"Sirius" noise problem..

[RL4673]

Had my Sirius Starmate Replay installed in my 06 Sport a few days ago. The unit is hardwired somewhere in the truck (by Best Buy) with the audio out jack from the unit run into the audio in jack in the center console. The install was perfect, just the way I wanted it, but I am getting some crazy loud alternator whine in the system. Is there a way to get rid of or minimize that? The whole point of me getting it put in that way was to kill the static that I used to get in my 04 with the FM modulated XM. Now I am not sure what is worse. I am sure Best Buy won't do anything about it so I figured I'd start here. Thanks!

 

[GlennD]

Go to Radio Shack and buy their ground loop eliminator. They have one with mini plugs to go inline.

 

[RL4673]

Thanks.. I'll give it a whirl and see if that helps.

 

[eorange]

Alternator whine is caused when the radio and amplifier power leads are not connected directly to the battery. This causes vehicle electrical noise to radiate directly into your power connection, causing noise.

Check to see how Best Buy ran the power. They might have run the power into a fuse box to simplify the install. I have never had a problem with alternator whine when running a straight fused connection to the battery.

Good luck,
Erik

 

[RL4673]

It worked.. $18 with two RCA adaptors. Thanks again for the advice.

 

[jh26]

Fixed mine too

Go to Radio Shack and buy their ground loop eliminator.

They call it a Ground Loop Isolator and it did the trick for my Sirius Whine too. It works so well you wonder why the 2006 Aux jack doesn't just include one. Or for that matter, they the Sirius Sportster doesn't build it in.

 

[bigacuralvr]

I would have raised hell. You payed $72 for them to do crappy work? All that they did wrong was a bad ground. I'm sure they tapped into a solid 12V, but probably right into the cigarette lighter for both 12v and ground. But, glad to here its fixed!!

 

[Phil79886]

Dont let Best Buy or Circuit City cut up your car! Go to a Car A/V shop!

 

[bigacuralvr]

I don't know, I have seen far worse install jobs from the custom shops around CO, they are rediculous! I didn't mean Best Buy or Circuit City were bad install shops, I just meant that if it wasn't done right the first time, I would have killed someone....but I guess everyone has their own opinions....
Brett.

 

[conan42]

Can somebody please list the radio shack part number with the mini inputs fot the isolator. I have called three different stores and all they can find one with rca inputs. Thanks

 

[scott78945]

I would also like to know what this part is? I will be installing my Sportster Replay soon and I am using an USA Spec Aux Interface and I am tapping into the existing cigarette fuse with an Add-A-Circuit and then running an additional cigarette lighter up through the dashboard and then plugging in the power to that. I want to get the looper in case when I have the dash ripped apart and I need it. Is this noise only when the car is turned on? I just want to know what to look for when I do my install.

 

[Phil79886]

Ok guys there is a couple ways noise can get into the system. 1 is threw the RCAs and the other is from the power. You can get an RCA filter from Peripheral any real car audio place carries them. I have Sirrus in my Tundra and all I needed was a power filter. I dont know who makes the filter, however I will do my best to find out and post it up here tommarrow. If your in Lubbock or Midland Texas go to Vision Audio they have dont AMAZING work for me in Midland!!!!!