September 20, 200718 yr I'm worried that I know the answer to this one, but . . . I'm trying to set up a Harmon Kardon Drive + Play in my wife's Forester. Works awesome until I start the car, then it sounds like a helicopter is flying by. I experienced this with a regular FM transmitter on the iPod, too. Is this because these things are so friggin' picky on plug wires, and I've got Bosch instead of NGK? The damn wires are only a little over a year old (put on when we got the car), so they aren't shot. Plus, the first time I noticed it was just after we got the car.
September 20, 200718 yr Only use subaru wires in a subaru. Soobys dont like that. This COULD have something to do with it, but either way get rid of the aftermarket wires and get OE. Next check for ground loops, that can cause it too. You may be hearing alt noise instead of Ignition. nipper
September 20, 200718 yr Author Next check for ground loops, that can cause it too. You may be hearing alt noise instead of Ignition. nipper Possible - this is the 3rd alternator that's been in the car since we bought it (this one's brand new) - same problem across all three.
September 20, 200718 yr Can you get one that plugs directly into the antenna rather than broadcasts a signal? I've installed those style FM Transmitters without issue before, but i'm an electrical idiot so my suggestions are limited in scope. You could remove the alternator belt temporarily and run off the battery for a few seconds just to see if it's alternator or battery related. i've done that before, just remove it and then crank it up for 15 seconds. if it happens every time, it should be obvious instantly. EJ's and aftermarket wires is not a good combo. Magnecor wires are excellent as well, I find them better than Subaru and they have a lifetime warranty (which you'll likely never need to use), so you should not ever have to replace them. I use and recommend them on every vehicle I work on. I've seen people going through wires every 15k - 30k switch to them and last 100's of thousands of miles and never need replacing.
September 21, 200718 yr Possible - this is the 3rd alternator that's been in the car since we bought it (this one's brand new) - same problem across all three. I'm curious. Whats the altenator output look like with everything on at 2000rpm. I just went through three altenators with blu. I finally got pissed and went to a online supllier, bought one from Subaru, and all my alt issues went away. Seems the outback has a cheap alt (maybe forester does too) and the imp is $$$$, so they tend to sell you the imp. in the aftermarket. nipper
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