Sound system making buzzing/ticking sound??
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,229
Likes: 1
Sound system making buzzing/ticking sound??
Hey guys,
I'm just wondering if any of you have this problem or have had this problem with the stock sound system in their Vettes.
I have an 88 convertible and when I turn on the radio it makes a strange ticking or buzzing sound, it flows with the engine revving.
I'm thinking that maybe its my spark plug wires or maybe a sound system relay that needs to be changed.
Here's what I found on the Tech tips section.
http://207.68.164.250/cgi-bin/linkrd...3%231546109303
[Modified by TheStef, 9:58 AM 1/7/2004]
I'm just wondering if any of you have this problem or have had this problem with the stock sound system in their Vettes.
I have an 88 convertible and when I turn on the radio it makes a strange ticking or buzzing sound, it flows with the engine revving.
I'm thinking that maybe its my spark plug wires or maybe a sound system relay that needs to be changed.
Here's what I found on the Tech tips section.
http://207.68.164.250/cgi-bin/linkrd...3%231546109303
[Modified by TheStef, 9:58 AM 1/7/2004]
Team Owner
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From: Athens AL
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Re: Sound system making buzzing/ticking sound?? (TheStef)
Bose Amps probably, if all the wiring is good everywhere else. Sometimes with high-power ignitions you get some interference. I dont think you have done enough to your engine to have that problem though.
Only way to fix the Blose is replace the amps, and they aint cheap and they dont work with anything else. You're actually better off replacing the WHOLE system than buying Bose amps.
Only way to fix the Blose is replace the amps, and they aint cheap and they dont work with anything else. You're actually better off replacing the WHOLE system than buying Bose amps.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,229
Likes: 1
Re: Sound system making buzzing/ticking sound?? (vader86)
No I didn't do any change to the Ignition, and thats what I though... god dammit! :banghead:
It really sounds like crap so I'll have to eventualy do something about it.
It really sounds like crap so I'll have to eventualy do something about it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,871
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From: sterling va usa
Re: Sound system making buzzing/ticking sound?? (TheStef)
Make sure your ALT is ok and see if you can tell wich speeker the noise is coming from. My 89 the rf and rr went first. $79 times 4 to have them rebuilt by Bose. Or put new system in ,I did and love the new one, sounds so much better
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,365
Likes: 5
From: Lake Villa IL
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Re: Sound system making buzzing/ticking sound?? (TheStef)
I just went through this, although I don't know if my advice will help.
First off, don't blame the spark plug wires. I replaced my old ones with new, only to get the buzzing in my Bose. I blamed the cheap wires I bought, after a lot of advice here, and upgraded to high dollar wires. They did nothing.
So I dug a little deeper. What I found, is that the ground on my coil was not attached. This was my fault. I changed out the rotor, and failed to replace this screw. I would think, that if this ground went bad, or was failing, you could experience the buzz. Although my buzz was accompanied by bad mpg readings.
I agree with the others, that this could also be a bad amp. My buzz was concentrated in the right hand speakers, not the whole system.
I wish you luck with this.
:cheers:
First off, don't blame the spark plug wires. I replaced my old ones with new, only to get the buzzing in my Bose. I blamed the cheap wires I bought, after a lot of advice here, and upgraded to high dollar wires. They did nothing.
So I dug a little deeper. What I found, is that the ground on my coil was not attached. This was my fault. I changed out the rotor, and failed to replace this screw. I would think, that if this ground went bad, or was failing, you could experience the buzz. Although my buzz was accompanied by bad mpg readings.
I agree with the others, that this could also be a bad amp. My buzz was concentrated in the right hand speakers, not the whole system.
I wish you luck with this.
:cheers:
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,229
Likes: 1
Re: Sound system making buzzing/ticking sound?? (joeveto)
Thanks Joeveto, my hole engine bay was rebuilt 3 years ago (engine fire)
and the coil was replaced and so was every single plastic part under the hood.
It is very possible that the coil is the problem,
How would I cheak the ground for this? any details would be much apreciated.
and the coil was replaced and so was every single plastic part under the hood.
It is very possible that the coil is the problem,
How would I cheak the ground for this? any details would be much apreciated.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,229
Likes: 1
Re: Sound system making buzzing/ticking sound?? (TheStef)
Finding this ground screw and making sure it was well grounded did fix your problem right?
