I just installed sirius sat. in my car using an Aux interface that plugs into the stock head unit and has to sets of RCA plugs. I am using 1 for my satellite radio but now I'm get a ground whine that I can hear in the speakers when the engine is running.

Someone has told me this is a ground loop interference but I don't know how to fix it. I am using the cigarette lighter in the center console for power and have run the power cord up to the back of the radio. The only grounds in the whole system is the one the factory head unit uses and the ground from the cigarette lighter. I also made sure the antenna wire and power wire were not touching or near each other.

Any suggestions?

 

Usually a "Big 3" upgrade will fix that. Simply put upgrade the major ground wires in your car. Do a search for "Big 3 Upgrade" and you'll find what you need, that usually eleviates a lot of those issues...

 

"Definition: the "Big Three" upgrade means improving the current capacity of three cables: 1) alternator positive to battery positive, 2) battery negative to chassis, and 3) engine ground to chassis."

I found this definition but it seems like a lot of upgrading for something only pulling 5 volts through a cigarette lighter. I wouldn't think everyone who puts in a simple satellite radio upgrades all their major ground cables too. I may be wrong.

 

The only people who do the upgrade are the ones who need it. You may be able to get away with just cleaning up your ground connections and making sure you have good contact on your power wires.

Here's a thread from an XM forum and how they fixed their issues:

http://www.xmfan.com/viewtopic.php?t=38402

 

someone mentioned to me that I should cut the ground wire from the cigarette ligher and run a new ground wire to the same ground the head unit is using to eliminate a ground loop.