Whine after factory nav install

[MDC9966]

I went from a standard 6 disk bose unit to at nav/dvd unit. Since then, I've noticed an alternator whine during take off. Has anyone else gotten this after an install? How did you fix, or what was the issue? I've read it's a ground issue. I thougth of regrounding the radio to the body to see if that would help. Any help or experience is appreciated.
Thanks,

 

[Stavy]

Try running your ground to the under side of the drivers dash quite a few good ground spots under there

 

[rodwar254]

let me know what you find out im having the same issue

 

[MDC9966]

I unplugged the VSS wire and that didn't take the while away. The only other add to ungrade to the Nav unit was the voice prompt wire added to the plug (red and black, pins 4 and 5) that goes to the onstar module. So I will try to unplug those tonight and see if the while goes away. if it does, maybe I can figure a way to regroung that.

 

[MDC9966]

Ok, the 2 wires going to the onstar unit (red and black) had no effect on the whine. But..... I accidently left the antenna unplugged and it stopping whining. I plug the antenna (am/fm) and the whine is there again. So, how do I fix that? ground the antenna better? Anyone else ever had this issue?

 

[MDC9966]

More interesting info. While the antenna is unplugged (am/fm) the xm radio works fine, so does nav, etc... I tap into the ground wire coming off the 12v outlet from the dash and with just a ground wire touching the stero metal case it causes the whine to happen. So maybe it's the ground in the vehicle? The radio must be getting a clean ground from somewhere, it works fine and doesn't whine unless the antenna is plugged in or as I just found out, the ground from the 12v outlet is touched to it. Any help is appreciated guys.

 

[MDC9966]

I tried an external antenna and got the same whine noise, just curious, does anyone think it could be in the head unit? Has anyone had this on a nav/dvd unit and swapped it for another and gotten rid of the whine? If it's a grounding issue, should I be able to put the original (6 disk, non dvd, non nav) head unit in and still have this whining issue? Just looking for anyone else that has had it.

 

[Corn24]

Check the wires going into your harness to make sure none are loose.

 

[EMF Audio]

More interesting info. While the antenna is unplugged (am/fm) the xm radio works fine, so does nav, etc... I tap into the ground wire coming off the 12v outlet from the dash and with just a ground wire touching the stero metal case it causes the whine to happen. So maybe it's the ground in the vehicle? The radio must be getting a clean ground from somewhere, it works fine and doesn't whine unless the antenna is plugged in or as I just found out, the ground from the 12v outlet is touched to it. Any help is appreciated guys.

You've got a ground loop, and the antenna is grounded to the body while the harness is somewhere else. This leads me to believe you may have a loose ground between the battery or motor and the body. Check the factory ground points.

I tried an external antenna and got the same whine noise, just curious, does anyone think it could be in the head unit? Has anyone had this on a nav/dvd unit and swapped it for another and gotten rid of the whine? If it's a grounding issue, should I be able to put the original (6 disk, non dvd, non nav) head unit in and still have this whining issue? Just looking for anyone else that has had it.

Was this external antenna touching the body or grounded in any fashion? You could try taking the ground you used before that got rid of the noise and screwing it to the radio chassis and see if that solves it. If not, try touching it to the radio antenna ground while its plugged in.

 

[MDC9966]

From another post, I changed the radio back to the stock one and the whine went away. So maybe that's the problem.

 

[mike285]

How much work is involved in changing to the factory nav? I ask because I am selling my factory nav and I want to be able to let people know if it would be worth their time to upgrade to the nav.

 

[MDC9966]

How much work is involved in changing to the factory nav? I ask because I am selling my factory nav and I want to be able to let people know if it would be worth their time to upgrade to the nav.

If you've already got the bose system, it took me about an hour to plug everything up, run the gps ant, vss, wire, and the onstar add on. It will take a tech about 30 min to program it to the new vehicle.

thats about all.

 

[MDC9966]

I swapped in a new head unit dvd/nav/with USB. It still whines. A friend of mine suggested grounding the radio chassis with a screw and then grounding it to the frame, fireway, etc.... to ensure a good ground. Any thoughts guys? Is it worth the time to do it?

