Wired FM Modulator

[stev0]

Well, I bought an Audiovox FMM100A about a month ago and installed it myself. Pretty easy to do, just have to splice an ACC lead and find a place to mount your switch (after changing the included switch to a prettier one). However, I have had a problem with it...

The sound quality is fine and the modulator does exactly what I want it to do -- play my mp3 player through my car stereo. But, there is a low-volume, high-pitched whine (think... "eeeeeeeeeeee") in the background, which you can especially hear when switching songs or when the mp3 player is disconnected. I think it is a problem with the ground, since I have heard about this happening before. When I push in the cig lighter or turn on a light in the car, the noise gets a little more high pitched.

I went to Radio Shack and got a ground loop isolator, since I read that it would help with interference. Nope.I tried different ground spots. Nope.Tried disconnecting the inline amp that is on the stereo lines. Nope.Tried moving the modulator to a different place. Nope.

So, what else could it be? I heard magnetism could cause this, but I really doubt it since I don't think there are any magnets in the center console or behind the stereo.

Thanks in advance.

[onosqv]

have you tried setting it to different fm stations or mounting the modulator in different places?

lastly, does your cd player have an auxilary input? I prefer using the aux input as opposed to fm modulator - much clearer signal.

[stev0]

have you tried setting it to different fm stations or mounting the modulator in different places?

Yes, both.It has two stations, 88.7 which isn't taken and 89.1 which is. 88.7 is clearer but both have the whine.I mounted in three different locations, all with the same result: under the arm rest, next to the shifter, and behind the stereo. Again, whine in all places.

lastly, does your cd player have an auxilary input? I prefer using the aux input as opposed to fm modulator - much clearer signal.

Nope, unfortunately. It was on sale for $70 (orig price was $150, store was closing) and I guess I got what I paid for. It's still a powerful sucka; 50x4W peak wattage...

Think it's defective? If so, I doubt I could return/exchange it... it's been a month now and already installed with heat shrink around the wires.

Edit: Also, are there any magnets in or around the center console or behind the stereo? I don't think so but it's a popularly suggested possibility.
Modified by stev0 at 8:55 PM 1/24/2006

[stev0]

A friend of mine told me about this: http://www.newmp3technology.co...at=14

It'll be here in a couple days, hopefully it will be the fix.

[heywier427]

sit in the car running when the whine is most clear. rev moter lightly. does it get louder? if so an audio cable is to close to a power cable. if you dont have amps hooked up, this can still happen if power wires( ground or pos.) are to close to the audio hookups on the back of the radio. if thats not it theres a posibiliy its the radio.

[stev0]

Tried that yesterday... revs have no change on the sound or its volume. I dunno, hopefully that noise filter will fix the problem.

[stev0]

*bump*

I tried the noise filter I bought a couple weeks ago, and the whine got a higher frequency and is now more deafening.

WTF???

Is there anything you guys can tell me before I rip this b*tch out and run it over? I really don't want to be out >$50 for this crap...

[jamesmost]

*bump*

I tried the noise filter I bought a couple weeks ago, and the whine got a higher frequency and is now more deafening.

WTF???

Is there anything you guys can tell me before I rip this b*tch out and run it over? I really don't want to be out >$50 for this crap...

I had a hard wired modulator - forgot the brand but bought from Crutchfieldhad to return it i had the same Hummmmmmmmmmm