Spark plugs and radio interference.
10-13-2005, 10:27 AM
#1
Three Wheelin'
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Spark plugs and radio interference.
With the controversy over the Bosch platinum +4 you pick up in the local auto store being used in our engines, I replaced them with the original Bosch WR7DC. After that, the AM radio has a lot of static which is not good in my little AM world. Is this the norm for those plugs?
If it is the norm, the other Bosch Platinum +4 available at the big 3 have the
"7" heat rating?
TIA!
If it is the norm, the other Bosch Platinum +4 available at the big 3 have the
"7" heat rating?
TIA!
10-13-2005, 11:45 AM
#2
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Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) is common with AM radio. AM radio receivers, unlike FM radio are unable to supress broadband RFI. Some possible fixes:
1. Make sure that you have a clean ground on your antenna and radio even if it means pulling them out and scraping the area where the metal pieces are mated. Most systems in a car are grounded by the simple expiendent of mating one chassis to another ... e.g. radio or antenna chassis to the vehicle.
2. Make sure that your radio is set for USA channel tuning. Radios which allow both European and USA channels have a tiny switch, sometimes on the actual circuit board but more often at the rear of the radio set. It will usually say "USA" at one side of the switch position. USA channels are not at the same frequency separation as European channels. For example, you could be listening to Rush on your local station "The Big Fifteen Hundred" which transmits on 1500 Kilohertz ... when your radio is actually set to "Ja! Hier ist Die Grossen Funkrund Funfzein Hundert!!" which is transmitting at 1505 Kilohertz. AM radio will hear stations that close together but with less clarity since you are not exactly "on frequency". BTW, the same goes for FM radio as well -- the channelization scheme is different for Europe vis a vis USA.
3. I am not that familiar with the OEM plugs, but using plugs which are "RFI Supressed", or using spark plug wires which are labeled "RFI Supression" will cure some and maybe all of your RFI.
4. You may have a static generating device ( ;-) ) on your alternator. Alternators are notorious for putting out broadband RFI from about 100 Kilohertz up to the Megahertz range. There are RFI supression kits which are essentially a set of capacitors and RFI isolation coils which go in line with the alternator. You would have to search a Ham Radio site to get some product and vendor information on those alternator kits ... try www.arrl.org and do a site search for Automobile RFI supression or just do the usual google.
5. Rotating surfaces, if improperly grounded will also cause RFI, among other hazards. It is not too common in automobiles, but rotating drive shafts, wheels and tires, free-spinning fans, bling-bling devices on the hubs caps, all generate electrical noise. I doubt that you have chrome rotating propellors on your hub caps and according to da WSM which I just consulted, the drive shaft appears to have metallic continuity with the frame and other engine parts. The motor mounts act as RFI insulators, but other engine parts are grounded, which grounds the entire engine and drive train assembly. Nitrogen filled tires generate an incredible amount of RFI, but you probably don't have those either. You may have a loose grounding connection at the fans, and that would be easy to cure by either tightening or running a grounding wire directly from the metal fan motor frame to the nearest chassis area. Excessive talcum powder or dirt inside a tubeless tire will also be quite electrically noisy.
6. There are RFI supressors which actually plug into the antenna cable at the rear of the radio. Kind of like a piggy back deallie-bopper-thingie. They are actually a supressive capacity array and work pretty OK.
Hope this helps! Watch that bling-bling rotating stuff!
Cheers,
1. Make sure that you have a clean ground on your antenna and radio even if it means pulling them out and scraping the area where the metal pieces are mated. Most systems in a car are grounded by the simple expiendent of mating one chassis to another ... e.g. radio or antenna chassis to the vehicle.
2. Make sure that your radio is set for USA channel tuning. Radios which allow both European and USA channels have a tiny switch, sometimes on the actual circuit board but more often at the rear of the radio set. It will usually say "USA" at one side of the switch position. USA channels are not at the same frequency separation as European channels. For example, you could be listening to Rush on your local station "The Big Fifteen Hundred" which transmits on 1500 Kilohertz ... when your radio is actually set to "Ja! Hier ist Die Grossen Funkrund Funfzein Hundert!!" which is transmitting at 1505 Kilohertz. AM radio will hear stations that close together but with less clarity since you are not exactly "on frequency". BTW, the same goes for FM radio as well -- the channelization scheme is different for Europe vis a vis USA.
3. I am not that familiar with the OEM plugs, but using plugs which are "RFI Supressed", or using spark plug wires which are labeled "RFI Supression" will cure some and maybe all of your RFI.
4. You may have a static generating device ( ;-) ) on your alternator. Alternators are notorious for putting out broadband RFI from about 100 Kilohertz up to the Megahertz range. There are RFI supression kits which are essentially a set of capacitors and RFI isolation coils which go in line with the alternator. You would have to search a Ham Radio site to get some product and vendor information on those alternator kits ... try www.arrl.org and do a site search for Automobile RFI supression or just do the usual google.
5. Rotating surfaces, if improperly grounded will also cause RFI, among other hazards. It is not too common in automobiles, but rotating drive shafts, wheels and tires, free-spinning fans, bling-bling devices on the hubs caps, all generate electrical noise. I doubt that you have chrome rotating propellors on your hub caps and according to da WSM which I just consulted, the drive shaft appears to have metallic continuity with the frame and other engine parts. The motor mounts act as RFI insulators, but other engine parts are grounded, which grounds the entire engine and drive train assembly. Nitrogen filled tires generate an incredible amount of RFI, but you probably don't have those either. You may have a loose grounding connection at the fans, and that would be easy to cure by either tightening or running a grounding wire directly from the metal fan motor frame to the nearest chassis area. Excessive talcum powder or dirt inside a tubeless tire will also be quite electrically noisy.
6. There are RFI supressors which actually plug into the antenna cable at the rear of the radio. Kind of like a piggy back deallie-bopper-thingie. They are actually a supressive capacity array and work pretty OK.
Hope this helps! Watch that bling-bling rotating stuff!
Cheers,
10-13-2005, 10:17 PM
#4
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While you have the console pulled, try one of those relatively inexpensive RFI "filters" that plug in inline with the antenna cable. I've seen them at Autozone for about $5. I think that wold do most of it for you.
Let me know if you can hear WSM and the Grand Ole Opry on 650 AM at 9:30 pm your time. If you can then you got a good working AM radio. You should be able to hear them clearly about that time of night.
Cheers
Let me know if you can hear WSM and the Grand Ole Opry on 650 AM at 9:30 pm your time. If you can then you got a good working AM radio. You should be able to hear them clearly about that time of night.
Cheers
10-14-2005, 08:26 AM
#5
Burning Brakes
I've personally never had this problem on a car (a friend did years ago - it was a cheap amp picking the noise up).
When I was a kid, however, my snowmobile made a lot of RF noise. The solution was different plugs (If I recall, the Champion code started with R for the noiseless ones). I have no idea what, if anything, this has to do with today's automotive plugs. Your problem just reminded me of how annoyed my little sister became when I drove that sled around the house all winter - just to bug her.
When I was a kid, however, my snowmobile made a lot of RF noise. The solution was different plugs (If I recall, the Champion code started with R for the noiseless ones). I have no idea what, if anything, this has to do with today's automotive plugs. Your problem just reminded me of how annoyed my little sister became when I drove that sled around the house all winter - just to bug her.
