Popping through the speakers with Air Bags

[5150]

hey guys,

I've recently got all of my air bags hooked up and the switches ran. Problem is when I go up or down on my bags there is an annoying popping sound through the radio. If you turn the radio then it doesn't do it. I assumed it was a ground wire and checked all of them and they are all tight and good.

any other ideas?

[Twisted Minis]

Is the constant power for your switch box wired to the stereos constant power source?

[5150]

No, the switches are wired to a ignition on in the fuse box. The constant on the stereo is wired straight to the battery. The compressor is wired through a relay that goes to an ignition on in the fuse box also.

[AceX]

I'll ask my buddies @ the shop next time I see them. I've never heard of this happening before.

[Riveted1]

Where is the ignition on lead for the head unit tapped in at?

[Riveted1]

Get it figured out?

[AceX]

If you haven't, I'm going by the shop tomorrow and I'll see if maybe they have an answer.

[Riveted1]

I'm 99.9% sure it's caused by tapping his ign on power for the radio at the same location he's got his switch box or relay tapped into. Just gotta find a new spot for one or the other.

[AceX]

Just got back from the shop. They can't be 100% sure without looking at it themselves, but they think that every time you are drawing power through the wire, that it's causing the radio to try and start again (kind of like turning the key after the engine is already started). It might also be a power surge into the radio. Check the fuse just to be sure.

[Riveted1]

Ever turned on a blender that is on the same circuit as a radio or TV?

[AceX]

Think the "signal" from the switch box is traveling through that wire and into the brain box (deck)?

[Riveted1]

I think it has something to do with when the solenoids (which are coils) are activated. Maybe like a type of feedback. That's about as far as my knowledge on the subject goes. Somewhere in my college career though, I will be taking a class that should give me the complete technical answer. I will also probably have to tackle this exact problem on my ride once I get the radio installed again....

Wish he would respond and let us know if he fixed it... HINT HINT

[joe231]

does it pop after you release the switch?

[5150]

sorry for the delay guys, I've been really busy and haven't had time to mess with it.

The radio is hooked up to one of the ignition on spades on the fuse box.

The four switches are also hooked up to another of the ignition on spades on the fuse box.

I moved the radio wire to the air conditioning fuse and the wiper fuse. I don't have either so I thought it would be okay there. It STILL pops through the speakers.

I even put the radio wire onto one of the CONSTANT spades on the fuse box and it also STILL popped through the speakers.

[Riveted1]

Hmmm. Seems like someone else w/bags and a radio would have encountered this problem at one point or another. I wonder if you ran a relay for the switchbox, have it triggered by the ignition on switch and powered by the battery, if that would solve the problem?

Well, maybe I'm getting ahead of myself.
Does the popping come out of your subwoofers and your mids/tweets? If so, can you power some speakers with just the radio itself and see if you still get popping?

[5150]

there is a relay back by the compressor

yep, checked and tightened all grounds

[AceX]

I know what's going on now. The solenoids are sending a signal through the chassis and into the speakers. Its a rare issue and one that's hard to track down.

I would start by making sure that as much of the system is as electrically isolated as possible, and start moving through each item to see what is getting the signal. My guess is either the deck, or the amp.

One thing you might try (its a long shot) is a ground-loop isolator. They can be had reasonably cheap, and are simple to hook up. If I had one I would send it to you, but alas, I don't.

[Riveted1]

Where/how are your valves mounted? If you isolate those from any metal, it might solve your problem.

BTW, sorry you're having problems, but troubleshooting is fun! (when it's not MY problem)

[5150]

4 of the valves for the rear bags are mounted on the rear crossmember that the tail light harness is on.

2 valves for the front pass side are just under the pass side door on the frame.

2 valves for the front driver's side are just under the driver's side door.

[AceX]

Does it happen only with certain valves?

[5150]

no, I think it's an equal opportunity pop

[Riveted1]

You're gonna have to go through and try to narrow down where the problem is. I would start with unhooking the amps from the head unit and hooking some speakers to the powered outputs. If you have pops there, then you know the problem is between the head unit and the air setup. If you don't have pops, then it is between the amp (or amps) and the air setup.
Since it pops no matter which valve is opening/closing, it seems like the problem is elsewhere, but if it's a grounding problem, those can be wacky! It could also be as simple as a cheap RCA cable being crossed by a power wire to the air setup.


So, you have homework to do!