Radio Crackle

[Helga]

Hi, I have a constant low crackle on my westy radio, and after market job. What might be causing this? I know the leisure battery that feeds it is dying - might it be that? It doesn't do it when the engine is off however, I thought that since the battery is not good it might be fluctuating current causing it? Or might it be an earth somewhere - where IS the earth for the radio?

Thanks!

[Fritz]

Check aerial @ body mount as a poor connection will cause simmilar problems.


Regards


Fritz,,,,,,,,,,

[Willoughby]

Sounds like it picking up interference fron the Alternator.

If u put the radio on MW and tune it just off a station then drive, can you keep the radio in tune with the engine?

If so a Suppreser will sort this out. Have a look at the Radio Interference Suppression Kit at the bottom of the page below.

http://classicsagogo.co.uk/acatalog/Electrical.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Kev

[Helga]

Tightened the aerial cables etc... but still doing it, so will check out the supressor kit: thanks! Strange though, as it didn't do it last week?! Why would it 'change'?

[kevtherev]

westy radio

whats one of them then?

[jamesc76]

westy radio

whats one of them then?

One without a grill

[Helga]

Wrong choice of expression... not a westy radio, but a radio in my westy?!

[R0B]

and the tuning knob is on the wrong side...

One without a grill

[kevtherev]

Wrong choice of expression... not a westy radio, but a radio in my westy?!

ah hah

crackling in time with the engine rpm is, as has been said, a poor/corroded connections at the ariel or at the radio end.
poor earth on the radio
also Check spark plug cables are pushed on tight at both ends . They could be arcing.
finaly it could be alternator bushes


mine just audibly whines with the engine speed on MW

but on a well tuned FM station is crackle free.
I always thought plug caps had a radio suppressors in them.. perhaps I misheard

[Helga]

Mine is a sitinct crackle - tried it on MW and it was like having the engine in the cab with me! So many things to try... the aerial seems ok, though that was from 'feel' as it is in a slightly awkward place isn't it behind the dash. Want to check conections on back of radio but can't get it out:

Is there a trick to this?

Will push spark plug ends on tight as well to make sure.

As for the earth - how do I know if it is a good earth or not? Where IS it earthed?

Would adding a suppresor to the back of the radio sort out 'anything' such as earth / plugs / etc?

[Helga]

Some experimenting...

on MW when anything at all is used - with engine on or off - there is a crackeling in tune with whatever the device is. I tried a little portable radio and that does the same thing! So, aerial again? I wrapped wire round the aerial and attatched the other end to some bare metal work, but that made no difference... was I 'grounding' it when I attatched it to the metal?

From other things I have read - including the Haynes manual - since everything is interfering with the radio it SHOULD be the aerial - but how can I get to the base of the antenna to check? How can I get radio out to check that end of the conection? Would my experiment have discounted the grounding theory?

DO you simply ground to the bodywork?!

If all else fails, it is CDs for me from now on!!

[Mocki]

two more things to check.
1. engine to body earth onto ns head and where it connects to body.
2. coil connections , low tension and king lead

you should be able to identify if it is a plug lead, or king lead by the speed of the "clicks" the king lead is 4 times faster than a plug lead.

to be honest, i dont think your radio antenna has suddenly become badly earthed in the last few days.....
its more likely a ignition component on its way out, and the radio is giving you early warning.....

[Helga]

Thanks for that. I'll check - pulled out the aerial and checked conection - the coaxial goes inot the bottom of the aerial, there is no obvious earth conection... is it simply grounded by the metal of the aerial base touching the body?? I hope so, as that is all there is!

It is bloody annoying!

I'll go and check leads now...

[Helga]

Just one other thing... if it is an ignition component, then why would it make the noises when other things are switched on but NOT the ignition?

Oh, the radio is wired to the leisure battery if that makes a difference?

[Helga]

And a final other thing.. ha ha... when I pull out the aerial from the back of the radio, which I have now managed to remove, the crackle stops! No interference at all... so the interference must be in someway coming from the aerial surely?

Where would I take this to get it sorted if can't do myself? I bet it would be expensive!