Electronic Noise Through Sound System, even when off.

[subsince77]

Just wondering if anyone else has had this problem, or knows a solution. I have an 09 Outback. I have noticed that I sometimes get electronic noise through the speakers. I first thought it was coming through my iPhone which was hooked up and being used as an iPod. But then I found that after disconnecting the iPhone, and even turning the sound system off, I was still getting the noise.

 

It is the sound that you get sometimes when your cell phone is near a set of speakers or a radio and receiving data. I don't know how else to describe it. I have even gotten it when my phone was not in the car, so the system is picking it up some how.

 

We live in a rural area, so not a big problem around here. But every time I go to a city, it is annoying. The car is on warranty until November. Is this something that should be looked at?

[brus brother]

The car is on warranty until November. Is this something that should be looked at?

Sure. Why not? If it bothers you, bother the dealer.

[Cougar]

I know exactly the type of noise sound you are talking about. You could let the dealer check it out but since there doesn't appear to be a problem with the way the system works there may not be much they can do. In order to clear that kind of thing they would have to modify the existing design and I doubt they are going to do that. I would guess the RFI is being picked up by the speaker wires, which are acting as an antenna, and is being detected by the amplifier stage. In order to stop that the speaker wires may have to be shielded, if that is the case. Placing a small capacitor (maybe around .001 uf) across the speaker leads may fix the problem also if the wires are picking up the RFI.

[subsince77]

Thanks Cougar. The only reason that I haven't talked to the dealer yet about it, is that they are 2 1/2 hours away, and I'm not sure that I can reproduce the problem. I think I'll call and see if it is a known issue. Otherwise I may just have to live with it. At least around home it doesn't happen that much.

[nipper]

It can also be a loose ground wire someplace or a bad head unit.

 

Do get it to the dealer before the warrnety is up.

[Cougar]

I just thought of another thing that may help with this issue. Installing a ferrite core may block the RF from getting into the amp if that is what is going on. Installing a split core and wrapping one or two turns of the speaker wires around the core near the connection to the amp may solve the problem. You would have to do that to each speaker having the problem.