P38A Buzzing Speakers

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.

Lukas018

Well-Known Member
Posts
633
Location
Sussex
Hi All,
I have a DSE with after market stereo.
Had an issue where speakers in drivers door kept working on and off.
Issue I have now is when ignition is on I get a buzzing coming from drivers door speakers.

I have seen a few articles but nothing specific to this.

Any guidance on what to check would be much appreciated?

Thanks.
 
Hi All,
I have a DSE with after market stereo.
Had an issue where speakers in drivers door kept working on and off.
Issue I have now is when ignition is on I get a buzzing coming from drivers door speakers.

I have seen a few articles but nothing specific to this.

Any guidance on what to check would be much appreciated?

Thanks.

This depends on which radio you have, Low line, Mid line or High line. Do you have controls on the steering wheel or is volume just controlled from radio?
 
I have no idea of the vagaries of the P38, however, I do like my sound systems, so will approach from a slightly different angle.
1: As you state only one speaker was playing up, check your speaker, in case the fault is a dodgy speaker. Check in case something has fallen inside the panel and pressing against it.
2: Are any/all ground wires in good order?
Did you add any length to supplied/already fitted ground wires, when you changed the stereo?
3: Could it be interference? Switch the toys, such as fans/aircon, your mobile, indicators, etc. on and off one at a time
4 Check all connections to replacement stereo.

I'm sure there might be things I've forgotten but thats what I can think of for now
 
thanks for coming back to me, the stereo was already installed when I bought it, sounds like a dodgy connection.

Will need to trace the cables and check the grounds but I am sure they are ok.
 
In answer, I don't know what radio type I have, not an expert, bog standard CD radio AFTER MARKET and it is not operated from steering wheel.
 
It depends what radio was originally in there. Low & Mid Line radios drive the door speakers directly. High line radio uses amplifiers in the doors, and later DSP system is completely different.

If the after market radio is wired direct to speakers, then you have two issues to resolve:
  1. Buzzing is probably a bad radio earth somewhere. (probably affects all speakers)
  2. Intermittent door speaker depends on how it's wired.
    • If they used original wiring then RF Door jam connector C301.
If the after market radio is feeding a previous high line system, then it depends how they wired the radio to door amplifiers.

Like other said we need details of the original system, and how how the new radio is wired.
 
In answer, I don't know what radio type I have, not an expert, bog standard CD radio AFTER MARKET and it is not operated from steering wheel.

So you have no radio control buttons on steering wheel at all, left side mode change, right side volume change or do you have them but they don't work?
 
It had a Clarion 6 cd changer system, assuming clarion due to year and model.

Taking door card off there are amplifiers I think. I need to check how it has been wired.

Steering wheel controls are there but do not work.

I don't why they made these case so complicated to work on.

thanks for advice.
 
It had a Clarion 6 cd changer system, assuming clarion due to year and model.

Taking door card off there are amplifiers I think. I need to check how it has been wired.

Steering wheel controls are there but do not work.

I don't why they made these case so complicated to work on.

thanks for advice.

They are not if you have the correct headset fitted. Possibly amplifier in drivers door, it is powered from drivers door outstation. God knows what the person that fitted the after market radio has done. You will have to sort it or take it to a car radio shop.
 
Last edited:
UPDATE:
Spend most of Saturday removing the dash as I need to replace the servos for the heating and the wiring for radio was ridiculous and line output converter has been install, when unplugged buzzing stops, so I suspect there is a bad ground, however checking all the doors I couldn't find the grounds but found a bunch in drivers footwell all seemed ok. I have a high-line system, 3 speakers per door.

Only place I have not checked is the rear amplifier in the boot to see if that has a bad ground.

does anyone know where this ground is located?

All the wiring is old and iffy so contemplating putting in a complete new system with a new amplifier if anyone has a guide for the P38 be great or any ideas?
 
UPDATE:
Spend most of Saturday removing the dash as I need to replace the servos for the heating and the wiring for radio was ridiculous and line output converter has been install, when unplugged buzzing stops, so I suspect there is a bad ground, however checking all the doors I couldn't find the grounds but found a bunch in drivers footwell all seemed ok. I have a high-line system, 3 speakers per door.

Only place I have not checked is the rear amplifier in the boot to see if that has a bad ground.

does anyone know where this ground is located?

All the wiring is old and iffy so contemplating putting in a complete new system with a new amplifier if anyone has a guide for the P38 be great or any ideas?

There is nothing wrong with the system as fitted if it has the correct head unit. Can't see how sub woofer in rear could effect door speakers. Download RAVE all the wiring diagrams are in that. High line radio wiring is complex.
 
Got the RAVE manual but is does not have any wiring diagrams, is there a separate electric trouble shooting manual or can I see an extract for the wiring please?

The issue is definitely with the amplifiers on RHS doors want to know where they are grounded so I can check them?

Yes the boot is a subwoofer my error.
 
Got the RAVE manual but is does not have any wiring diagrams, is there a separate electric trouble shooting manual or can I see an extract for the wiring please?

The issue is definitely with the amplifiers on RHS doors want to know where they are grounded so I can check them?

Yes the boot is a subwoofer my error.

RAVE should contain Electrical trouble shooting manuals. Diagrams are in that.
 
UPDATE - Still no luck, the earths are ok, issue seems to be with cabling from back of radio to the white plug behind drivers kick panel where bonnet release is, when wiggle it about it stops then starts again. Frustrating as cannot definitely isolate it so I may just install a brand new system with an amplifier and dump old system.

Whilst stripping the car apart, I noticed the boot was saturated and notice a drain was blocked behind the fuel filler cap (photo below), does anyone know what this drains and where it exits as managed to unblock it a bit enough for water to drain.

Thanks.

PS does anyone have any advice on installing a new stereo system with new amplifier, speakers and tweets including how to wire up from back of radio be handy?
20181128_190654.jpg
 
O/S rear sunroof drain exits behind plastic wheel arch cover. Get yourself a S/H Clarion diversity original head unit. Fit that would save you a lot of pain.
 
thanks quite hard to course will keep an eye out for one but will still have the same issue with buzzing speakers need try and clean the connection up but you know what old wiring is like could be anything.

thanks for drain confirmation.
 
Back
Top