# Problem with electrical grounding in my car...I need help!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-electrical-grounding-in-my-car-i-need-help/170889>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 24, 2003, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-electrical-grounding-in-my-car-i-need-help/170889 "2003-04-24T17:02:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Malaflam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@Malaflam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malaflam)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-electrical-grounding-in-my-car-i-need-help/170889/1 "2003-04-24T17:02:28Z")

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Here is the situation.

I just bought an IPod and have it hooked through my car stereo through an AUX IN on the front. It sounds great and everything is fine. So yesterday I went and got a DC charger so I can charge the IPod while I’m driving and listening. So I plug it in to the IPod and a nice high pitched fuzz sound comes through the speakers. It changes with my engines noise…so if I’m accelerating it becomes higer pitched until the gears shift and then it drops down in pitch but never goes away. I’m assuming it has something to do with grounding or at least something to do with the electrical wiring in the car. Does anyone know if there is anything I can do about this or where I might be able to find more information on this problem? Thanks for any help.  
Just incase you need to know…I have a 1997 Toyota Corolla

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-electrical-grounding-in-my-car-i-need-help/170889/2 "2003-04-24T18:01:48Z")

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That’s alternator noise. You can reduce or eliminate it by installing a noise filter on the power line for the lighter socket. They’ll be available at places like Best Buy or shops that do autosound installations.

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**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-electrical-grounding-in-my-car-i-need-help/170889/3 "2003-04-24T18:52:06Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \*  
> \*\*That’s alternator noise. You can reduce or eliminate it by installing a noise filter on the power line for the lighter socket. They’ll be available at places like Best Buy or shops that do autosound installations. \*\*

That is completely wrong.  
The real answer is;  
That’s alternator noise. You can reduce or eliminate it by installing a noise filter on the power line for the lighter socket. They’ll be available at places like Best Buy or shops that do autosound installations.

Sorry QED.

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**Author:** ![NotMrKnowItAll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/6bbea6/32.png) [@NotMrKnowItAll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotMrKnowItAll)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-electrical-grounding-in-my-car-i-need-help/170889/4 "2003-04-24T19:03:31Z")

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**Malaflam**

I would choose **Q.E.D.**'s post if the sound is a buzzing-clicking sound.

I would choose [b[whuckfistle\*\*'s if it were more of a whooshing sound.

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**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-electrical-grounding-in-my-car-i-need-help/170889/5 "2003-04-24T19:26:37Z")

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Unless it’s a convertable, then the wooshing sound could be the blinker fluid.

Did Toyota make convertable Corollas in 1997?

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**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-electrical-grounding-in-my-car-i-need-help/170889/6 "2003-04-24T20:30:57Z")

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Have you checked the muffler bearings?