Whine in radio

Hi

I have a 2008 Tacoma and about two years ago I installed an aftermarket Kenwood Apple CarPlay unit and it works really well.

Recently, however the radio has started to whine… It’s a high-pitched whistle and the pitch changes with the engine speed… It comes and goes randomly for no apparent reason…

Does anyone have any ideas as to what might cause that?

 

That's strange that it just started now and not when the stereo was installed. Has any other electrical, interior or wiring work been done?

Typically, what you're experiencing is caused by interference between your power and signal wires. This is why when you install an aftermarket stereo system you typically route the wiring for speakers/signal separate from the power/ground wiring.

 

Thanks for the reply… No other wiring has been done… Although I had the front shocks replaced and now the ABS light is on… I think it’s just a disturbed wire.

additionally, I have noticed that the radio reception is not good… lots of static… But it is better immediately after a car wash… Which makes me believe that the ground between the antenna and the body is not strong and the water is completing the connection… Could it be related to that?

 

A whine in a radio is usually caused by a bad ground and you could also have a bad antenna.

 

Might want to check the ground wire that goes from Battery neg to fender. Mine was a bit rusty. Take it loose, wire brush it all well and reconnect. Couldn't hurt.

Also had motor noise in the radio on another vehicle after I changed OEM plug wires to the cheap auto zone ones. Maybe a coil pack leaking lightning?

Or maybe alternator slowly dying.

 

This might have just happened to me (again). So I'll piggyback on this thread.

I thought it was an issue with the sub, so I've had it turned off, but it just cropped up again after a few weeks. Unlike yours mine is one steady pitch, but it does come and go while driving.

Awhile back I was able to pull over when it happened, and it sounded like it was coming from directly below the sub (which is why I thought it was the issue). It keeps going even if I turn the radio off, and only disappears when I turn the truck off and start it up again.

Hopefully these are the same issue and we can find a common solution.