Hi pich sound coming for ipod on chevy radio?

[chevyM14]

Hi I just got a new G5 30GB ipod and I got an xtream mack road show cable, and there is a hi piched sound comeing from my ipod when I play songs, also the sound is about 1/2 of what a cd is. is there a way to rase the sound comeing out of the ipod?

[chevyM14]

Ok, I think it is a groun loop problem. the sound gos away when I unplug the power for the ligher. how do I fix it? how do I grond the power?

[terranaut]

You don't need to ground the power to remove the ground loop problem.

Purchase an external battery unit such as the CPS iRecharge (http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/ipod/review/compact-power-systems-cellboost-irecharge/), price between $20-50 dollars. Mine appears to be working as a UPS/Power line smoother, as the iPod gets it's power from the external battery, whilst the external battery is being charged by the car.

[Pete_L_P]

There are many things you can do and still use the car's power, rather than an additional battery, to charge your ipod.

One nice choice is the Belkin Auto Kit for ipod (http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=149006). It has eliminated ground loop noise entirely for me in several cars, and it has a built in amp and volume control which does a super job on matching your CD and radio volume levels. The belkin plugs into the dock connector port, charges the ipod and has an audio out jack in the charger base. A bonus is the fact that the belkin is one of very few units that automatically turn off your ipod (by going into pause mode, which turns off completely in a few seconds. It's a life saver.) when you turn off the engine. (That is IF the cigarette lighter power is switched off with your engine.) I think the Belkin is also available in black.

Others have have told me that the Belkin has done well with the noise for them too, but one or two still had a bit remaining. If that's the case you can try a cheap ground loop isolator (http://www.radioshack.com/sm-see-all-needs-and-wants--pi-2062214.html) from radio shack. You would need to get some additional radio shack audio cables/adapters (rca to mini stereo, etc) to hook it all together.

If you still have problems let us know because there are additional steps that will eventually handle it.

Pete

[MarkKetch]

I just ran into this same problem, but I have the Belkin Auto Kit. It worked fine for a year, then two days ago my check engine light came on (something with emissions, probably oxy censor) and I get a beeping tone now. I'm not sure if that Check Engine signal is causing interference with my iPod b/c of the way the car's computer system is wired or what. I'm taking my car (2002 Civic EX) to a mechanic on Tuesday to get that checked out and hopefully resetting the Check Engine error will get rid of this pulsating. If not I guess I'll have to try out the ground isolator.

Any other ideas guys?

Thanks.

[Pete_L_P]

I just ran into this same problem, but I have the Belkin Auto Kit. It worked fine for a year, then two days ago my check engine light came on (something with emissions, probably oxy censor) and I get a beeping tone now. I'm not sure if that Check Engine signal is causing interference with my iPod b/c of the way the car's computer system is wired or what. I'm taking my car (2002 Civic EX) to a mechanic on Tuesday to get that checked out and hopefully resetting the Check Engine error will get rid of this pulsating. If not I guess I'll have to try out the ground isolator.

Any other ideas guys?

Thanks.
You want to try and isolate the source of the problem, so the first thing to try is the following two steps done together:

A- Take your audio cable out of the belkin, and plug it directly into the iPod's headphone jack (make sure your ipod volume is about in the center of its range.)

B- Unplug the Belkin dock connector from the ipod entirely, and try this with no charger plugged into your ipod.

If you still have the problem it's not a ground loop issue, it's not a belkin issue, and could be coming from the aux input circuit going to your head unit, or from your head unit directly. (For example, if you're using an aftermarket auxiliary input interface, that unit could have gone bonkers, or if you're using an FM transmitter, THAT could likely be the culprit.)

If the problem has gone away with this trial, the problem could be that your belkin (or its own audio amp) has gone bonkers. That can happen if the power to the cigarette lighter has had some spikes or irregularities, or for any number of other reasons.

If the problem HAS gone away with this trial, it could also be a new problem with your car's power supply, a new ground loop issue, a problem only with the iPods line out circuit, or other things.

It wouldn't hurt to have your car checked out before you buy any new parts.

Let us know what you discover with your tests, and how you're getting your signal from the belkin to your head unit. I'll be happy to make some more suggestions at that time.

Pete

[MarkKetch]

Pete - The beeping still occurs even if I just plug directly into my iPod, so I guess that rules the Belkin adapter/ground out as the problem. I have an PIE AUX box that I run from my head unit, so either that's gone screwy or it's related to my check engine light. I just find it a little coincedental that this problem started when the engine light came on.


CD player --> AUX box ---> Belkin Kit --> iPod

[Pete_L_P]

Pete - The beeping still occurs even if I just plug directly into my iPod, so I guess that rules the Belkin adapter/ground out as the problem. I have an PIE AUX box that I run from my head unit, so either that's gone screwy or it's related to my check engine light. I just find it a little coincedental that this problem started when the engine light came on.


