General Radio noise with lights on (MW only)

[Fiat Driver]

Does anyone else have this problem? Radio is fine on medium wave until I turn the headlights on, then it produces a white noise that makes the sound even worse. Happened on the fitted radio and the Sony replacement.

Do I need one of those suppressors like we fitted in the old days or is there another solution?

 

[Shepherd]

Yes, that is right. You need a suppressor I believe.

shepherd

 

[Fiat Driver]

Yes, that is right. You need a suppressor I believe.

shepherd

Thanks Sheperd! Dang, I was in Halfords last night and should have thought to pick on up

 

[T14086]

Suppressors 'mask' the problem not cure it,if it works though fine

 

[LastBug]

I've owned my Multipla since 2000, and I've had an issue with very poor reception on MW since I took delivery of the car. Initially, I had the Radio changed, but the replacement seemed just as bad. The impression that I have is that this is just a chronic problem with these Blaupunkt radios.

I have found that the MW becomes unlistenable when the car has been parked in the sunshine, and the ambient temperature is hot. In other words, the MW reception is just about acceptable in the winter and first thing n the morning in the summer, but when I get back to the car on a sunny summer afternoon then I can forget trying to tune into the Sports News on Radio FiveLive

Last year I paid the FIAT dealer to figure out what was wrong. They sent the radio off to a "specialist", who took my 25 quid and told me that the radio is working perfectly. :bang: I was also told by the dealer that separate suppressors are unnecessary nowadays because they are built into the radios(?). Anyway, if anyone can recommend an off-the-shelf solution from Halfords, I would dearly like hear it!

 

[Fiat Driver]

Suppressors 'mask' the problem not cure it,if it works though fine

OK, to cure the problem you would have to get rid of the noise source. That almost certainly comes from the alternator whilst under increased load (lighting). By fitting a suppressor you will be shorting out the noise - which is a circuit that the alternator should have anyway.

Ho hum, looks like I will fit a suppressor

 

[T14086]

Alfa's suffer badly from these problems,I have seen 156's get aerials,clusters, control panel,alternators,amplifiers etc but in alot of the cases the fault is in the wiring 'inducing' the interference...new wiring loom?
I think the multipla comes with a internal surpressor on the alternator anyway,perhaps someone can verify this?

 

[Fiat Driver]

£7.99 from Halfords for a suppressor, must be a better (cheaper!) way of doing this!

 

[T14086]

Try it by all means,let us know how you got on.....£7.99!!! nip down to local auto electrician & scrounge one for few quid