Speaker pop on start up and low-level tick.

[BMWCurves]

I'm not sure where to post this but over the last two weeks or so there has been a loud "pop" from my speakers when I start the car. I believe the pop only occurs in the subwoofers but I'm having trouble being 100% sure as it does not occur every time I start the car.

Conditions:

It has been relatively cold, between 30-50F while this problem has occurred.
When I plug in my phone to play music there is a low/quiet ticking sound coming from the speakers, maybe 1 second apart that lasts for ~5 seconds total.
This is with the aux port selected as the radio source.
Volume on the head unit is not particularly high, although the gain on the aux source is at level 5 (to make it equal to the radio's volume) and my phone's volume is at about 90%

I googled these symptoms and some people over on E46Fanatics think it may be a sign of corroded or dirty connections, or the amp is failing. I wanted to inspect the amp but am not sure of its location.

Questions:

Does anyone know the location of the Harman Kardon amp in a coupe (I assume it's in the trunk behind the felt liner on the driver's side)?
Has anyone had this problem before or know what might be the cause?

I will try and get a video of the symptoms, but when I tried this morning it started up fine with none of the described issues. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

EDIT:
Since I replaced the battery (about two weeks) I haven't heard a single pop from the speakers. I believe this has solved my issue. I am now a firm believer in the "if there are any electrical issues and your battery is past five years old, you should replace it and see if that helps."

[Johnmadd]

Sounds like a ground issue somewhere. Have you done any work recently?

[BMWCurves]

Sounds like a ground issue somewhere. Have you done any work recently?

I have never done any sound work. The only stuff I've had done recently was refreshing my suspension and installed my short shift kit. Maybe I bumped something while working on the rear suspension? But the issue arose (I think) weeks after I did that maintenance. In terms of electrical stuff I had the Shark Injector installed, and a month or two before that swapped out the license plate bulbs for LEDs.

[BCS_ZHP]

Here's an easy test -- swap your license plate bulbs back to non-LEDs and try it for a few days to see if you hear the same noises. The quality on LED bulbs is not equal, there's no regulatory standard they're built to, some LEDs do introduce a little dirty noise when they initially light up and/or the electrical system of the vehicle is started/initialized.

[BMWCurves]

Here's an easy test -- swap your license plate bulbs back to non-LEDs and try it for a few days to see if you hear the same noises. The quality on LED bulbs is not equal, there's no regulatory standard they're built to, some LEDs do introduce a little dirty noise when they initially light up and/or the electrical system of the vehicle is started/initialized.

Smart move, I'll do that and report back in a day or two.

[ELCID86]

Here's an easy test -- swap your license plate bulbs back to non-LEDs and try it for a few days to see if you hear the same noises. The quality on LED bulbs is not equal, there's no regulatory standard they're built to, some LEDs do introduce a little dirty noise when they initially light up and/or the electrical system of the vehicle is started/initialized.

Wouldn't have thought of that. Good thinkin Bruce.


Thumbs, iPhone, TaT.

[BCS_ZHP]

And if my suspicion is correct, contact VLED.com, quality costs a little bit more but it's worth it. Was able to eliminate LED flicker by going with their recommendations.

[BMWCurves]

Update: I swapped out my LED license plate lights for the OEM halogen bulbs with no change, the speaker still popped. I'm going to try out balance tomorrow to try and isolate if it's one speaker or the other in the back.

For now here's a video of what I'm talking about. It's fairly quiet so it's best to use headphones and turn the volume up, but right at the 4 second mark you can hear the pop:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzBddTxpwWc

[Johnmadd]

I'm thinking something near the shifter got clipped, but I really don't know, just my guess.

[BMWCurves]

Nope, definitely not hitting the shifter. I'll try and get a better clip tomorrow with the pop being louder.

[ELCID86]

Maybe close the door?


Thumbs, iPhone, TaT.

[BCS_ZHP]

I re-read your symptoms, more prevalent when cold, how old is your battery?

[BMWCurves]

Maybe close the door?

The door is always closed before I start the car, as it was in the video. Popping was intermittent today but still there.


I re-read your symptoms, more prevalent when cold, how old is your battery?

The car's battery is original. It was tested in March and had no issues but it is on my list for near-future maintenance.

[ELCID86]

The door is always closed before I start the car, as it was in the video. Popping was intermittent today but still there.



The car's battery is original. It was tested in March and had no issues but it is on my list for near-future maintenance.

I was just referring to the beeping. Thought the door was open. Hard to hear anything else...

May be time for a new one. My wife's Acura batter tested fine but was really weak. Site for 2-3 min with lights or radio on and it wouldn't start.


Thumbs, iPhone, TaT.

[BMWCurves]

I was just referring to the beeping. Thought the door was open. Hard to hear anything else...

May be time for a new one. My wife's Acura batter tested fine but was really weak. Site for 2-3 min with lights or radio on and it wouldn't start.

Ah, didn't have my seatbelt on yet. I'll try and get a better video tomorrow sans beep and louder pop.

And the battery is my next logical step I think.

[BCS_ZHP]

A 10 year old battery, wow you got your money's worth out of that one. That should be the source of your popping.

[BMWCurves]

A 10 year old battery, wow you got your money's worth out of that one. That should be the source of your popping.

I didn't, but the previous owners certainly did!

Anyone have suggestions? I'm currently looking at the Duralast 94R-DLG (~$180 at AutoZone) or EverStart H8 (~$125 at WalMart).

[ELCID86]

I didn't, but the previous owners certainly did!

Anyone have suggestions? I'm currently looking at the Duralast 94R-DLG (~$180 at AutoZone) or EverStart H8 (~$125 at WalMart).

Rob at been discussed here a lot. Seems like either is ok but check or wait for others to opine. I'd probs go to AZ or Advance.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BMWCurves]

I should update this. After I replaced my battery I haven't heard the pop. It's been about two weeks. I think this was the issue.

[ELCID86]

Good to know. It's amazing how many things can be affected by the battery on these cars.


---
"ZHP is a garbage option anyway- just some cosmetic upgrades with a different cam and diff to claw back some of the performance lost fitting those hideous and heavy wheels. Any 330 with a 3.46 diff will smoke a ZHP every time. The whole Mafia thing reeks of childish behavior." - an e46f member