CD player --> AUX box ---> Belkin Kit --> iPod
Did you by any chance ever install an old iTrip? DO the beeps appear between good songs or during good songs?

The iTrip used to send out signals from the ipod to the iTrip in the form of beeps. It allowed you to use the iPod screen to choose your iTrip transmitter channel. Those beeps are in special itrip "songs" that might have started appearing if, for example, you recently started using "shuffle songs", or recently synced your ipod. If the beeps are appearing only between good songs and you've recently synced, you should look for songs (under "all songs") with names that begin with itrip.

I assume, btw, that you fully disconnected your bekin charger?

Have you tried the iPod with headphones only? That would help you eliminate your iPod as the source of the problem.

If you can't reproduce this with the ipod and headphones only, and if you've eliminated the itrip possibility, it would be time to contact the AUX Box folks and see if they've ever heard of the problem.

(On a side note, it's nice to hear that the belkin is not the problem source, and that the Belkin had done a good job of eliminating noise for you before this problem.)

Pete

[MarkKetch]

Nope, no iTrip was ever installed. I know it's not the iPod making the beeping. If I take the audio cable out and hold my finger to the tip (completing the circuit) the beeping starts up. I guess I'll just wait and see what the diagnosis is for my Check Engine light, and if fixing that doesn't solve the problem I'll check with PIE about the AUX box.

Thanks.

[Pete_L_P]

Mark

Please let us know what you discover. Good luck

Pete

[jojo1971]

i used scosche ground loop isolator and it works (http://forums.ilounge.com/showthread.php?t=163912)...


i have a 2003 chevy silverado 1500HD...before using the ground loop isolator the high pitch whining noise from the alternator was really annoying... now it's gone..:)

[MarkKetch]

Well the Check Engine light was simply an error after the mechanic checked the computer.

The beeping is still occuring though.

[MarkKetch]

I hooked up a ground isolator and I'm still getting the beeping. Also, the sound quality is HORRIBLE now, it sounds like an old record playing. I guess my PIE Aux box is dying.

[Pete_L_P]

Mark

I think you should contact the AUXBOX people next, but i did find this part (http://www.autotoys.com/x/cust/product.php?productid=5304), which may help if they can't.

Pete

[jojo1971]

Hi I just got a new G5 30GB ipod and I got an xtream mack road show cable, and there is a hi piched sound comeing from my ipod when I play songs, also the sound is about 1/2 of what a cd is. is there a way to rase the sound comeing out of the ipod?

http://www.clubmac.com/clubmac/shop/detail~dpno~7002845~name~RoadShow+Car+Audio%2FVide o+Cable+for+iPod+Video+-+Black~mfg~XTMIPV-CAV-00.asp




the cable i used is similar to yours.. (http://cgi.ebay.com/Peripherals-PXP01-Universal-Adapter-Cable-for-iPod_W0QQitemZ9732015332QQcategoryZ50552QQrdZ1QQcm dZViewItem)...

so maybe i can help you...can you tell us how you hooked up the ipod...i mean from ipod to speakers...

[MarkKetch]

Mark

I think you should contact the AUXBOX people next, but i did find this part (http://www.autotoys.com/x/cust/product.php?productid=5304), which may help if they can't.

Pete

Pete - I've been posting on the PIE forum, but they're a little slow to get back and haven't afford anything of value yet.

As for that link, that's for GMs and I have a Honda.

I'll wait and see what they say over at PIE. I think I'll either end up ordering another AUX box or just getting a new head unit. I'll post when I find out more.

Thanks.

[MarkKetch]

Well, I may have fixed my problem (for now). I went and bought a high quality RCA Y-split cable (Monster) and a heavier gauge wire to use for my ground line. I hooked up the new ground line plus the ground-loop isolator and then ran the new Monster RCA to my Belkin unit. Every so often I'll hear a faint beep, but the quality is back to normal so I'm pleased.

I'll see how this goes.

[Pete_L_P]

Congrats Mark

I wonder if the difference was a better ground connection. (BTW, which ground connection DID you improve?)

If you every get curious and end up trying one of your two fixes without the other (just to know) I'd be curious to hear which of the two turned out to be critical.

Pete

[MarkKetch]

Pete - I improved the ground wire from the AUX converter box.

I tried the set-up using the isolator only, but it sitll beeped.

Then I tried grounding the aux wire without the isolator and it beeped.

For some reason, adding the new ground and the isolator together did the trick.

**also, I haven't heard the beeping come back yet, so it might be gone for good**

[Pete_L_P]

Excellent news, and thanks for the update.

Pete

[TheForce02]

I had the same problem when I first started using my Belkin adapter.

The solution for me was to take the ground for the 12V outlet and attach it to the ground for the radio. Now it is all gone(the most I might notice is if i turn all of the volumes up and have no song playing, but i think that is normal).