Stereo upgrades...then trouble?

[NIKKICHICK]

I have had a few audio upgrades done on my 09 XRS

Alpine IVA-W505 7" DVD screen
Alpine PMD-B200 NAV
Nakamichi PA-2004 amp
Image Dynamic CXS54 components
Viper 5900 security

Got all this installed by a shop (Visions) just before a road trip.
Heard alternator whine the whole way on the trip.
When we got back the shop said they would trouble shoot the problem but tried to immediatley blame the Nakamici amp (which I supplied).
After swapping out for different amplifiers and trouble shooting for a whole day the shop tells me they think it's the Toyota alternator that is causing the problem and suggest I upgrade to an aftermarket high output model.

Anyone else upgrade the audio system and have any Alternator whine ?

[ZenithTheTV]

I'd imagine that's just too much power drawn from the car's power so the alternator supplemented output. If your car didn't have problems starting up afterwards I'd say your not in huge need of a high output alternator. Though if you plan on running that kind of hardware, an upgrade would probably be necessary eventually.

[Pandaxpress]

IS the amp powering the front components? If so this is yoru problem..there will always be abad alternator whine.

If you dont have the amp powering the front components, its a bad ground somewhere...either on the amp/HU or anything else that could be grounded.

[NIKKICHICK]

Originally Posted by Pandaxpress

IS the amp powering the front components? If so this is yoru problem..there will always be abad alternator whine.

If you dont have the amp powering the front components, its a bad ground somewhere...either on the amp/HU or anything else that could be grounded.

The amp is powering the front comps and the sub. Why would this create the whine? Should the front speakers not be hooked up to the amp?

PS.. If this is common shouldn't the installer have known this, there telling me I need a high output alternator that I don't want to buy if it's not going to fix the problem.

Thanks for your input

[Pandaxpress]

Well, the amp puts alot of power into the tweeters and any increase input of power will make the tweeters louder and more prone to alternator whine...

The frequency on the tweeters is high..and alternator whine is also high...thus a louder output on the tweets will cause the higher frequency sounds to become louder thereby increasing the sound of the alternator whine.

It could also be a bad ground...

Try disconnecting the terminal connected to the amp that powers the tweeters and see if the whine goes away. The whine could also simultaneously be coming from the front speakers but this is pretty much negated by the fact that the front speakers also have lower frequencies playing..so you dont really hear the whine.

..and you're welcome

[Colo.TJ]

Alternator whine through the speakers or coming directly from the alternator? I'm running approx. 1000 watts and have no noise or alternator issues.

[Pandaxpress]

Originally Posted by Colo.TJ

Alternator whine through the speakers or coming directly from the alternator? I'm running approx. 1000 watts and have no noise or alternator issues.

1000 watts to the front speakers?

[NIKKICHICK]

So by what your saying you can not amplify the front components with an amplifier with out expecting alternator whine.
I think that is ridiculous. (and or false)
Is this a problem with the Toyota alternator?

I understand that the frequency's that you hear alternator whine will present themselves though the tweeters more, but the underlying cause for this noise is not the fact that the tweeters have more power...???

In my experience it is cause by a ground loop or potential difference in the grounds.

Ground loops are the most common cause of AC line frequency hum in sound systems. A ground loop in the power or video signal occurs when some components in the same system are receiving its power from a different ground than other components, or the ground potential between two pieces of equipment is not identical.




I'm guessing that's the problem here.
Just looking for some confirmation that the alternator is not a particularly noisy one and might cause problems with any install.

[NIKKICHICK]

Originally Posted by Colo.TJ

Alternator whine through the speakers or coming directly from the alternator? I'm running approx. 1000 watts and have no noise or alternator issues.

Whine is though the speakers it increases as I accelerate. (follows the pitch of the engine).

[Tigmd99]

I have had this issue in the past...either your installer put the wires to close to each other or it's your amplifier. For me, it was my Infinity amp...after i switched to JL Audio amp, the whine went away.

Good luck.

[NIKKICHICK]

Originally Posted by Tigmd99

I have had this issue in the past...either your installer put the wires to close to each other or it's your amplifier. For me, it was my Infinity amp...after i switched to JL Audio amp, the whine went away.

Good luck.

Thanks... Have tried 3 different amplifiers and nothing has changed.

[trunks9_us]

First of all in another thread that there is no high output alternator for our car we use the same alternator as the tc i believe which is hair pin design. 2nd this is a denso 100 amp alternator and there alternators are underrated they probably really rate about 120-130 amps. 3rd you are not running to much power. My suggestions to fix this problem is to #1 get a new ground spot see if that fixes the problem if not then look into new rcas. then if not that then look into doing the big 3 upgrade. I am not sure if the big 3 will void the warranty on the car i am about to do mine soon so it shouldnt void it since your not doing anything but making the electrical better.If the problem is still there then look into the hu wiring. I have never had a whine ever in any or my systems and ive done alot. I think it might be a bad gnd or rcas but could just need better electrical feed so try the big 3 also. Also the allternator doesnt usally whine until they get older not on a new car i could be wrong about this but your car has to be sucking more juice from battery then what the alternator can dish out to it. A lil trick to see how much power your really running is to add the fuses up on the amp. if its not to high a number then its most likely not a big issue. Also look into bigger power wire. Most shops i see screw every one with the crap but not every shop is that way. Just remember you get what you pay for but the best way is to always do it your self cheaper to. Tell me what amp kit brand did they use? and what size gauge? 1 more thing the only person who might claim to make a high output alternator for hair pin design is irraggi and i would not trust what he says there is so many 50/50 good/bad reviews on him. when there is just as many good as bad reviews it tells you something. I would not trust his work. he claims he puts out crazy amps but wheres his real proof unless you test it yourself.

[Colo.TJ]

Originally Posted by Pandaxpress

1000 watts to the front speakers?

Total watts. Four speakers plus sub.

[lonejedi]

have a ground loop isolator?, the item is inline prior to the amplifier, on the passive audio cables, this might help you out, it can be found at any Radio Shack, or alternate electronics shop.........................

Also another possibility is that the particular stereo unit installed is not properly grounded, majority of the problem starts at the HEAD UNIT (Radio), then to the Equalizers, Crossovers and so forth until the Amplifiers,

for you to know majority of the Corollas are not welded, the panels are glued, then bolted together (to prevent Vibration/ Noise effect) also try to ground the amplifier to a bolt located next to the rear seat panel hatch, that is an active ground bolt, (Large Bolt 14+mm type), then see if the problems continue, also use a digital reader measuring ohms measurement .01 reading is the best...

This might help you out

[NIKKICHICK]

Since I have already paid for a professional installation, I'm hoping the installer will step up and solve the problem instead of blaming all of the hardware (so far he has blamed the amp, then the alternator). To be fair he seems to be friendly and quite competent, but doesn't want to check his work.
Perhaps my next move is to start trouble shooting it myself or take it to another shop and send the bill to the original installer.

I'm hesitant to start pulling up trim panels etc, I tend to break that sort of stuff too often.

As for a ground loop isolator the installer said he try that with no success. (I think that's a cheap dirty way of patching the problem instead of fixing it.