Stereo Install Problems - help needed

[vh-sle]

I tried fitting the new stereo head unit today (alpine head unit - 3 pairs RCA outs, kicker 4 channel amp, 4 speakers, no subs) but it's not being very co-operative.

It has a bit if a high pitched noise when the ignition is on (but not on accessories) and the right rca's (both the front and rear sets - not the sub one as I'm no using it) if moved slightly in the back of the unit, crackle, can also drop sound altogether whilst doubling the volume of the squeal. I have tried:

- Removing the RCA's from the head unit - still has squeal.
- Connecting a speaker to head unit's inbuilt speaker wire - no squeal in extra speaker.
- Removing the RCAs from the amp - squeal gone.
- Install RCA filters from Jaycar and connect everything back up - squeal is back
- Run new set of RCAs away from all other electrics - still has squeal.
- Install RCA filters from Jaycar to new RCAs away from all other electrics - still has squeal.

I would try power filters for the head unit and/or the amp but I can't work out what's going on.

Any ideas/help ?

Cheers

[VesperZ]

How did you run your wires?

[OFF T4P]

move your rca's and speaker wirers away from wires that have power runnning in them . did you use a cheap powering kit.

[holdenboy]

Have you got another head-unit to try?

Just by the sounds of it the system is already fitted, you just changed the head-unit?

[vh-sle]

How did you run your wires?

They run under the dash and down the drivers side of the car, which s the opposite side to the power wire as I have relocated the battery to the boot.

move your rca's and speaker wirers away from wires that have power runnning in them . did you use a cheap powering kit.

I used Jaycar 5m RCA's, they are not the best out there but were long enough for the job. The second RCA line should have solved it if it was the RCA's being too close to other wiring as I ran them basically outside the car.

Have you got another head-unit to try?

Just by the sounds of it the system is already fitted, you just changed the head-unit?

Sort of but not easily, I have one in my other car.

I had had some success today though, the gain on the amp was set at full as I hadn't changed any of the factory settings.

It still needs the RCA filters though, as even with gain at 0 there is a noise without them. But I can have gain at 1/4 with them on and it's fine.

The right side's not crackling anymore but does drop out if wobbled, I must have a dry joint on the RCA's inside the unit.

Hopefully I can get the dry joint fixed in the head unit and I will have solved my problems, thanks everyone for your help.

[darkowen]

upgrade battery earth and run a ground loop isolator

[VesperZ]

I would try a different source. When my head unit was out of action I was connecting my RCA to my iPod with an RCA to Headphone converter so it could be something to try just to see if it's coming from the source itself.