Stereo Whine

[kai920]

So I use a iPod tape connector to play through my stereo(until I have money to spend on an iPod adapter). I know this is not an ideal setup, but it is temporary.

I get the stereo whine through the speakers when I play the tape. I've read this is a grounding issue but not sure. My wife has an 05 Camry with pretty much the same stereo and hers does not do it, the tape is crystal clear. Any ideas what causes this and how to resolve? Thx!

 

[StormChaser]

So I use a iPod tape connector to play through my stereo(until I have money to spend on an iPod adapter). I know this is not an ideal setup, but it is temporary.

I get the stereo whine through the speakers when I play the tape. I've read this is a grounding issue but not sure. My wife has an 05 Camry with pretty much the same stereo and hers does not do it, the tape is crystal clear. Any ideas what causes this and how to resolve? Thx!

Have you tested in your wife's Camry with your ipod and tape adapter?

If that results in the same whine, then try with your ipod and her adapter in her car. If there's no whine, try her adapter in your truck. If the whine is gone in your truck with that combination, replace your adapter.

If that still doesn't work, try with your adapter and her ipod in her car. If there's no whine, try her ipod and your adapter in the truck. If the whine disappears in your truck, it's your ipod.

If the whine is present in your truck with her ipod and adapter, it's your stereo and may very well be a grounding issue. The only cheap trick to try at that point is to have your ipod plugged into a charger in the truck and try playing it - the charger should properly ground the system. If it doesn't, you'll have to look at pulling the stereo and ensuring it's properly grounded.

 

[kai920]

Its actually my iPhone and yes, I've used the same setup in her car and it doesn't whine. Its strictly my stereo. I have also done it while charging, no difference.

In fact the stereo just whines even if I have the tape in and nothing connected and let it play. Its not the iPod or iPhone connected. The same is not true for the Camry. If I put the tape in and turned the volume up and let it play, you'd hardly even notice it. In the 4Runner, its that annoying whine that increases volume and intensity with acceleration.

I pulled the stereo yesterday and I believe the ground wire is in one of the harnesses. There is a brown wire in the harness that gives the unit power and I tested it and this particular wire is grounded. No way to tell where the wire ends up as its wrapped up in a bundle and disappears into the dash. Would this be the correct ground wire, or not? Any other ideas?

Alternator issue???? :shrug:

 

[Dougtoms01]

My wife uses a MP3 player direct connect. When I drove the runner a few weeks ago, I noticed an annoying whine that increased with rpms.
I then noticed that the radio was off normal stations and was on an FM station she has to use for her MP3.
I just put it on a regular station and everything went away.
I do notice she has to really crank the volume for her MP3, so when it's not connected and on a blank station you definitely get the whine.
Not the same issue, but same symptoms.
You may try a quick ground wire from radio frame to a chassie screw? Good luck, let us know what the fix is.

 

[kai920]

Thanks Doug. The stereo is already grounded and so is the frame of the stereo but I tried your idea anyways. No luck.

It's either just the tape player, dirty or something OR there is something going on with a ground or other electrical component.

 

[greenmonkey]

Mine does the exact same thing. I don't have the money to do anything about it. I think it's funny that in 04 they were still putting a tape deck in and no input jack.