And were is this screw exactly?
I'm 99% certain this is the problem I have since the clicking sound or buzzing seems to follow the speed of the engine distributor and when I power off the radio the sound goes completely away and when the car is in park it make less noise.
And were is this screw exactly?
I'm 99% certain this is the problem I have since the clicking sound or buzzing seems to follow the speed of the engine distributor and when I power off the radio the sound goes completely away and when the car is in park it make less noise.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,652
Likes: 2
From: 1990 383 Stroker Baltimore Maryland
Re: Sound system making buzzing/ticking sound?? (TheStef)
This does not have to be the stereo or engine problem. This happens often when a stereo is grounded incorrectly or if the amps wires are grounding out on your car. what you are hearing is the Alternator through your stereo system. When you give it gas do you hear a high whinning sound? A lot of times this happens when a Amp is added and not connected correctly! or the patch cords are up against the metal of the car. I would Have some who knows of stereo installation look at it before buying a new system or doing any work to your vette. It may be as simple as moving a ground wire or taping one up! :cheers:
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,229
Likes: 1
Re: Sound system making buzzing/ticking sound?? (vettefast)
Thats sounds like a plan, I know an electronic genious.. maybe I'll have him look at it sometime.
And yes the noise does to up or faster when I move faster, maybe I can just bring the car in an audio shop and ask them for some advice.
Thanks!
Ps: were is the patch cord? and do you mean a simply wire with the plastic covering over it tuching a metal part of the car?
[Modified by TheStef, 1:28 PM 1/8/2004]
And yes the noise does to up or faster when I move faster, maybe I can just bring the car in an audio shop and ask them for some advice.
Thanks!
Ps: were is the patch cord? and do you mean a simply wire with the plastic covering over it tuching a metal part of the car?
[Modified by TheStef, 1:28 PM 1/8/2004]
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,652
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From: 1990 383 Stroker Baltimore Maryland
Re: Sound system making buzzing/ticking sound?? (TheStef)
Ps: were is the patch cord? and do you mean a simply wire with the plastic covering over it tuching a metal part of the car?
[Modified by TheStef, 1:28 PM 1/8/2004]
[Modified by TheStef, 1:28 PM 1/8/2004]
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,229
Likes: 1
Re: Sound system making buzzing/ticking sound?? (vettefast)
If and when I do find the problem, is it possible to simply swap the radio/casette player for a normal radio/cd player? or do the speaker amps prevent this from being possible?
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,652
Likes: 2
From: 1990 383 Stroker Baltimore Maryland
Re: Sound system making buzzing/ticking sound?? (TheStef)
If it is the stereo you will need to replace everything! Each speaker has it's own amp that is made just for your head unit. They made replacement head units to work with your speakers and or you can have yours repaired but it is best to replace the whole system.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Lake Villa IL
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St. Jude Contributor
Re: Sound system making buzzing/ticking sound?? (TheStef)
To check the ground, you need to pull the distributor cap (make sure you know which wires go where, I use a Sharpie to number each wire). To remove the cap, there are four small bolts (5/16's?). There are also three electrical connectors to the cap itself. One is the tach, the other is to the battery, I'm not sure of the third. Make sure you remember which goes where. One of the three, the great unknown, two prong, is easy. It's the two small ones, the tach and battery that are easier to confuse.
Once the cap is off, you'll see the coil. There is a black ground wire that attaches to the coil. Unscrew it and make sure there is a clean contact. If there is any corrosion, clean it off.
Then put it all back together.
While you're at it, clean the battery cables. Make sure both are clean and properly torqued. Corrosion here can wreak havoc on your electrical system.
I'm not sure where the other grounds are on the car, but I would track them down and clean them as well. I'm almost certain your problem will be cured by cleaning your grounds.
Good luck with it.
:cheers:
Once the cap is off, you'll see the coil. There is a black ground wire that attaches to the coil. Unscrew it and make sure there is a clean contact. If there is any corrosion, clean it off.
Then put it all back together.
While you're at it, clean the battery cables. Make sure both are clean and properly torqued. Corrosion here can wreak havoc on your electrical system.
I'm not sure where the other grounds are on the car, but I would track them down and clean them as well. I'm almost certain your problem will be cured by cleaning your grounds.
Good luck with it.
:cheers:
