Another ignition noise problem on a C3
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,653
Likes: 6
From: North Royalton, OH
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Another ignition noise problem on a C3
EDIT - I give up. I took out the afternmarket radio and put in the stock unit after cleaning it up. I'm leaving the problem listed below in case anyone has an answer and anyone else has the same problem.
I've done the search here and didn't find the answer I was looking for. I'm only wanting to install one of the inexpensive Custom Audio radios in my '71 since the stock radio doesn't work. For whatever reason, I can't get the ignition noise to stop.
I have an MSD6A unit running, but I have also installed the MSD capacitor. I am running the power and the ground to the battery (I have also tried getting power from the fuse box - no change). I have 10amp capacitors on the power wires. No change. I have shielded wires and resistor plugs. The noise is so loud that only it can be heard - no semblance of radio transmission can be determined. When the car is off, the radio sound is perfect. Where can I go from this point? What else can be done to suppress the ignition noise? Those that have an MSD unit - where did you get your power and where did you ground? And did you have to run suppressors on all your power leads? I'm just stumped. And my car is disassembled all over the driveway. Any help???
I've done the search here and didn't find the answer I was looking for. I'm only wanting to install one of the inexpensive Custom Audio radios in my '71 since the stock radio doesn't work. For whatever reason, I can't get the ignition noise to stop.
I have an MSD6A unit running, but I have also installed the MSD capacitor. I am running the power and the ground to the battery (I have also tried getting power from the fuse box - no change). I have 10amp capacitors on the power wires. No change. I have shielded wires and resistor plugs. The noise is so loud that only it can be heard - no semblance of radio transmission can be determined. When the car is off, the radio sound is perfect. Where can I go from this point? What else can be done to suppress the ignition noise? Those that have an MSD unit - where did you get your power and where did you ground? And did you have to run suppressors on all your power leads? I'm just stumped. And my car is disassembled all over the driveway. Any help???
Last edited by BSiegPaint; Jul 27, 2008 at 09:47 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,634
Likes: 1
From: aurora
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,653
Likes: 6
From: North Royalton, OH
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,149
Likes: 6
From: NCCO Oklahoma
Did you remove the main power wire and field power plug from the alternator and start the car to see if the noise was gone? If so, then you are right on the money about it being an ignition noise problem.
What head unit are you using? Is the noise present on AM/FM only? Does that HU have Tape or CD inputs?
We might need to get creative and use a Faraday Cage.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage
Stray electrical fields can be a PITA to figure out. Maybe we can get you pointed in the right direction... if you have some time, post up some details about your system.
Mark
What head unit are you using? Is the noise present on AM/FM only? Does that HU have Tape or CD inputs?
We might need to get creative and use a Faraday Cage.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage
Stray electrical fields can be a PITA to figure out. Maybe we can get you pointed in the right direction... if you have some time, post up some details about your system.
Mark
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,653
Likes: 6
From: North Royalton, OH
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Fast - Yes, I took off the wire and confirmed it was ignition noise. It happens on AM/FM and tape an equal amount. The head unit is a Custom Autosound USA-1 - nothing special. It has no external inputs.
When I put the stock radio back in, all the noise stopped. This is what led me to believe that maybe running power from the factory harness might work, however it did not. There was no change from before when I ran power from the battery.
At this point, it's not a big deal to me as I'm reassembling the car and doing some restoration of the console area - putting the original radio back in is fine. If the aftermarket radio wasn't such a PITA, I'd leave it in just for the ability to play tapes, but again, no big deal if it doesn't work. Thank you for your insight - other ideas?
EDIT - I see Custom Autosound sells their own noise suppressor in Ecklers catalog for $20. Wonder if there is an inherent problem with these units?
When I put the stock radio back in, all the noise stopped. This is what led me to believe that maybe running power from the factory harness might work, however it did not. There was no change from before when I ran power from the battery.
At this point, it's not a big deal to me as I'm reassembling the car and doing some restoration of the console area - putting the original radio back in is fine. If the aftermarket radio wasn't such a PITA, I'd leave it in just for the ability to play tapes, but again, no big deal if it doesn't work. Thank you for your insight - other ideas?
EDIT - I see Custom Autosound sells their own noise suppressor in Ecklers catalog for $20. Wonder if there is an inherent problem with these units?
Did you remove the main power wire and field power plug from the alternator and start the car to see if the noise was gone? If so, then you are right on the money about it being an ignition noise problem.
What head unit are you using? Is the noise present on AM/FM only? Does that HU have Tape or CD inputs?
We might need to get creative and use a Faraday Cage.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage
Stray electrical fields can be a PITA to figure out. Maybe we can get you pointed in the right direction... if you have some time, post up some details about your system.
Mark
What head unit are you using? Is the noise present on AM/FM only? Does that HU have Tape or CD inputs?
We might need to get creative and use a Faraday Cage.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage
Stray electrical fields can be a PITA to figure out. Maybe we can get you pointed in the right direction... if you have some time, post up some details about your system.
Mark
Last edited by BSiegPaint; Jul 29, 2008 at 08:40 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,149
Likes: 6
From: NCCO Oklahoma
The aftermarket noise suppressor might help, but it's a roll of the dice. If they would let you return it at no cost, it might be worth the effort.
Mark
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,653
Likes: 6
From: North Royalton, OH
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
I think you're right, Fast. And no returns on the unit - they have "upgraded" their base model and no longer sell the lower-powered models such as this. I just put it on eBay. I'll just be happy with the stock unit for now.
