Radio Noise Problem

[zjohnson]

In a rush to get my car done last year I think we short cut to much on the wiring end. Original issue:
1. RPM based noise on the intercom.
2. Horrible whine when talking out thru intercom.

What I fixed:
1. Radio and intercom where connected to battery switch. Re-wired directly to battery.
2. Cleaned powder coat off of stud to ensure better ground.
3. Ran antenna wire away from power wires, along with radio-intercom wire.

I have a PCI intercom and an Icom radio. In troubleshooting we found the noise was RPM based and made worse by the parker pumper being flipped on and made even worse by flipping the override fan switch on the oil cooler. Its a VW car. With the engine off, radio worked without issues and flipping on the pumper added noise, flipping on the oil cooler fan made the noise worse.

We think the issue may be from a bad ground in the engine area. Are we missing anything? The wires to the helmets are buried in the dash wiring, could this be the issue?

Thanks

[SPONSOR]

Membership in the largest desert racing community has its advantages - Participate in Forum Discussions - Send and Receive Private Messages - Maintain Public Photo Albums - Access to Groups - User Profile in our Social Network - Increased Access to more Sub Forums - Reduced Online Advertisements Join our community today

[pkonopasky]

In a rush to get my car done last year I think we short cut to much on the wiring end. Original issue:
1. RPM based noise on the intercom.
2. Horrible whine when talking out thru intercom.

What I fixed:
1. Radio and intercom where connected to battery switch. Re-wired directly to battery.
2. Cleaned powder coat off of stud to ensure better ground.
3. Ran antenna wire away from power wires, along with radio-intercom wire.

I have a PCI intercom and an Icom radio. In troubleshooting we found the noise was RPM based and made worse by the parker pumper being flipped on and made even worse by flipping the override fan switch on the oil cooler. Its a VW car. With the engine off, radio worked without issues and flipping on the pumper added noise, flipping on the oil cooler fan made the noise worse.

We think the issue may be from a bad ground in the engine area. Are we missing anything? The wires to the helmets are buried in the dash wiring, could this be the issue?

Thanks

I have been running into the same problem in my truck, everything works great when everything else is off but as soon as I fire the truck up there is lots of interference over the radio, not so much with the intercom though. I tried different power and ground locations but nothing seemed to make much of a difference. I was told to give an in line filter a shot. PCI sells a kenwood KLF-2 noise suppressor on their website for $40, so I ordered it, and should be coming in today and tomorrow. When I get it I'll wire it up and let you know if it makes a big difference!

[Jack]

The other trick to try is removing the ground from the intercomm. It will get it's ground thru the cable to the radio and get rid of the ground loop that can cause whine.

[manicmechanic]

A funky trick that worked years ago was to feed the power to the radio through the primary side of an old non resistor ignition coil, filtered the noise and you had a spare coil.

[dan200]

This has to be ground related... i would keep experimenting with that area...

[Baja Fool]

The other trick to try is removing the ground from the intercomm. It will get it's ground thru the cable to the radio and get rid of the ground loop that can cause whine.

Couple of years ago that's exactly what I did and my noise went away. Imagine that...

[Weatherman]

The other trick to try is removing the ground from the intercomm. It will get it's ground thru the cable to the radio and get rid of the ground loop that can cause whine.

If the intercom is the PCI racing intercom, the Comlink 6, this is exactly what you have to do. Remove the ground to the intercom! It's in the directions! But only women read directions. Have your girlfriend/wife do the installation. If you still experiance noise, call PCI Scott or Gerardo.

[zjohnson]

Thanks Bob, I had a friend wire the car for me and I guess he overlooked this step. I talked with someone at PCI who was very helpful and told me to remove the ground on the intercom, won't have a chance to try it until tomorrow.

Thanks again for the help

[pkonopasky]

Thanks Bob, I had a friend wire the car for me and I guess he overlooked this step. I talked with someone at PCI who was very helpful and told me to remove the ground on the intercom, won't have a chance to try it until tomorrow.

Thanks again for the help

Don't know if removing the ground wire worked for you, but I did try out that kenwood filter and it made a night and day different in my truck

[BSchlimme]

If the intercom is the PCI racing intercom, the Comlink 6, this is exactly what you have to do. Remove the ground to the intercom! It's in the directions! But only women read directions. Have your girlfriend/wife do the installation. If you still experiance noise, call PCI Scott or Gerardo.

Bob,
100% agree with you on the instructions but......

Since the ground is not necessary why not just terminate it(i.e. cut it off) so that there is no confusion?

After 5 years of owning my car I'll have to see if mine is wired in. Pretty sure it is. Had one hell of a wine going towards the end of NORRA this year. Seemed to get worse starting on day 3 for whatever reason.