whlng88

Hi, would appreciate some advice from anyone.

I noted recently that after I switched off the engine , there was a “whining” sound coming from the boot compartment. The sound resembles the closing/retracting of the side mirrors. It disappears after about 6-7 seconds. Anyone had this before ? The cause ?

Many thanks in advance

lexixel

Probably your DVD navigation drive is going bad

whlng88

Hi, think u could be right. My CD player is acting up too ie when first turned on in the morning it would cause the song to skip a few beats then all ok after “warming up”

Appears the 20 years amplifier player needs to visit an audio specialist. Will update this forum when cause & solution found.

Thanks again

doobs

Is it the passenger?

Harold57

The whining sound isn't your antenna going down, is it?

whlng88

Hi, I had first suspected that too but I wasn’t playing the radio ie antenna was down. I seldom use the radio as somehow the output music, FM stereo, appears to lack oomph in the car. Bit strange as the same radio station plays well from my home amplifier. The car’s ML set plays well with CD.

Many thanks

Wilson2000

The sound could be related to the fuel system as the pump and vapor recovery system is in the same vicinity. Could be a bad check valve that is vibrating while letting pressure bleed back to the tank. Or, maybe a vapor purge valve failing.

whlng88

Many thanks for input. Will engage workshop mechanics to check. Once resolved, will share with this forum.

Thank u

whlng88

Hi all, am glad to report that my “whining” issue has been resolved.

It came from the improvised Bluetooth device that I plugged into cigarette lighter socket. I removed the device from the car and the whining noise is gone.

The device , see photos below, handshakes with an unused radio frequency and generates a Bluetooth signal that allows me to streamline Spotify music. Connection is fast and spontaneous but music quality is below par. Device , about US$20, also allows handsfree phone usage n reads battery strength. It autopowers off when engine is off.

Thanks again for all your help.

Plugs into cigarette lighter

Screen is supported by the flexible gooseneck H
2 USB ports for phone charging

doobs

LOL!

Isn't technology awesome?

Thanks for the update.

GmanSC

Hmmm, you said the sound came from the boot compartment.

whlng88

Yes, the sound was from the back. The amplifier was behind in the boot ? The device interfered with the amp ?

whlng88

Or it could be the antenna unit ? Antenna was down all the time. I didn’t turn on the Bluetooth device or radio ; was playing CD only. In any case, am no longer using the Bluetooth device . No more whinings haha.

I will still need to explore the best way to rectify n solve the problem of the song/CD skipping a few beats when I first powered on the car. Audio guy said I need to change the entire head unit n amplifier. Some US$3k outlay for a Pioneer head unit n 10 channels Helix ( German ) amp. Too much $ …. too early ( as the set plays well after the first few initial hiccups. Chap said unless I could find original replacement head unit, new head units in the market would not be compatible with my existing ML amplifier. True ?? I tried googling but still couldn’t find answer. ( Am assuming n praying my amplifier is still working fine. )


Also, the Pioneer head unit has 2 dins n measures 7inches. It is too large n my original maple wood flip cover will have to go. I wish to keep the flip cover so until I could find a replacement of the original head unit, am postponing the solution for now.

Thank u all

Wilson2000

I have one of these units too. It looks identical to the one in the shared photo, but it has a different brand name. So far, it has worked well and hasn't caused any interference. Of all the bluetooth solutions I've tried, this one has worked the best.

It is interesting that you mentioned the antenna, as these units play through the FM radio reception. So when you are using it, it picks up the bluetooth signal from your phone, and plays it through an unused FM radio frequency. Was the interference happening only when the unit was not being used (as you said your antenna was down when you heard the noise)?

Anyway, I'm glad you isolated the issue, and I'll keep an ear out for issues with mine, although I typically only use it on trips.

BTW...Not that he is always a pillar of truth, but, Scotty Kilmer did a hit piece on USB power supplies that plug into the cigarette lighter socket (which is included on the subject unit). He says they have caused multiple issues with cars he has worked on. He thinks they somehow cause interference with the evermore troublesome electronics in modern vehicles (not sure our SC430's qualify as modern ). I'm sure some USB power supplies are built better than others, but since most likely come from China, I'm not surprised there are issues. Cheap = problematic.

whlng88

Hi, the last time I heard the noise, the antenna was already down…. when I alighted from the car. It was when I was outside the car that I heard the noise from the back. Not inside. I was quite certain that I didn’t use the Bluetooth that day. However, the device was auto powered on the moment I started the engine. But since the device hooks onto the radio frequency , I was just guessing if the radio ( & hence antenna ) was activated too. I am no longer using this device so perhaps you could watch out if it causes interference to you. All the best.

Btw, those of you who enjoy CDs, Andrea Bocelli plays very well esp loud with the top down !!! I enjoy my regular Sunday morning 8km drives to breakfast with Bocelli.

Thank you