Whining and buzzing noise coming from head unit
In my Lexus LX450 I hooked up my Alpine 9883 head unit in the sound system. The position of the head unit is the problem for me. I hear whinney buzzing noises when the head unit is positioned at a certain angle. To loosen the head unit’s grip with the dash, I loosened the screws and then the whinney buzzing sound disappeared. However, after two hours the sound returned. I am thinking that it returned due to gravity repositioning the head unit. I wrapped the screws with electrical tape so the electrical conductivity would be insulated. I need your advice on how to fix this. Thank you.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
I would check with the Alpine distributor who sold you this unit, and discuss your situation with them. They may have included relevant comments on mounting the head unit with the unit itself, but in any case, their Customer Service engineers should certainly be able to address this issue.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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A buzzing noise that goes up and down with engine RPM is usually caused by an issue with the alternator. It is either caused by it being shorted internally, it being loosely connected, or a bad ground connection to the engine. A loose ground will cause electrical interference which causes this noise.
The two main causes of a persistent humming or buzzing are: a bad audio cable connected to the amplifier, or. there is electrical noise being passed through an audio cable into the amplifier.
Vehicles with an engine and emission control system make that noise when the system is doing certain self checks. It`s normal.
The audible noise that can be heard from high-voltage cables occurs because of the energy that is discharged. This discharge occurs when the conductor surface`s electric field strength is greater than the breakdown strength of the air that is surrounding the conductor.
Circuit breaker.
If you trace your hum or buzz to your circuit breaker, immediately switch all circuits to off, and schedule a service call right away. When circuits get overloaded and can`t turn off, they make noise, and so do damaged and loose wires.
The most prevalent cause of vibration is problems with your wheels or tires. The potential problems include improper wheel and tire balance, uneven tire wear, separated tire tread, out of round tires, damaged wheels and even loose lug nuts.
If you ever hear growling or whining noises coming from under the hood, you could have alternator problems, which should be checked out by a professional ASAP. This growling or whining sound happens when the belt that turns the alternator`s pulley becomes misaligned or rubs against the side of the pulley.
Ground loops. The number-one cause of unusual audio noise and weird video is the ground loop, simply because it`s so darned easy to create. The most common manifestations are a loud buzz or hum coming through the speakers, or scrolling bands on a TV screen.
While the transmission is the most likely cause, whining while accelerating can also be caused by low power steering fluid or more serious damage like faulty alternator bearings, a malfunctioning water pump, a broken piston or a bad AC compressor.
Electrical noise is the result of more or less random electrical signals getting coupled into circuits where they are unwanted, i.e., where they disrupt information-carrying signals. Noise occurs on both power and signal circuits, but generally speaking, it becomes a problem when it gets on signal circuits.
I adhere to Martin´s answer, humming is symptom of short circuit or input voltage out of range. The capacitor is certainly electrolythic and should be swollen by now, be carefull as the stored energy (if still working) may make it to explode.
Buzzing sounds are especially common in grounded outlets, which protect the outlet and device from an electrical surge. But if you hear a louder buzzing sound right as you go to plug something in, that could be an issue. In this case, the buzzing sound is most likely a loose connection between the outlet and the plug.
Use thick, sturdy materials to put the transformer on to avoid excess vibrations like thicker metal, wood, or concrete pads. Apply flexible mounts or vibration dampeners to reduce movement and noise levels including the high pitched whining the equipment can make.
A humming noise while you accelerate could be a sign of a bad wheel bearing, uneven tires, or an alternator belt issue. Some of these problems can be dangerous, so it`s important to bring your car to a shop ASAP. Bizarre noises are never a good sign when driving.
Worn or dirty spark plugs can cause a petrol car`s engine to misfire in one or more cylinders, which can cause vibrations when the car is idling or at running speeds. The easiest solution is to replace your spark plugs and check the related wiring. Engine vibrations can also be due to the air and fuel systems.
Failing alternator bearings:
The alternator has several bearings which allow the alternator`s rotor to spin freely. If these bearings begin to fail, you will notice a loud whining noise, which will increase when you accelerate or the car is under heavier load.
A ground loop is a condition in an electrical system that contains multiple conductive paths for the flow of electrical current between two nodes. Multiple paths are usually associated with the ground or 0 V-potential point of the circuit.
A damaged fuel pump might make a loud, whining sound that you`ll hear from your gas tank. The pump may also make this noise if you`re low on fuel or the fuel in your tank is contaminated. The normal noise your pump makes is a low hum.
Possible causes include worn-out brake pads, faulty brake calipers, not enough or no lubrication on the brake parts or simply low-quality brake pads and/or brake rotors. Special tools are sometimes needed to locate the source of a noise, such as Electronic Ear Sensors.
Drive or motor failures, lights flickering, analog signal variations and poor encoder count repeatability are all symptoms of electrical noise issues.
You should hear static or a buzzing sound as you get close to the source of the interference. The closer you get, the more intense the static will be. If you cannot locate the interference source in your own house, check with your neighbors to see if they also experience interference. The source may be in their home.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Whining and buzzing noise coming from head unit – 1997 Lexus LX450
ANSWER : I would check with the Alpine distributor who sold you this unit, and discuss your situation with them. They may have included relevant comments on mounting the head unit with the unit itself, but in any case, their Customer Service engineers should certainly be able to address this issue.
