits like this.
  20. Jun 24, 2018 at 7:07 PM
    #20
    destin_meeks

    destin_meeks I used to fix people's crappy stereos

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    You beat me to it! Yes that was exactly it because if I remember correctly, when using speaker level inputs, the blue remote actually because a 12v output instead of input
     

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