I just installed my speakers and amp. I am getting that whining/whistle sound that changes as I step on the gas. I ran my power line down the passenger side to avoid the rca lines which are going down my driver's side. I have not checked the ground connection yet.

I noticed that my RCA cables had a couple of rips hear and there which I just put black electrical tape over.

1. Could having rips in the RCA lines cause this whining?
2. My RCA line may cross my power line as all the wires meet as they plug into my amp. Could this be the problem?
3. Should I move my ground location?

 

1. Absolutely
2. Possible but not likely
3. Try it and see if it improves

 

yea that usually is a grounding issue....move the ground to a better location try to find some bare metal (not painted)

 

If you can, try using a ground block. this should have came with your amp wiring kit. I drilled a new hole in my trunk, just so I would know that the ground is good.

 

So I replaced the RCA cables since the one I used initally was about 5 years old. The sound quality seems to have improved.

I re-did my ground in the same location right between the rear seat bottom and seatback... there was a hole there so I sanded the area a bit more to get more metal showing then re-attached the ground wire.

I am STILL getting the little whining/whistling sound. BUT you can only hear it if the volume is turned all the way down or really low. When the music is on louder, then you I can't hear it.

1.Shouldn't it be silent when the volume is down all the way?

2.Should I "move" my ground?

3.Should I use a couple of those "ground blocker" things from radio shack that plugs in right before the amp? Or would that actually muffle the music and have a negative impact on sound quality or clarity? Are those ground blocker things for humming because I have no humming?

 

Questions:
1) What gauge are your power/ground wires?
2) How long is your ground wire?
3) What kind of head unit are you running?
4) What kind of speakers are you running?
5) How many amps?
6) Subs?
7) Distribution blocks?

 

1) 8 Guage Power
2) 8 Guage Ground - 2ft
3) Pioneer AVIC-D1
4) MB Quart 6.5 door speakers + tweeters + crossovers (2 channels Front); MB Quart 6.5 Reference woofer (bass only); MB Quart 3-way 6x9's in the rear deck (4 rears are parallel 2 per channel)
5) One 4-channel amp - Zappco AG360
6) No subs
7) ? What's a distribution block?

 

you use distro blocks if you have a 4awg power wire and you split it to 8awg or something.. (for multiple amps/power needs)

 

Check the location of the crossovers for your front components. The inductance coils are susceptible to inducing alternator whine. Also, try moving the amp ground to see if it improves.

 

This type of thing is almost always a grounding issue. Don't waste your time replacing any more wires unless your certain the wires are the issue. Put a temporary long extension on the ground then try grounding it to different areas around the car. (Run it on the outside of the car into the engine area and into the trunk area temporailly of course!) See how this affects the whining sound. If you find a good spot then run a permanent wire to this spot.

Otherwise the problem is most likely a connection you made to one of the speakers, amp, or HU is not soldered or shielded well enough.

 

I actually don't have the fronts hooked up, I unhooked the fronts because I wanted to see if the crossover was the issue and it is not.

I will try moving the amp ground then.

Could I ground it underneath the rear side panel where there seems to have a couple of other wires grounded? Just under the little rear window?

 

I will try that too.

Is it bad to ground the amp where other wires are grounded?

 

No, it's usually not bad.

Rips in your RCA cable? What were you doing, using it for a tow rope?

Does the noise go away when the system is off?

 

Make sure you check your grounding for the HU too. I once had a very persistent whine (similar to yours) and eventually found that the ground wire to the HU had come unplugged behind the dash.

This may not apply if you're not using an aftermarket HU.

Good luck!

JoshNjuice

 

I have the exact same problem with my system, using jl amps, I try everything, but nothing has any better yet, For my system, I am thinking it might be a combination of problems, not just one bad connection