[MINIALEX]

To cut a long story short, I started off with a crackle in my left tweeter only when using the MD changer, I had a new cable fitted which the manufacturer said would solve this. Anyway now when then engine is running there is massive interference especially when cold and you can bearly make out the song and then it dies away but it took 25 minutes today, As soon as you turn the key to position 1 the interference goes away immediately, Can anyone shed any light on a solution for me, please!!

Alex Wesr

[Morty]

Quote:

Originally posted by MINIALEX
To cut a long story short, I started off with a crackle in my left tweeter only when using the MD changer, I had a new cable fitted which the manufacturer said would solve this. Anyway now when then engine is running there is massive interference especially when cold and you can bearly make out the song and then it dies away but it took 25 minutes today, As soon as you turn the key to position 1 the interference goes away immediately, Can anyone shed any light on a solution for me, please!!

Alex Wesr

Standard Mini system? or did you change your headunit and put in an amp?
Most of the interference has to do with the ground cable.

What kind of interference is it ? crackle? a phwiiiieet(sorry can't remember the word :P :P )

Morty

[MINIALEX]

Its a crackle with a few squeaks here and there, a bit like when you TV is completely out of tune, just fuzzy crackles - you can hardly hear the music for the first 20 - 25 minutes of use and then it clears up! Any ideas?

[snoopy]

The story so far (just to make sure I have it straight)

New md changer with connect2 interface box.

The ICE shop tries a few new Md changers to see if they could get rid of the noise.

No noise with a CD changer installed.

Then you put interface box at front of car and run Sony data cable and RCA to MD changer. This still did not fix the noise.

Damo has a similar problem with his MD changer and Sony head unit.

Problem goes away after 20 mins of driving.

Problem goes away if you turn the key to position 1

Both you and Damo have Coopers



Right after all of that I have made a few guess/ideas:

It is not the interface box or the cables.

Looks like new MD changers are affected by it but not CD changers.

It happens when something in the car is cold.

It happen when something in the car turns on when engine in running.

I think it might be something in the car that is turned on when the car is cold eg a heater or something like that. After this “thing” has done it job it turns off. Also this “thing” is not on when the key is in position one. The MD change seem to be sensitive to the signal this “thing” makes/puts out.

Now the questions:

Does the noise get worst when the temp is lower and does it take it long to go away when it is really cold?

Does the noise happen after you drive for a 1 hour then turn the car off wait 5 mins. Then start it again. Is the noise there or not?

Now guessing that your MD changer is in the boot and Damo is up in the cabin with him. Now I am wounding if this effect the length of time and how bad you guys get the noise. (What I am trying to find out is if the noise is sensitive to the position of the MD changer. Then we can have a guess if the noise is radiated or conducted and hofully be able to localizes the place of the thing i.e. up the front of the car or at the back of the car)

See if you can find any one with this problem in any car or is it just a problem for the MINI. I would have a close look at any one with a BMW as their electrical systems would be close to the MINI and BMW are know as “noisy” cars

Finally what is the ICE shop saying as these guys see this stuff all of the time and they might have the answer and they just don’t know it. Also see if they have an old model MD changer to see if the older model does it in your car. Get them to try the MD changer outside the car i.e. the changer as far away form the car as possible. Should be able to get about 5 meters away as this is the length of most of data and rca cables. When it is away from the car is it better or the same and does it change as you place the changer closer to the car.

Now if the ice people are switch on types get them to add a filter to the 12 volt feed line to the changer see it this reduces the noise.

Good luck

Ps what does Sony say on the matter?

[GaryM]

My first thought is that you have a temperature related fault either in the HU or the MD unit. If it is temp related it should take longer to clear after a frosty night as opposed starting the car when warm. If it is temp related it could be down to a bad solder joint or other faulty component eg: a capacitor

I would go back to the dealer. If the fault is showing then they should quickly identifiy the fault by temporarily connecting a new MD changer in place etc.

[MINIALEX]

OK - here goes,

The noise happens even if the ignition is off when the unit is cold but soon goes away,

the colder the night the louder the noise I think - have to wait till it warms up,

I will try the hour drive, 5 minute wait thing tomorrow but i'm fairly sure it doesn't happen if you've used the car a lot.

Also just noticed, the noise goes away for a second or two when you turn the wheel sharply and stays away if you hold it there!! Pointing to the power steering but this doesnt account for the cold thing, so maybe the charging area, e.g alternator?

Alex

[GaryM]

OK, Seems like your HU or the MD changer may have a problem with a floating ground due to component failure. The power steering is electrically assisted and I would bet draws the most current from the car so is likely to also produce the most electrical noise.

It could be that there is something else in the car causing this external to the HU. An Oscilloscope connected to the battery would show this. But the problem would be finding someone that has one. Typically electronics workshops have these and it gives you a heartbeat type trace reveleing what is happening on the wires it is connected to.

You said this only happens when the MD changer is in use? If this is the case have a look at the changer. It might have several wires going to it. One being a ground lead which would bolt to something metal close by. A control lead from the HU and finally the signal cable (RCA leads) which might be part of the control cable. If you have separate RCA leads then try disconnecting these. Your music will obviosly go but does the interference? Next just plug one RCA in out of the pair. The music will now come from just the right or left. Is the interference there?

Unless this has been installed by you I would definatley take a trip back to the garage or ICE shop.

[MINIALEX]

I have the seperate leads that you describe, the control bus cable and two RCAS but no ground cable, I have done as you suggested, taking both RCAS out there is no sound and no interference, taking 1 out there is still interference in the side with cable still in, what does this mean, I've just been fiddling and the moment the steering wheel is turned and the power steering whines the interference goes away,

[GaryM]

I take it that we are talking about a standard Mini HU and MD changer?

Doing what you have done with the RCA's was just a check to see if you had a problem with the ground connection. Another check with just one RCA is to insert it into the connector just enough so that the center pin makes contact but not the outer shell. Again do you get the noise?

Another test would to get something like a CD walkman or MP3 player and connected to the RCA's that go to the HU and select the MD changer, cos the control lead is still connected the HU will trigger the RCA's as in puts and you will be able to play you Walkman through the HU instead. I would not expect any interference now. If there is I suspect the HU.

Anyway none of this covers the fact that the problem goes away after a while and I still think you have a physical fault as opposed to an installation/cabeling problem.