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6 Solutions To Whining Noise From Speakers When Accelerating

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The dream of all car owners who love great music in their cars is to have quality music and clear sound from the amplifier, sub-woofers, car stereo, and speakers. But oftentimes, the music from the stereo might be frustrating because of the car’s technical problems.

But if you’re experiencing a whining noise from speakers when accelerating, it’s normally due to a bad ground source or poor grounding. An easy fix is to adjust the stereo ground location and determine if the noise stops.

Oftentimes, adjusting the ground wires must fix the problem. But if it does not, the next best solution is to mount an inline noise suppressor. Finally, you can try using a capacitor to the connection to let frequencies pass through.

Installing an aftermarket radio is a thrilling upgrade to your entire car ride. Nonetheless, like other aftermarket car audio systems, there could be some hang-ups along the way.

This guide will help you get rid of the whining noise from speakers when accelerating. So, without further ado, keep reading!

How To Eliminate Whining Noise from Speakers When Accelerating?

Listening to an aftermarket radio and a head unit that you just installed can be quite exhilarating. The amplified sound could make your all-time favorite song that much better.

Nonetheless, it can all be ruined if the engine noise is coming through from the stereo itself. So, how can you get rid of that annoying and whining noise? Here are some of the options you can consider for removing the whining engine noise.

#1 Install a capacitor

You can install a capacitor right at the vehicle’s battery. Just make sure that when you do that, ensure it is a decent size and has the proper polarity (it should be negative) for it to work properly.

There are numerous kits you can utilize, but ensure it is an adjustable one. In addition, it will help if you look at the kit before you purchase it. That’s because there could be items in the kit apart from what you need for this fix.

Kits will often have capacitors to prevent the noise. Once it’s installed, if you still get the whining sound, you can try using another capacitor. Others aren’t adjustable, so it may be complicated to get the proper size you need.

The awesome thing about this fix is it adds no resistance and will not lessen the voltage going to your battery.

#2 Adjust the ground location

Would you like to hear the music from your car stereo without any unwanted noise or static noise? Ensure the car stereo is grounded properly. If there’s improper grounding, changing the ground wires must fix the engine noise problem.

You can also utilize a multimeter or amp probe if the grounding is properly working. It is important for each system, and installation will certainly enhance it.

#3 Install an inline noise filter or ground loop isolators

If this step does not eliminate the engine noise in your car stereo or sound system, you must consider installing an inline noise filter or ground loop isolator. Install them before you add an aftermarket radio or before doing a car audio installation.

They will not completely stop the engine noise, but they will lessen the noise by a substantial amount. If the alternator and the car battery are the culprits, then your suppressor must help fix this problem.

Take note that such devices use a capacitor to prevent the noises, but if your car is newer, you could have problems with compatibility due to the capacitor being too small. However, if that’s an older vehicle, then such noise suppressors will work amazing.

#4 Double check the ground wire connection

The ground wire helps reduce any static or humming noise. The troubleshooting process is not time-consuming at all. You can use a multimeter to check the connection and see if it is securely grounded.

#5 Inspect all other wire connections

There are tons of wires in your car’s audio system, so you must check all of them. See to it that there are no loose connections and that they’re all plugged in properly.

Speaker wires

With time, speaker wires tend to generate noise in the audio signal. The quality of the audio might start to degrade as well. You might hear a rattling sound or some humming noise from the speakers.

If that’s the case, then replacing the speaker wiring and patch cables will fix the problem. It is not a difficult task, but it does take a lot of time because you have to dismantle the entire system to check all the wiring.

RCA wires

RCA cables are special kinds of wires that help send audio signals from an input source to the head unit. Sometimes the RCA cables tend to introduce noise due to loose connections as well. You can use a ground isolator for the auxiliary cable as well.

If you’re having this problem, the best way to fix it is by replacing the cables with new ones and ensuring that the RCA connector is not damaged on the head unit. This noise gradually increases when the engine RPMs increase.

Power wires

Power wires are wires that help send current to the devices in your car. If you’re having trouble with a whining noise, it’s possible that your car amp power cables are not properly shielded.

To fix this problem, you can try to replace the power cables with new ones. If the problem persists, then check to see if the amplifier does not have a bad ground connection.

Antenna cable

Sometimes you can get interference from the antenna cable. If you’re having this problem, then the best way to fix it is by disconnecting the antenna cable from the head unit and re-route it so that it is not touching the power cable.

#6 Install a magnetic shielding foil or Mu-metal

Poor shielding of the car stereo can also cause unwanted noise in your car. You can solve this by installing Mu-metal around the stereo unit. This will help to reduce the amount of interference that the stereo produces.

Why Does My Car Stereo Have Strange Engine Noise?

The electrical system of your car connects to your car stereo and sends a noise that passes through the speakers. Normally, the volume is loudest when you first start up the vehicle and will just away as the engine runs.

