strange new problem...

[synthbent715]

Well, my xA was at the dealer all day saturday because I had a CEL. When I got it back, they told me the idle air control motor was bad, and that they'd have a new one ordered sometime this week.

Pretty much right after I got the car back, I started to notice a loud speaker crackle comming from all my speakers. It sounds like rice crispies, but louder, and it only happens when the car is in D and when I'm stopped. It doesn't happen when I'm driving, or when the car is in P.

I'm not sure if its a side effect of the idle motor problem or what, I was going to ask the tech when I bring my car back to the dealer, but I wanted to see if someone here had any ideas first.

Thanks.

[HATEnFATE]

I'd def ask. It seems very odd but you never know anymore i guess.

let us know what it turns out to be. Maybe the tech grounded a wire wire while diagnosing the problem?

[synthbent715]

I thought I had fixed it saturday, as soon as I got home, I popped the hood and checked the battery wires, alternator wires, and the grounds, I wiggled each wire to see if they were secure. Then the sound was gone. It was gone all weekend and it just came back while I was sitting in traffic this morning.

I was wondering if it could be my battery dying.

P.S. Not sure if this makes any difference. But my car came with the dealer installed bazooka tube and under seat amp.

[synthbent715]

I just went out and popped my hood again and wiggled all the wires and connectors on and around my battery and alternator. I started the car up, put it in D, and once again, no crackling.

Maybe just a loose wire somewhere?

[dexter_5000]

the bazooka tube sub shouldn't have an under the seat amp. its a self contained unit i thought. all in one deal.

[synthbent715]

Originally Posted by dexter_5000

the bazooka tube sub shouldn't have an under the seat amp. its a self contained unit i thought. all in one deal.

Now that you mention it, I do remember adjusting the output of the sub with the little screw on the back of the sub. Which would mean that's the amp right?

Maybe I mistook the electrics for my seatbelt sensor and stuff for an amp.

[synthbent715]

Well I just got my xA back from the dealer yesterday.

Here's what they did:
-Replaced the IAC motor and gaskets
-Cleaned out the AC blower assembly
-Checked my wiring and grounds for my stereo.

The cars idle is about 100 times smoother now. I've read in other forums, the xA just naturally has a bit of a rough idle, my airbox used to shake bad under full load, and even my passenger side windshield wiper would shake. My idle used to jump to like 2000 rpm when I started the car, then jump around between 400-1000 constantly. Now it goes right up to about 550-650 and stays there, even when I turn the AC on and its super smooth.

The speakers don't pop anymore either. My dad said he thinks it may have been a short in the IAC motor, causing interfearence when the car was in idle.

My AC still makes a bit of a grinding noise whenever I cut it off, but its not as bad, although it still doesn't sound "right"

I may take it back to the dealer soon to get that fixed proper.

This is the first car (of 4) I've owned that came with a warranty, all these repais costed me $0, I'm pretty excited about that.