Noisy Stereo

[Arfcollins]

I use the aux socket in my after market stereo to listen to Spotify from my phone. Fine for short journeys but on longer journeys when I want to keep the phone charged, attaching a USB cable to the phone from the lighter socket results in electrical noise from the engine coming over the speakers, making the music unlistenable. As it's diesel it's not the HT ignition noise causing it.

Any ideas on how to quieten things down?

[polar]

I use the aux socket in my after market stereo to listen to Spotify from my phone. Fine for short journeys but on longer journeys when I want to keep the phone charged, attaching a USB cable to the phone from the lighter socket results in electrical noise from the engine coming over the speakers, making the music unlistenable. As it's diesel it's not the HT ignition noise causing it.

Any ideas on how to quieten things down?

You could fit suppressors to your alternator - if your vehicle has high miles on it it could be the alternator bearings going dry or any bearing such as idlers. A dry bearing will send you on a wild goose chase with radio interference. As you say the longer the journey the worse it gets i wonder if it is a bearing.  

You still have solenoids on your injectors if its a HDI engine.

[Arfcollins]

Thanks Polar. From what you're saying there must be umpteen sources of electrical noise. I've done a search and it looks like there may be a suppressor I can add to the auxiliary line. I'll come back with the result if I get one.

PS, it's not that the noise gets worse on a long journey, it's just that the phone battery runs down more. 

[ffrenchie]

Another common cause of interference is poor earthing on the radio to chassis side and it's an easy option to eliminate.

[Arfcollins]

Another common cause of interference is poor earthing on the radio to chassis side and it's an easy option to eliminate.

Thanks ffrenchie, I'll check that.