Eclipse install problems - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

thornton · #1 10-21-2003, 04:42 PM

Greetings,

After a frustrating day at the installers shop (five hours) I have a beautiful new Eclipse CD3413 in my dash that doesn't work.

According to my "installer" he is getting a buzz in the speakers that he describes as a "phase" problem. At this point he has the unit hooked up to the amp in the car (93 E300), and is suggesting bypassing the amp alltogether to rid himself of the buzz. He thought he had it at one point, but after reinstalling the unit it returned.

Any and all suggestions appreciated. In the meantime I will be soothing my jagged nerves 12 ounces at a time.

thornton

ned2683 · #2 10-21-2003, 07:56 PM

are u asking what the phase problem is? correct me if i am wrong.

the only thing is know about phase is some HU has the ability to run a speaker out of phase (or 180 phase) that is for when u invert a sub you won't have to cross connect the wiring (- to +)

so are they saying the speakers are running out of phase in this sense?

#3 10-21-2003, 09:14 PM

Hi Thornton.

Does the buzzing happen with the engine off or on?

Does it increase with RPM's (if the engine is running)?

Might be a bad ground connection.
or the power cable is to close to an other
power source. Ex:blowerfan,relays and wires.

Polarity or phase reversal only results in deminished
output.

Louis

PS: I just read your other post.

What I would try is,wire the HU directly
to the fusebox(bypass cars wiring),If a relay is
the problem then this should prove yes or no.

An other possibily is that the HU is not compatible
with the factory amp,but the Eclips is a quality HU
and should have no problem with the amp.

thornton · #4 10-22-2003, 09:36 AM

Thanks for the replies.

Does the buzzing happen with the engine off or on?
I believe its with the engine off.

Does it increase with RPM's (if the engine is running)?
Don't know

I'll pass the advice on as I'm going back in later today.

Pardon the ignorance, but could you explain the effect of bypassing the amp? I am assuming I will get more power, and better sound with the amp. While not an audiophile, I certainly would like to know I'm getting my bang for my buck with the unit.

thanks

#5 10-22-2003, 11:12 AM

Thornton.

There are two reasons to bypass the amp.

1. If one is trying to diagnose a problem,
bypassing the amp would eliminate or
confirm a problem in this component.

2. If one is trying to mask a problem,then
bypassing it will do just that.
Since an amplifier amplifies signals wether
it is music or noise,to the amp it doesn't
make a difference.Thus bypassing it will
reduce any noise that is present.

I presume that you didn't have this noise with
the Alpine HU and I'm sure it was hooked up
the same way the new HU is?
If a relay is the problem then you would've
had the same problem with the Alpine HU.
But since the only change made,is the HU,makes
me suspect a bad ground more then a relay.

An other possibility is that the HU is faulty.
Checking this is easy,the installer just has to
hook up a different HU.
If the problem goes away then the HU is the problem.
If not, then the HU is not at fault.

"I am assuming I will get more power, and better
sound with the amp."

It depends on the power of the amp,I don't now the
power rating for the stock amp but most new HU's now
have atleast 15W RMS X4 and this might be just as
much as the stock amp.

It sounds to me that the installer doesn't have
much experience if it takes him multiple days to
diagnose a problem.
I hope he isn't charging you labor for all those hrs.

Louis.

thornton · #6 10-22-2003, 11:49 AM

Louis,

Thanks for the detailed info.

My previous HU was the stock Becker (1432 I believe) not an alpine, and no I did not have the buzzing problem.

I wondered also about the Head unit possibly being the culprit. I am going back in Friday for the next round. They said they had one other idea to try, and then they would just bypass the amp, which sounds like a reasonable alternative.

Labor was capped at the original estimate of 90 minutes, and then discounted more upon some well placed frustration on my part.

I'll keep you posted here as we progress. Still looking for more thoughts should they occur.

In the meantime, having no radio has allowed me to enjoy the smooth purr of my engine.

#7 10-22-2003, 12:30 PM

Sorry.

I confused you with mbtjc.

Louis.

esmith · #8 10-22-2003, 10:42 PM

I've got a slight fuzz with my CD3403... BUT I think that's the way it's supposed to be. It's pronounced enough that I do notice it over my previous head unit and it is worse with an external amp. Although it's unlikely that this is the case with you, I'll post a link anyway.

http://forum.sounddomain.com/forum/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=8;t=010898#000021

#9 10-23-2003, 10:29 AM

Hi esmith.

Some hiss in FM and AM mode is normal
without any music,but if the hiss persists
when there is music then that is unacceptable,
I know it's still there but should not be heard
over the music or talk.

But I don't think this is the problem with Thornton's
radio.

Louis.

thornton · #10 10-23-2003, 11:27 AM

Louis is correct on both counts.

tomorrow's the day, hoping for success.

2300com · #11 11-10-2003, 08:17 PM

How did the final install go? Am wondering as I had a few problems with the same HU but in the end found it to be the installer.

thornton · #12 11-11-2003, 08:53 AM

In the end all was well. The installer had to bypass the stock amp to get rid of the intermittent hiss, and the unit sounds great.

I'm not sure I'd use the same installer again, but quite frankly he was the most knowledgeable of all the installers I spoke with around town.