 

[EMF Audio]

I swapped in a new head unit dvd/nav/with USB. It still whines. A friend of mine suggested grounding the radio chassis with a screw and then grounding it to the frame, fireway, etc.... to ensure a good ground. Any thoughts guys? Is it worth the time to do it?

It won't take much time to do it, but that may solve it.

 

[MDC9966]

The hunt continues for the source of the whine.
Swapped in a new headunit, still whines.
Swapped to an aftermarket antenna for FM, still whines
Connected a ground directly from the chassis of the headunit to the frame/body, still whines

I called a local stereo shop today asking about anything that would isolate the alternator whine, or if they had would suspect an alternator fault causing it? The guy I spoke with said that sometimes the factory amp going out could cause this whine. Anyone heard or have experience with this? I always thought the amp either works or doesnt' work. All speakers have sound.

One interesting thing has occured a few times now. I have a habit of turing off the head unit to stop the whine because it's so annoying. A few times, I've started the tahoe and while I'm driving the whine will come through the speakers without the headunit on. It will last upto a min and then go off. If I turn the headunit on and then back off it will go away immediately. Maybe it is the amp?? Is there a way to check the amp? I hate to buy a new one and it not be the problem. I really would like to get this fixed.

Any help is appreciated... Also, how hard is it to replace the amp? Can it be removed without removing the console? I can lift out the organizer tray and see it. Just hoping I dont' have to remove the entire console to get to it.

Thanks again,

 

[MDC9966]

I just had the alternator checked. The machine said it was ok, but it shows a ripple. The guy doing the check says that is caused by a bad ground. Something at the batttery or Alternator. Nothing was loose, but if the alternator check says a bad ground, atleast I've ruled out the alternator diode as being bad, I think. heres the readout. Any input is appreciated.

 

[EMF Audio]

The hunt continues for the source of the whine.
Swapped in a new headunit, still whines.
Swapped to an aftermarket antenna for FM, still whines
Connected a ground directly from the chassis of the headunit to the frame/body, still whines

I called a local stereo shop today asking about anything that would isolate the alternator whine, or if they had would suspect an alternator fault causing it? The guy I spoke with said that sometimes the factory amp going out could cause this whine. Anyone heard or have experience with this? I always thought the amp either works or doesnt' work. All speakers have sound.

One interesting thing has occured a few times now. I have a habit of turing off the head unit to stop the whine because it's so annoying. A few times, I've started the tahoe and while I'm driving the whine will come through the speakers without the headunit on. It will last upto a min and then go off. If I turn the headunit on and then back off it will go away immediately. Maybe it is the amp?? Is there a way to check the amp? I hate to buy a new one and it not be the problem. I really would like to get this fixed.

Any help is appreciated... Also, how hard is it to replace the amp? Can it be removed without removing the console? I can lift out the organizer tray and see it. Just hoping I dont' have to remove the entire console to get to it.

Thanks again,

It is quite possible its the factory amp. I would try connecting to power directly out of the HU with the factory amp disconnected to narrow that down.

I just had the alternator checked. The machine said it was ok, but it shows a ripple. The guy doing the check says that is caused by a bad ground. Something at the batttery or Alternator. Nothing was loose, but if the alternator check says a bad ground, atleast I've ruled out the alternator diode as being bad, I think. heres the readout. Any input is appreciated.

You could try replacing the ground wire from the battery to chassis. I could be mistaken but I think there was a recall on that on NNBS trucks in some year(s). They replace the factory ground and solves some issue, I can't remember what. In that scenario, yes, that would be the ground causing the ripple, causing the noise.

 

[stope4]

Curtis629, did you ever resolve the whine?

 

[MDC9966]

I never did, I tried everything, grounds, isolators, filters, alternator, everything except pulling the bose amp out of the console and putting in a new one. On a side note, during this time, I tired 3 different dvd/nav units and once I gave up and installed the stock 6 disk changer head unit the whine has been gone ever since. :-( it sucks but it is what it is, I really only miss the camera function for backing up, I may try to put in a rear view mirror since I already have the camera mounted in the back and now nothing to use it for.