So 3 years ago I had a system installed in a shop in upstate new york, supposedly one of the best shops in the city. Well I complained to them after the install I had alternator noise, they looked at it and could not figure ut why, and suggested a buy a new amp ($350 U.S.) they installed it and the noise was gone, but when I turned up the gain, the noise was back, so I trusted these guys and decided I'd live with it. Well after 2 years of having a Kicker 4CH amp, where running the front and rear speakers and sub, and getting more SL from the rear speakers I wasn't happy. Last year I went to a a shop in Vancouver, explained the problem, and they said they "solved" it... how by running the rear speakers off the head-unit, and adjusting the balance... becuase the headunit was producing more SL than the amp, and I was convinced to buy a bass external level control.

So its another year later and I'm thinking about an upgrade, wanted to solve the alternator noise, so I could turn up the gain for SL. Went to Vader Sound in Richmond, spoke to an installer, he asked if he could look at the car, said sure, pulled off trim cover which runs on the driver's side and low and behold the RCA's were running on the same side as the power! Let me say a few choice words were in my mind, and the Vader rep. said, "wow what amateurs".

Well decided I'd give it a shot after seeing how he removed the cover, and I pulled the deck out, ran a 20' directional twisted-pair RCA on the passanger side to the amp, turned the gain up and NO alterator noise! [img]graemlins/jammin.gif[/img] Man was I happy, but I am so pissed at the original installer and dealer, and at the one in Vancouver both for missing something so obvious and then selling me stuff I didn't need, though I admit I do find the external level control for the bass helpful since the adjustments can be made quickly instead of through the deck's menu.

[ May 11, 2004, 09:55 PM: Message edited by: exxtractor ]

 

My philosiphy is if you want something done, pay someone to do it. If you want something done right, educate yourself and do it yourself.

 

What type of rca's where used in the original install?

I have fixed a number of noise problems by only switching out coax rca's for twisted pair ones..

I doubt the problem was because the rca's where run next to the power wire..

 

I actually installed the new cables, they just showed me how to remove the trim panel. The original cables were inexpensive RCA's, I'm sure they are not twisted or shielded. Your right it would have been ideal to move the original cables and run them on the other side, the only thing is that they were attached to the power lead with a ton of electrical tape, so I figured I'd just run two new cables. But if you are interested when I go drive the car I'll check if I can see a brand.

[ May 13, 2004, 10:59 AM: Message edited by: exxtractor ]