Alternator whine in VY Berlina - Stock 6 stacker.

[Bertha]

Hi All,

I recently bought a 2003 VY Berlina.

I used the instructions HERE to connect my Kensington AssistOne iPhone cradle to the stock Blaupunkt 6 stacker. The cradle is mounted via a suction cup to the lower right of the windscreen.

I was powering the cradle through a usb adapter via the 12v power socket located in the centre console. But I was getting a lot of noise (humming mostly) that was unbearable.

So I went to an auto-elec to get a 12v socket wired in under the dash with a noise suppressor.

Now the noise is even worse. It sounds like a supercharger. Assuming it's alternator whine. Silent when on accessories only, low whine with the engine on, rises whenever I rev the engine.

Any ideas how to fix this issue? I'm pretty sure everything else is stock.

The weird thing is if I plug the usb power cable into a laptop I get crystal clear audio. So it appears to be an issue with the power source.

FYI, the cradle charges the iPhone via a standard 30-pin iPhone connector. The audio is delivered to the dock via Bluetooth and outputted via a 3.5mm stereo headphone jack to the car audio system. The Bluetooth means it can output audio even when the iPhone is in my pocket, so I have tried it without the phone charging, No change.

I have set one of these up in my other car no worries.

I have only had the car a few weeks. Apparently the alternator was replaced a few month back.

Any ideas on how to eliminate this noise? All other threads seem to deal with people who have installed new head units.

I hope that's enough info.

Thanks!

 

[sweefu]

Does the noise get worse with more load on the electrical system? If you put on headlights / windscreen wipers / air con etc?

 

[Bertha]

Does the noise get worse with more load on the electrical system? If you put on headlights / windscreen wipers / air con etc?

Hmm, not sure. I haven't notice it. Just the increase in pitch with increase in revs.

I will have a look at it and get back to you.

I will try it with Wipers on/Wipers full tilt/Headlights on/High beam/ AC on and all combinations. Gimme 5 min.

Thanks!

 

[Bertha]

OK, it only changes with revs.

I tried it with Wipers on/Wipers full tilt/Headlights on/High beam/ AC on and all kinds of combinations. Only discernible difference was made with pressing the accelerator pedal.

I did notice that when I had it on accessories and no music playing that I was getting some sore to Morse code style, very subtle chirping noise through the speakers if the phone was on the dock. It stopped if i took it off.

I will see if it does that when it's powered via a laptop.

Back in a tick.

 

[MAG00]

Take it back to the auto elec and get them to fix their work, it's not acceptable if they did install a noise suppressor.

You can most likely fix it with a 1000uF capacitor on the power line.

The issue may be the actual USB adaptor, but most likely it is alternator whine through the power socket.

 

[Bertha]

OK, I plugged it into my netbook with the accessories on and it was dead silent. None of this Morse-code style signal at all. Was also perfect audio with the engine running.

Maybe i need to run an inverter to power my netbook and run the hands-free off that?

 

[Bertha]

Take it back to the auto elec and get them to fix their work, it's not acceptable if they did install a noise suppressor.

You can most likely fix it with a 1000uF capacitor on the power line.

The issue may be the actual USB adaptor, but most likely it is alternator whine through the power socket.

Thanks for the reply. I think I will have to take it back. Maybe it's a dud noise suppressor?