Car Stereo - FM modulator question

03-09-05, 06:32 PM

Hi All. I have a car stereo question.

Last night I installed an FM modulator in my car so I can play mp3s through the car stereo. It plays just fine and sounds great. On the way to work I switched over to an AM station and got nothing but static. So, when I got home I unplugged the modulator from the fuse block and my AM came back, but still with some static.

If it makes any difference I drive a 2001 Honda Civic EX Coupe.

Anyone out there a car stereo wizard and can help me out?

Thanks!

03-09-05, 07:10 PM

Thats weird... can i ask what brand modulator you got and the ease of installation? I was thinking about getting one to install when i get a car.

03-09-05, 08:24 PM

Not sure the brand now that it is under the dash :) It was the universal one the BestBuy uses to adapt LCD screens to car stereos - if that helps.

Installing the unit was easy. Finding a place under the dash to put it so the 12V wire would reach the source was the hard part.

03-09-05, 08:46 PM

i dont know i have a fm modulator built in to my xm skyfiII that i use in my truck, i will check tomorrow and see if my am is messed up.

**Frenchy** · 03-09-05, 09:42 PM

Sorry to hear that you are having difficulty with this one. I hope you'll get help.

Good luck JP

03-09-05, 11:22 PM

Thanks. A car stereo is foreign territory to me compared to a computer.

NiwRoC · 03-09-05, 11:40 PM

Back in the day when I used to do this for a living. (Alarm and Car Stero Tech)I've installed many modulators and found some to be faulty with the ariel hooked into them. There is no reason for a FM modulator to cancel out an AM signal unless the unit is designed to do this or it is faulty. Check this manual that came with it. I'm betting the unit may be faulty. I hate to say this but you may have to take it back.

03-09-05, 11:44 PM

Originally Posted by ericcumbee

i dont know i have a fm modulator built in to my xm skyfiII that i use in my truck, i will check tomorrow and see if my am is messed up.

Thanks Eric. I was hoping that by going with a hardwired unit I would be able to avoid these transmission interference issues.

03-09-05, 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by NiwRoC

Back in the day when I used to do this for a living. (Alarm and Car Stero Tech)I've installed many modulators and found some to be faulty with the ariel hooked into them. There is no reason for a FM modulator to cancel out an AM signal unless the unit is designed to do this or it is faulty. Check this manual that came with it. I'm betting the unit may be faulty. I hate to say this but you may have to take it back.

Doh

Thanks for the info. I was hoping it wouldn't come to that.

Unfortunately there is no manual. Just a slip of paper that states the basic "this is where to connect everything". I was able to find the manufacturer name, Metra, and am going to look for a website.

03-10-05, 09:16 AM

of course mine isnt hardwired, so that might not help.

deftech · 03-10-05, 09:15 PM

Also, I've seen some FM modulators that stay "powered on" if they are getting a signal from whatever device you have plugged into them. If you haven't aready tried it, try turning your MP3 player off (or even unplug it just to see if that's the problem) when you're listening to an AM station. Depending on the circuitry in it, it could cause interference if it's still trying to pass the signal from the input device through the radio.

03-10-05, 11:51 PM

Tried that as well. Even when I am not playing music or have my Axim hooked up no AM frequencies will come through.

deftech · 03-11-05, 08:05 PM

Well, sounds like it's probably either a faulty unit, or just simply a poorly designed one. I'm not familiar with that brand, so it could be either one. It sounds like you've checked just about everything, so it doesn't sound like many options left than these.

03-13-05, 02:03 AM

I went with a better option. :)

Yesterday I bough a new Alpine car stereo with the ipod adapter, and an ipod. It was just installed tonight. Now I can hook up my new ipod to a cable in the glove box and control it through the stereo. This will give me access in my car to all of my music!

The cable even charges the ipod so I will only have to bring it in the house if it I need to sync new music. In this case convenience definately means high cost.

v2drinkers · 03-13-05, 05:04 AM

Silly question here JP - If you wanted to just play MP3's! - Why did you not get one of the car stereo's out there that read MP3's off CD's instead? - And to be honest I'd be surprised if your Alpine doesn't do this.