Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Identification Of Noise Source
- Radio Description
- Radio frequency band
- Radio broadcasts use the radio frequency bands shown in the table below.
- Service area
- The service areas of AM and FM broadcasts are vastly different. Sometimes an AM broadcast can be received very clearly but an FM stereo cannot. FM stereo has the smallest service area, and is prone to pick up static and other types of interference such as noise.
- Radio reception problems
HINT:
In addition to static, other problems such as "phasing", "multi-path", and "fade out" exist. These problems are not caused by electrical noise, but by the radio signal propagation method itself.
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- Phasing
AM broadcasts are susceptible to electrical interference and another kind of interference called phasing. Occurring only at night, phasing is the interference created when a vehicle receives 2 radio wave signals from the same transmitter. One signal is reflected off the ionosphere and the other signal is received directly from the transmitter.
- Multi-path
Multi-path is a type of interference created when a vehicle receives 2 radio wave signals from the same transmitter. One signal is reflected off buildings or mountains and the other signal is received directly from the transmitter.
- Fade out
Fade out is caused by objects (buildings, mountains, and other such large obstacles) that deflect away part of a signal, resulting in a weaker signal when the object is between the transmitter and vehicle. High frequency radio waves, such as FM broadcasts, are easily deflected by obstructions. Low frequency radio waves, such as AM broadcasts, are much more difficult to deflect.
- Phasing
- Noise problem
Technicians must have a clear understanding about each customer's noise complaint. Use the following table to diagnose noise problems.
DIAGNOSE NOISE PROBLEMS CHARTRadio Frequency Noise Occurrence Condition Presumable Cause AM Noise occurs in a specified area Foreign noise AM Noise occurs when listening to an intermittent broadcast An identical program transmitted from multiple towers can cause noise where the signals overlap AM Noise occurs only at night Music beat from a distant broadcast FM Noise occurs while driving in a specified area Multi-path or phasing noise resulting from a change in FM frequency HINT:
If the noise does not match the examples above, refer to the descriptions about phasing and multi-path.
- Radio frequency band
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.