Read Full Q/A … : Whining and buzzing noise coming from head unit
A whining noise starting at 20 m/ph as well as oscillating noise which speeds up and slows down – coming from drivers side.
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. Due to having the tires replaced recently, you may have a balance issue. Tires are "balanced" in a process where they spin the wheel on a machine and make sure they turn evenly. Any issues are corrected by adding weights to certain parts of the tire. The tires may have been improperly balanced, or may not have been balanced at all. You should start there, and see if the issues is resolved. When they have the wheels off, have a technician check the brakes. Make sure the pads were properly installed and are in place. Between the two inspections and any possible corrections, the issue would go away. If the noises continue, you will want to have the wheel assemblies inspected.
Read Full Q/A … : Whining and buzzing noise coming from head unit
new stereo unit not working, interior lights and fuel level not working or showing up
ANSWER : Following the colors of the wires is not a full proof method to be sure you have made the correct connections. You clearly have some connections that are not correct. The only way to figure out what is what in the wiring harness is to find yourself a wiring diagram for the car and hopefully you have a detailed wiring diagram for the stereo. With the two of these, disregard the wire colors and confirm the power connections go to power connections, grounds go to grounds etc. This can be time consuming so give yourself time to study the diagrams.
When wrong connections are made, the symptoms that follow are always going to be random and unpredictable, so don’t worry yourself to much with what is happening with the car. First you need to start with the correct connections. I recommend starting with a few wires at at time. First power and ground then maybe speaker wires and antenna. If you make these connections and the stereo begins to work, you will know your on the right track. Make one connection at a time and observe if there are any problems that occur. If a problem occurs, you can isolate it to the last connection you made.
The use of a test light to confirm power with the key on or off is valuable with such an installation. Be patient and I’m sure you can figure this out.
If you find that this is more than you bargained for, consider YourMechanic, as a certified technician can help you sort out the issue with your electrical components.
Good luck!
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Whining noise coming from engine.
ANSWER : Hi There,
I think you are on the right track in thinking of things like the alternator or the water pump as those are two things that immediately will correspond to RPM change when accelerating. If it is the alternator, try to notice if you voltage gauge fluctuates as this will indicate an alternator that is no longer maintaining a consistent charge and may be close to failing. You may also want to check for leaks around your water pump, particularly around the shaft area, as this is a common place for them to leak and will usually be the center point for the whining noise. This will also of course be accompanied by a change in engine temperature as well if there is coolant leaking. If you need any further help with this, please reach out to us here at YourMechanic as we are always hereto help.
I think you are on the right track in thinking of things like the alternator or the water pump as those are two things that immediately will correspond to RPM change when accelerating. If it is the alternator, try to notice if you voltage gauge fluctuates as this will indicate an alternator that is no longer maintaining a consistent charge and may be close to failing. You may also want to check for leaks around your water pump, particularly around the shaft area, as this is a common place for them to leak and will usually be the center point for the whining noise. This will also of course be accompanied by a change in engine temperature as well if there is coolant leaking. If you need any further help with this, please reach out to us here at YourMechanic as we are always hereto help.
Read Full Q/A … : Whining and buzzing noise coming from head unit
High pitched whine noise is coming from behind or below glove box area. The noise occurs at low rpm at any speed, especially while turning left.
ANSWER : Hi there. The sound that you are hearing is probably from the blower motor to the heater / air conditioning evaporator. Remove the fuse to the blower motor and see if the sound stops. If the sound stops, then the motor or the squirrel cage is bent and rubbing. If the sound is still there when you remove the fuse, then it could be the alternator or power steering pump transmitting the sound through the cabin area. If you need further assistance with locating the source to the high pitch sound near your glove box, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : Whining and buzzing noise coming from head unit
There’s a whining noise coming from the engine at idle and it goes away when you pull the oil dipstick out
ANSWER : If you are getting too high of suction in the crankcase what is happening is the engine is sucking in air through the crankcase ventilation hose in the air filter housing most likely due to an air filter that is dirty and needs to be replaced. Check the air filter and replace it if it is dirty.
Read Full Q/A … : Whining and buzzing noise coming from head unit
Chattering noises coming from transmission
ANSWER : Hello. From the symptoms you’ve described it would appear to me that there may be an issue with the clutch disc or perhaps flywheel.
If the contact surfaces of either are excessively worn it may cause intermittent chatter, as you are experiencing. If the clutch is still the original one than it may need to be replaced.
If you’d like a second opinion on this or would like to get this fixed, consider getting some help from a qualified mechanic who can diagnose the noise your car is making. Once this assessment is made an accurate repair can then performed.
Read Full Q/A … : Whining and buzzing noise coming from head unit
Hello i have a 1998 dodge durango with the 5.2 liter magnum motor in it. It has a whining noise coming from the engine. It dosnt s
ANSWER : Hi there. Although a supercharger sound is great to hear with most Dodge performance engines, this sound on a street car is often an indicator of two different problems. First, it could be a vacuum or exhaust leak or perhaps an issue with the gear drive. In most cases, it’s an exhaust leak, especially with an engine that is nearly 20 years old. I would try to isolate different conditions as to when the noise gets worse in order to correctly diagnose the source of the noise. If not, it might be a good idea to have a professional mechanic come to your location to complete a car is making a noise inspection.
Read Full Q/A … : Whining and buzzing noise coming from head unit
