Radio Interference - grounding issue?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Illinois
Radio Interference - grounding issue?
Hi Corvette Forum,
I've read a few of the audio threads here and I'm pretty sure I'm dealing with some sort of a electrical grounding problem giving me issues with my stereo.
My driver's door sub on my 98 C5 has terrible radio buzz when the car is running. (only when car running and radio is on at any volume). If the car is not running it runs ok. The sub basically doesn't work at all and just buzzes at any volume. The passenger door works great.
I took the door apart and swapped amps/speakers with the passenger side to see if maybe the amp was bad. Same issue so amps/speakers are ok.
I'm just wondering if the fact that I've narrowed it down to only the sub (the tweeter does not buzz) in the driver door, and only when the car is running... does that help anyone point me in the right direction for diagnosing/next steps?
Thanks in advance as usual! Figured it was worth asking before just going through that list of the usual bad grounding spots I found on here... ARGH.
Edit:I must be crazy - radio buzzes with key on regardless of car running or not.
I've read a few of the audio threads here and I'm pretty sure I'm dealing with some sort of a electrical grounding problem giving me issues with my stereo.
My driver's door sub on my 98 C5 has terrible radio buzz when the car is running. (only when car running and radio is on at any volume). If the car is not running it runs ok. The sub basically doesn't work at all and just buzzes at any volume. The passenger door works great.
I took the door apart and swapped amps/speakers with the passenger side to see if maybe the amp was bad. Same issue so amps/speakers are ok.
I'm just wondering if the fact that I've narrowed it down to only the sub (the tweeter does not buzz) in the driver door, and only when the car is running... does that help anyone point me in the right direction for diagnosing/next steps?
Thanks in advance as usual! Figured it was worth asking before just going through that list of the usual bad grounding spots I found on here... ARGH.
Edit:I must be crazy - radio buzzes with key on regardless of car running or not.
Last edited by cjs007; Jun 18, 2021 at 07:30 PM.
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Drifting
Joined: Mar 2018
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From: New Jersey
Since even a good speaker buzzes in the driver's side door it may be the Bose amp or the radio and maybe the wiring. I would set the balance all the way to the right side speaker and see if it's still buzzes. Does the radio or a CD play while speaker is buzzing?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Illinois
yep - i swapped the amp as well so i do not believe it is the amp. I didn't swap the wiring. That sub buzzes at all time as long as the radio is on, at any volume.
The buzzing stays regardless of where I put the balance (although I have an aftermarket headunit and it seems to not be treating the subs as left/right).
The buzzing stays regardless of where I put the balance (although I have an aftermarket headunit and it seems to not be treating the subs as left/right).
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 414
From: New Jersey
yep - i swapped the amp as well so i do not believe it is the amp. I didn't swap the wiring. That sub buzzes at all time as long as the radio is on, at any volume.
The buzzing stays regardless of where I put the balance (although I have an aftermarket headunit and it seems to not be treating the subs as left/right).
The buzzing stays regardless of where I put the balance (although I have an aftermarket headunit and it seems to not be treating the subs as left/right).
Last edited by C5MSG2004Vert; Jun 22, 2021 at 09:42 PM.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Illinois
It buzzed pre new head-unit install.
Here is a video showing the buzz turning on and off with the volume. You can see it gets worse (and some clicking comes through as I press the buttons on the radio).
Post head unit install I'm using the axxess wiring harness so i can retain usage of the bose amps but I don't think this has anything to do with it because the problem existed before the install (https://www.crutchfield.com/p_120SVI...Interface.html)
any ideas?
Here is a video showing the buzz turning on and off with the volume. You can see it gets worse (and some clicking comes through as I press the buttons on the radio).
Post head unit install I'm using the axxess wiring harness so i can retain usage of the bose amps but I don't think this has anything to do with it because the problem existed before the install (https://www.crutchfield.com/p_120SVI...Interface.html)
any ideas?
Last edited by cjs007; Jun 23, 2021 at 05:56 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 414
From: New Jersey
Since you have already replaced the head unit and the subs are good, it probably is the Bose signal processor. That does not sound like a hum from a wiring or grounding problem since it does it when the car is not running. Before I would buy a replacement Bose signal processor I would just get passive subs or full range speakers and use the radios amp to directly drive them. They'll probably sound better than the Bose.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Illinois
Hmm - not exactly what I was hoping to hear but I appreciate the help. Didn't realize how expensive the signal processor is. Thank you for the advice - will go digging for how to bypass those subs!
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Drifting
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 414
From: New Jersey
You can get one on eBay pretty cheap It might be worth a shot. There's some for $14.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/112965049123
https://www.ebay.com/itm/112965049123
Last edited by C5MSG2004Vert; Jun 24, 2021 at 12:12 PM.