Date: Mon, 09 Nov 1998 17:16:15 -0800 From: Justin VanAbrahams <jvanabranopsamnet> Subject: Re: 900S Ignition Noise on AM
Sam wrote: > > I have an 89 900s with 147k on it. The problem is that I experience > rather severe ignition noise when listening to the AM band on the > Clarion/Saab radio. It is not present on strong stations. But on > stations of average to weak strength, the noise can be bad enough to > render the station unlistenable. > This must be fairly common, because every "loaner" I've driven > from my dealer (Brewer's in Hagerstown, MD) has had this problem, some > much worse than mine, and at least one with severe alternator(?) > whine, which my car does not exhibit. What I hear sounds like plug > noise--a guess. > The 900S must be prone to problems of this nature. > Solutions anyone? > Sam You can buy noise supressors at most Radio Shacks that wire inline with your stereo's power. $15 or so each, and will cure most ignition related stereo noise. Another thing to try, which worked for me, is switching over to Magnecor ignition wires - they make an 8.5mm set for Saab 900s and 9000s that run about $80, and are EMI/RMI insulated. In the case of my '88 900T, they eliminated all the radio crackle I was hearing; in the case of my '90 SPG (was had no noise to begin with), they improved radio reception over great distances. Additionally, and completely anecdotal, I am running the Magnecor wires in combination with Beru Silverstone sparkplugs (#S3F, if you're interested) which are designed for capacitor-wires, like Nology Hotwires... the additional conductivity of the Magnecor wires over stock were required to get reasonable (actually, damned good) performance out of my plugs, and from a performance perspective I'm QUITE happy... YMMV... -Justin