Anyone else have AUX Jack interference?

[Kalel]

I've got a new 08 Mazda 3 and I am getting strange interference while I use the AUX input on the stereo.

The interference sounds like snow or static. It's not extremely loud, but it is very annoying.

It seems to occur when I am near a strong transmitter. For example everytime I drive on the gardiner as I get close to the CN tower it starts and get louder as I get closer. Once I pass the tower it slowly gets quieter and finally goes away.

The other day someone drove by me on the 401 who had what looked like a couple of CB radio antennas on the car and whenever I got close to him in traffic the snowy sound would get louder.

The funny thing about this problem is that it only happens when using the AUX jack. both AM & FM seem to be unaffected. I haven't tried a CD yet. I know it is not the device I have plugged into the AUX jack because the sound happens even when nothing plugged in, as long as the AUX input is active.

Anybody have any idea as to whats going on?

[Dragazn]

I have an iphone plugged in directly to the aux input and I drive by the CN Tower every day and nothing. No noise or static.

[jstro]

The noise you're hearing is likely ground loop interference. I'm assuming you have the same problem I had in my '07 - a whining that increases as you accelerate.

Luckily, the solution's pretty easy...Pick up a ground loop isolator:

http://www.crutchfieldcanada.com/PAC_SNI_1_3_5_Minijack_Ground_Loop_Noise_Isolator_ p/127sni135.htm

I got this one and it works perfectly. No more noise! I know the source by circuit city also has one, but it has RCA plugs instead of minijack (headphone) plugs, so you'll need an adapter to use it.

Hope that helps. Now if only I could get my FM reception to work......

[jstro]

It seems to occur when I am near a strong transmitter. For example everytime I drive on the gardiner as I get close to the CN tower it starts and get louder as I get closer. Once I pass the tower it slowly gets quieter and finally goes away.

Sorry, I missed this part. Might not be what I was thinking of, but you could always pick up the GLI from the source and try it out first to see if it goes away, that way you could return it if it doesn't solve the problem.

[Kalel]

Thanks for the suggestion, but I already have a ground loop isolator and it doesn't help this problem. It's a strange one.

[cwp_sedan]

Weird. I use my ipod all of the time and never have any issues like you are describing.

[jstro]

Sorry man, I have no idea then - I haven't found any AUX interference other than the ground loop noise.

That's very weird. Have you asked about it at the dealer, by chance?

[b.rabbit]

Weird. I use my ipod all of the time and never have any issues like you are describing.

+1 No issues whatsoever!

[Wild Weasel]

Only issue I have is you have to really crank up the volume to hear whatever is plugged in.

[Kalel]

I was hoping someone else might have had the problem, I guess I'm the lucky one.

I did ask the dealer about it, but they said that they have to be able to reproduce the problem in order to try and diagnose it ( which makes perfect sense ). The problem is, as of now, the only place I can go where I know that it will definitely happen is on the gardiner in front of the CN tower.

Luckily it only happens for the most part in a specific area of the city, I was just hoping that someone who has a good knowledge of electronics might be able to explain to me why a transmitter would interfere with the aux input and not the radio.

I would think it would be the other way around since the radio is actually working with an antenna!

Anyway, thanks for all of the comments. If I get any new info, I'll let you all know.

[ptfire]

I was getting interferance when playing MP3 throught my GPS. What I did, and it stopped the problem, was to turn the volume all the way up on the GPS.

[Fobio]

it's a "ground loop" issue...someone explained as the differential in grounding between your device (ie iphone, mp3 player, etc) being grounded by the charging source and also the ground through the 3.5mm jack...

forget crutchfield...ebay for a "ground loop isolator" and either a 3.5mm option or the RCA option...I know this by experience and have solved the problem with a ground loop isolator with my navi install...

though now I wonder if the grom adaptor would;ve taken cared of it or not, but get the ground loop isolator and you won't be sorry...ebay has them cheap(er)!

[ptfire]

it's a "ground loop" issue...someone explained as the differential in grounding between your device (ie iphone, mp3 player, etc) being grounded by the charging source and also the ground through the 3.5mm jack...

forget crutchfield...ebay for a "ground loop isolator" and either a 3.5mm option or the RCA option...I know this by experience and have solved the problem with a ground loop isolator with my navi install...

though now I wonder if the grom adaptor would;ve taken cared of it or not, but get the ground loop isolator and you won't be sorry...ebay has them cheap(er)!

He already said he has a ground loop isolator and it doesn't help.

[Fobio]

I like the taste of my foot esp late at night...