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Tony Hwang
 
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Default alternator noise with new install (Warning: LONG POST!)

Hi,
Who would go to Future shop for a good install anyhow?
Tony

Daniel Snooks wrote:
Duncan A. McRae wrote


Maybe you folks can help me out with a problem I'm having with a
recently-installed system.



After reading this post I would suggest that the problem you are having is
with Future Shop.


BACKGROUND
Quite a while ago, I went to the Future Shop in Oakville and picked up a
Clarion stereo, MTX 4244 amp, MTX 12" sub (boxed) and a pair of Infinity
5.x" speakers for my doors. This was all installed in an old BMW 525i,


then

transferred to my Acura CL3.0 with no problems (the speakers weren't
transferred because the Acura uses 6" speakers up front). In March, the
Clarion stereo was stolen. I had the bodyshop replace the stock (Bose)
system which I'd kept, and all was fine (though not as clear and powerful


as

the old system, obviously). Most importantly, there was no alternator
noise, nor any other intrusion into my listening pleasure, save the


quality

of the system.



Do you have any idea if anyone who works there now was around during the
above installation which you were satisfied with?


LAST WEEK
I took the Acura back to Future Shop and picked up a new stereo, a


Panasonic

CQ-DF583. I also had the speakers installed by using plastic cuffs


(anchor

speaker to cuff, anchor cuff to mount). It appeared that the original
installer had cut some corners; the speaker wire and power wire were run
down the same (driver's) side of the car, and there was only one set of
RCA's going back to the amp (the fronts, rears and sub were ALL being run
off a single channel). When we turned the deck on, there was a


high-pitched

whining, which changes with engine speed. Based on conversation with the
installers and research in this group/on the 'net, I'm pretty sure it's
alternator noise.



Couple of items here ...
1) running the speaker wire and power wire down the same side of the car is
fine, it's the RCAs that have to be on their own.
2) technically there is nothing wrong (short cut) about running the entire
show off of 1 set of RCAs, the only thing you lose is the ability to fade.
I would suspect the head unit ground might be causing the problem (assuming
you haven't re-routed the RCAs beside the power cable). Way back in the day,
one of the regulars on here (could have been Durbin) posted a bullet-proof
grounding method for head units.

To paraphrase ... take the ground wire coming from the wiring harness of the
head unit and attach it to the casing of the head unit. From that same point
of attachment, run a new piece of wire to the nearest solid piece of metal
that will provide a system ground. Ignore the ground wire that is available
in the wiring harness of the vehicle.


TODAY
I took the CL back again today to get a second RCA strung to the back, and
to upgrade the deck to a CQ-DF783. The only real difference is that it
boasts two pair of pre-outs and a separate dongle for the sub. Anyway,


the

speaker wires were strung down the passenger side (fronts & sub get the
wires to&from the amp, back speakers run straight off the deck), the new
radio was installed, and the whine from the system is damned near


deafening.

I noticed that it decreased on the drive home. It was raining heavily,
which might have improved the bad-ground situation, if that's the problem.

I just went to the vehicle to check things out, and here's what I found:
- the amp is grounded to the d/s wheel-well. The paint was not (as far


as

I can see) sanded away first, but a metal (piercing) screw was used.
- the grommet is separated from the head of the screw by a stack of
washers, likely to keep the screw from going so far through the housing


that

it pierces my tire.
- the cord is perhaps 24" long, spliced half-way (the amp was once


mounted

to the BMW, and so the wire only had to go a few inches to ground).
- I pulled the deck and checked the aerial; it's snuggly seated in the


deck

- I cannot check the connections in the wiring; they've been wrapped in
electical tape.
- I actually get TWO noises from the system; the first when I turn the


key

to the "accessories" stage, and then the alternator whine is added when I
turn it on.
- Of the two, the first (accessories-only stage) is louder.

I spoke with the install manager, and he suggests that it could be caused


by

a bad ground in any other system in the car. I didn't understand what


that

had to do with anything, since there was no noise prior to their
installation last week. The installation this week comprised simply of
pulling the old stereo out and sliding the new one in; that shouldn't have
been a factor. They offerred to check it out and cap the expense to me at
$200. I don't feel happy paying ANYTHING, let alone $200, to fix a


problem

that didn't exist before they did the installation last Saturday.

I've already called the Future Shop and asked that a manager get involved


to

help sort this out; I'm prepared to let the dude have my car all day (a
large inconvenience in itself) but I DON'T see that I should have to pay


for

it.



The rest of your post is very unnecessary. The actions of the install
manager are reprehensible. To even suggest to you that their installation
isn't the cause of your problem is absurd. Rain hell-fire and brimstone on
the store manager, and/or go right to corporate level and don't even dream
of spending another dime. I would recommend taking a print-out of this
thread with you to point out that you are sharing your terrible experience
with thousands of potential customers.
I live just north of Toronto, and would be willing to help you out in person
with this (I get really steamed when people get taken advantage of). I will
be going to the Ontario Renaissance Festival on Sunday (Trafalgar and Derry)
so that would be an ideal time to hook up and talk if you like.