Most times that occurs because all of the energy sources in your car connect to the main wiring harness that is situated under the hood. Nonetheless, electrical wires like power wire, speaker wire, and ground wire are routed throughout the car so they can reach all of the different accessories.

Then, the noise comes from such power sources being close enough to restrict your sound system. On top of that, installing an aftermarket car stereo would cause extra noise as it takes power from another source than what was originally in the car.

Another possible reason why you hear a whining noise through your stereo is because of the alternator. When the alternator is charging, it generates noise and sends a high-pitched sound that can be heard through your speakers. That noise often will get louder if you have low battery power and simply go away as the lights come on.

Another potential reason for that could be an electrical grounding problem. If the ground wire of your vehicle had improper installation to start with, then that is often the cause.

That can take place when you install an aftermarket head unit or car speakers, not to mention some wire connections are not properly made. If you do not fix such wiring noise problems, your ground loop noise will never go away.

Why Does My Engine Has Loud Noise Every Time I Accelerate?

There are numerous reasons why your engine is so loud when you are accelerating your car. Others can be cheap and simple to fix. Some can be expensive and even detrimental to the car’s engine itself. Here are some of the potential reasons for that.

Transmission problems

Is your transmission a few years old already? It may be on its way out. For instance, if you accelerate, a brash whining sound could indicate that it is not engaging the gears properly and should be replaced or rebuilt.

That also applies to transfer cases. In both such cases, it will mean that other components are not properly lubricated.

Valve train issues

Another typical cause of knocking could be valve train issues like lifters and worn-out camshaft lobes, bent or warped pushrods, and clogged oil ways that stop the proper flow of oil to every engine component. Ensure that the intake manifold gasket isn’t leaking and triggering vacuum leaks.

Faulty belt tensioner

A noisy belt tensioner could also be the cause of this kind of noise. If it’s not pulled down, your pulleys and belts will make a strange engine noise when you accelerate.

Make sure you check and tighten all the bolts holding on different components like the alternator. When they become loose, they will produce a clicking noise, as if the power steering pump would be turning on and off.

Engine knocking noise

Higher than anticipated fuel octane levels in the gasoline, over-advanced ignition timing, engine overheating, and many more can source engine knocking sounds.

When we talk about knocking sounds under your hood, you’ll like to do everything possible to resolve the issue as they can easily damage the engine.

The first thing you must do is to check the oil. If it is low, add some more. Make sure that you’re running the correct octane rating of gasoline for your car.

FAQs

Q: How do I stop my car speakers from having buzzing sounds?

Popping, buzzing, or many different factors could cause buzzing or crackling noise. Some of the most typical reasons are loose bolt in the car speakers, electrical issues, and corroded RCA wire terminals that aren’t making contact with one another or are badly corroded.

On top of that, power quality concerns cause you to lose audio output while driving. If you wish to stop the car speakers from buzzing, you must clean the terminals and ensure they are in contact with one another.

If it has too much corrosion, you’ll need to utilize a certain wiring terminal cleaner. You can also install a noise filter between the alternator and car battery.

Q: How can I make the moaning alternator quieter?

You need to change the belt with a new one to fix a loud alternator that is moaning or making a whining noise. You may also like to check and adjust the drive belts to eliminate the alternator noise.

Other people have tried utilizing a special belt lubricant, but that does not work at all times. Another option you can consider is to check if the serpentine belt should be replaced.

That can typically help quiet the alternator. Lastly, ensure you also tighten the bolts and see if the bearing in the alternator should be replaced. Fixing grounding issues can get rid of alternator whine.

Q: Could a bad alternator start a whining sound?

Of course, a bad alternator could cause a whining sound. That’s because the belt driving the alternator is quite sensitive to wear. If you do not change it at scheduled times, it can easily break down and begin making sounds due to the oil deterioration.

Another typical reason why a belt might be worn is because of old age or dirty oil. If you do not replace it, the belt will become worn and dry. If the alternator is fine, install a noise filter to eliminate the interference.

Bottom line

If you have engine noise coming through your car radio, your best bet is to change the ground location. Adjusting the ground location is the least expensive and simplest option to troubleshoot first.

Inside of the dash cavity or even the door jam is a good location to install the ground wire. The good news is that vehicle speaker whine can be fixed without buying expensive components.

Start by checking the power line and then all the wires connected to the head unit. Hope you can remove all of the noise problems following our tips.

Last Updated on: July 27, 2022

Hi, my name is John Snow and I am a car lover. With two decades under my belt fixing and driving cars, I'm always on the hunt for fresh, cutting-edge methods to give my ride a performance boost. Driven by my zeal to decode car problems, I'm on a mission to equip vehicle owners with accurate and handy tips. By doing so, they can fix their rides while saving both time and cash.

By John Snow