I replaced the receiver in my 02 SCAB last September. I installed a Pioneer DEH-2200UB. I only wanted to add USB functionality for my iPhone.

In any case, after the install I would occasionally get some popping/static feedback through one of the rear speakers. It only seemed to happen when my iPhone was connected and was very intermittent. It did happen a few times when the CD was playing. Occasionally too the receiver would power off and lose all of the radio presets.

During the install I tied all 3 ground wires together (from the truck side harness there were 2 wires - chassis ground and amplifier ground; from the radio side harness there was only 1 chassis ground) and grounded these to a good ground behind the dash.

I finally decided to try to fix it and added a ground to the back of the receiver chassis itself. This made the problem much, much worse!

Last night I removed everything, re-wired / re-soldered all of the connections on the radio harness to truck adapter.

However, this time I only connect the receiver chassis ground to the truck harness chassis ground. On the truck side harness I simply taped off the wire labeled "amplifier ground".

I drove to work this morning and no static at all (approx 25 minutes). This seemed to fix it.

My question, do I need to connect the amplifier ground on the truck harness to anything or am I OK to leave it taped off?

 

Updates:

1 - The problem is greatly improved but not eliminated. I still encounter the problem when using my iPhone through the USB input.
2 - I have not encountered the problem with a CD since I changed the grounding.
3 - I have not experienced the unit powering itself off and losing memory (i.e. station presets) since I changed the grounding.
4 - When the problem occurs, the feedback/static ONLY comes through the rear speaker(s). I can only really detect it through the right rear but it may be coming through the left.
5 - I've removed the right rear speaker and inspected the speaker, connections, wiring and all looks well.
6 - When the problem occurs, I fade the audio fully to the front and I can still hear a faint bit of static/feedback/pop through the rear.

Any ideas???
Can someone copy/duplicate this post over in the general 97-03 Forum and see if anyone reading there might have ideas?

Thanks!

 

On the way home this afternoon the static/popping happened with just the radio playing. No USB or Aux inputs connected.

Can someone copy this over to the 97-03 Forum?

 

I would try a completely different ground for the amp. I just drilled a hole in the floor behjind my seat and put a nice new screw in there and used that for my amp. then I just used my factory harness from the radio and installed my cd player. I didnt solder anything tho, just used crimp connectors. i have installed 2 amplifiers this way and also both cd players were the type with usbs which i used on the last one but not the one i have now. I only used a flash drive tho but it messed up my cd player so I returned it and got the one i have now. both were pioneers

 

sounds like you're getting interference across your antenna. Make sure its insulated, firmly installed into the HU, and the power wires aren't run right next to it

Done

 

If your using a aftermarket amp make sure the RCA inputs for the amp are running down the opposite side of the truck from the amp's power wire. The head unit ground is always best to use a chassis ground over the factory grounds. The amps ground I have found works best at the seat belt mounts or seat bolts.

 

No amp installed. The amp ground is from the factory harness. I've taped it off and am using only the chassis ground on the factory harness to the radio harness.

 

I'm using the factory antenna. The lead is insulated (as in shielded cable) unless you are referring to something else. There are no wires around the antenna lead.

I'm thinking about just cutting the chassis ground from the HU lose from the factory harness and grounding the HU directly to the firewall. I'll just tape off then the chassis ground and amp ground in the factory harness. Any cons to doing it this way?

 

The problem seems to be related to interference from my iPhone itself. The last few times I've encountered the problem, my iPhone was sitting in the small pocket above the radio itself. The iPhone was not connected at all. When the interference /static started, I moved the iPhone and it stopped. I put it back near the radio and the problem started again.

I've tried this 4-5 times and its the same every time. The static starts, I move my phone and it stops.

What I can't figure out is what within the iPhone itself triggers the problem. I've tried text messages, calls, etc... with the phone stashed above the receiver and I cannot recreate the problem. However, it seems to only occur if the phone is near the head unit.

Any ideas?

 

I had what sounds like the same issue with my old Pioneer DEH-P5000UB HU. Except mine came through the subs - sort of a turbulence sound. I could power off the amp and the sound would go away. Came back as soon as I turned it back on though. Made a popping sound every time I plugged my iPhone in. It also kind of "pulsed" with my turn signals. The problem didn't get fixed until I finally changed head units - tried regrounding over and over, new RCA wires, everything. Turned out to be the HU itself. I'd say if you have a spare HU or a buddy with one he wouldn't mind swapping out just to see if it fixes the problem, I'd say try that before buying a new HU just to find out that wasn't the problem after all. Hope this helps.

 

The problem occurred this morning with my iPhone connected via USB and laying on the seat beside me... I agree that it is most likely the HU. I NEVER had an issue with the old stock HU, which I have given to friend!!!

Thanks!