ground issue assistance

Andy, those are great ideas! I think I'll try them, it's much easier to do the amp test than pulling my head unit, but at this stage, I'll pretty much do anything cause the noise is only unheard if I really blast my music and yesterday while driving with my girlfriend I had to turn off the radio cause the noise was irritating us so much! You are right, I'll work slowly at it until it's solved. Thanks again!

Rob

 

Andy, this was a quick test and I can now say, that I've plugged in my iPod direct via a mini plug to RCA cable to my amp and there is no engine noise when my truck is running, does this isolate the ground issue to the HU? If so, should I run a ground wire to a metal part of the dash and connect in with the factory plug? Or just run the ground straight from the HU to the ground source?

I believe I'm getting closer! Thanks in advance!

Rob

 

Good test. Hadn't kept up with the thread, been busy at work.

You could have a loose ground connection at the HU. First, check the connections from the harness going into the HU that attach to the factory adapter. Next would be to isolate the ground for the HU to a different grounding source (to the firewall or some good metal contact).

 

Also try a nicer set of RCA's, or even just another set. Dont run it under the carpet, just lace it over the seat or what not for a quick test straight from the HU to the amp. I have seen faulty RCA's cause noise as well.

Sooner is right as well on the HU ground. Check, and double check!! Then check again!! lol.

 

Will do, I'll try this soon, I'm getting closer and at least finding out some valuable information. Thanks again for all the assistance, I swear I'll get this worked out by this weekend!

Rob

 

Gremlins are hard to work out. If the first obvious answers don't work, you have to become very systematic and check one thing at a time and keep everything else the same. That way, you can know for sure what was at fault.

I have a bunch of extra electronics at the house, not because I am sentimental about old amps and HU's. But, rather if something in a new setup isn't working, I have pieces that I can substitute in and out.

Too bad you don't live in Dallas, I'd be more than happy to come by and loan you stuff to get it fixed. I love a good sound system, but not much is as aggrevating as one that isn't working right. It just sits there and taunts you. And if you turn it off, all you hear is the silence of failure. hahaha, good luck man.

 

Well folks, I managed to get a shop to help me and we ran every possible test, replacing the ground, replacing the HU ground, replacing the RCA cables, replacing the HU, ah-ha! The test head unit did not have the ground buzz, so after a little more tests it was determined that the HU had internal ground issues and will be need to be repaired, so I'll call Kenwood tomm morning and find out how I process this unit under warrantee. What a pain! At least I know I'm not crazy, it took the shop and I 2 hours to figure this out, but at least I have piece of mind that we isolated the issue.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread and helped me find ways to solve this!

Rob

 

Good to hear bro. Soon you will be able to enjoy your music the way it was meant to be heard!!!

 

Oh those damn gremlins. That is one thing that really sucks with electronics, sometimes it just comes down to replacing every piece of the chain to find the culprit.

Glad you figured it out. If you need help putting it back in, just drive down here to Dallas and I'll let you have my garage and some beer.

 

I grounded the amp on a term point that the original amp (or whatever that thing is) under the center box in the center console uses for grounding. '09 access cab manual transmission. Used the harness ground provided on the black wire out of accessory mating plug to get into the factory harness for grounding to HU. No noise of any kind whatsoever in the system.

 

Thanks folks, I can't wait to hear it too! I just pulled the hu and will be shipping it back today, what a pain!

I sure wish I could just come down to Dallas to meet up Sooner, maybe one day on a road trip across the country I'll do just that! Take care.

Rob