static popping noise...

[psburtis]

Ok, I actually started this thread on a more "mobile audio" centered site about a week ago, but no to avail (so far). So I'm gonna post the same thing here and see if someone can help me out. PLEASE feel free to ask my any questions about what I've done so far, and offer ANY suggestions as to what it might be. Here's my first post, explaining the problem:

Hey all,

I blew an in-line fuse last week switching subs, and now I get this static-like popping coming from all 4 speakers and my sub. I've tried to isolate the problem, but I'm having no luck doing so. Sometimes when I'm driving and hit a few bumps it reacts, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes it is constant and sometimes it's not there at all.

I've put in the same kind of fuse in the same fuse holder, and have checked all the connections to make sure they are tight, and they are all. anyone have any ideas as to what the problem could be?

And here's my most recent post, explaining what I figured out earlier today:

Ok, just a bump and a small update. I blew the fuse when my power wire touched the body of my car, in the trunk. Both amps are being affected simultaneously, in the same way. I did some investigating today and the wires are all ok (as far as I can tell), as well as all the contacts (fuse, splitter) being clean. I DID, however, narrow down the possibilities of the problem. I'm not sure which one to credit this annoying noise, but maybe you guys can. Here's the info I found out today:

1) When I disconnect the RCA's from my headunit, the noise stops on the respective amp (ie - disconnect the 4 channel amp it stops, but it still happens in the sub amp, and vice versa)
2) All the RCA's are in good condition (ie - no cracks in the rubber or anything like that)
3) When I slam (not simply shut, but actually slam) the drivers door shut, it stops for a few seconds, then comes back as it was before.
4) When I disconnect all but 1 of the RCA's, the popping is still present. I could have any of the 4 RCA's hooked up and the static popping will still come out of all of the speakers.

I REALLY hope someone on here can help me out, cuz it's been going on for a while, and I'm just sick of it.

[swampthing]

Sounds like you blew the grounds out on the headunit, mine did that once and basically the only solution is a Jew headunit

[psburtis]

so, you're saying that your head unit still played, but the staticy, popping noise was there? would there be anyway to go inside the HU and fix it? It's a pretty expensive HU, and I don't want to toss it if I don't have to....

[swampthing]

No, I have had this problem twice with some eBay pioneers I got. Basically the rca ground circuit has a fuse (now remember this isn't a fuse you can change its barely the size of an eyelash) and if it blows then then the rca starts making all kinds of terrible noise because its trying to get a ground where its not supposed to.

Your problem could be different, here's a few test we can try, mine only made noise with the car running, if the car was off and I turned the key to acc it wouldn't make any noise. Also take a small wire and ground the metal sleeve on the rca cord, that should drastically reduce the sound to a whine

[psburtis]

well, mine makes the same noise whether the engine is on or not. I'll try grounding the rca later today tho. any certain ground you suggest?

[swampthing]

No just be careful, I tested the idea with a test light clamped onto bare metal and then I just stuck the probe on the rca

[razmatazz]

When you touched the power wire to the body poping the fuse. there was no connection between the power cord and the amp right? If it is somethine internally with the stereo. iam sorry to say this know you paid a good amout of money for it. but you might be better off just replacing it. ive tried on multiple situations for mend broken stereos (granted i knew what was wrong but not very expierenced). iam still 0 for 6 with one that went up in flames.

[psburtis]

*dang*..... yeah, when i blew the fuse it was just battery-trunk, nothing in between. I was afraid of that.... i'll start looking for a new HU.... gonna miss this one tho, she's been good to me.