Headlights causing radio interference?

darthroush · Post by **darthroush** » Sun Nov 14, 2010 5:28 pm

I've been wondering why the reception has seemed to get worse lately. Today, when parked in the driveway before leaving to the store, I had the stereo on. Reception/sound quality was fine. Turned the lights on and it got static. I tried this in several spots all over town with the same results, some places much worse than others. Turn the lights off, it was fine in all of the same spots. Any ideas on what might be causing this?

esteinmaier · Post by **esteinmaier** » Sun Nov 14, 2010 7:02 pm

The alternator working harder to keep the lights running and causing more interference.

SlvrACR · Post by **SlvrACR** » Sun Nov 14, 2010 7:37 pm

Better engine grounds will help. I had the same prob on my ACR

darthroush · Post by **darthroush** » Mon Nov 15, 2010 4:00 am

SlvrACR wrote:Better engine grounds will help. I had the same prob on my ACR

I have upgraded every single ground with 2 gauge wire.

Can the alternator really be working so hard that is makes the reception go almost completely out though? That seems like...a lot.

esteinmaier · Post by **esteinmaier** » Mon Nov 15, 2010 8:31 am

When you start moving again, the reception gets good, right? You could get a better head unit that isn't as affected by it.

darthroush · Post by **darthroush** » Mon Nov 15, 2010 2:45 pm

Nope, reception stays crap until the lights go off. This head unit has been kind of a POS...

Thanks!!

Post by **occasional demons** » Mon Nov 15, 2010 3:37 pm

Have you checked/cleaned the grounds on the top tie bar/core support? Those are the direct grounds for the headlights, IIRC. Maybe run a ground from there to one of the improved ground points. You still have oem type lights, correct?

ZeroChad · Post by **ZeroChad** » Mon Nov 15, 2010 10:45 pm

occasional demons wrote:Have you checked/cleaned the grounds on the top tie bar/core support? Those are the direct grounds for the headlights.

That's what I would suggest too. I believe that there is also a noise suppressor inline for the antennae. Its most likely a passive component though, and probably not faulty.

darthroush · Post by **darthroush** » Mon Nov 15, 2010 11:18 pm

occasional demons wrote:Have you checked/cleaned the grounds on the top tie bar/core support? Those are the direct grounds for the headlights, IIRC. Maybe run a ground from there to one of the improved ground points. You still have oem type lights, correct?

I do have OEM lights, but there is 0 corrosion on this car, let alone in the engine bay. I could run a wire to a new ground though and see what happens. It may very well be this POS headunit in the car. It's given me nothing but problems, truth be told.

ZeroChad · Post by **ZeroChad** » Mon Nov 15, 2010 11:27 pm

I'd sand the paint under the ground points there first, just for good measure.