Has your car audio starting crackling/cutting out recently?

[V8LM]

Since last Wednesday (I think) the audio on my car occasionally makes a crackle/click sound and then disappears for a second or two. Happens at random times. Happens regardless of which audio source is being listened to (FM, DAB, iPod, TV, BT-phone). Turn the audio off and I still hear the crackle.

Now, a search of the tinterweb shows this has been happening to many people. All so far, that I know of, are Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Evoque owners.

Trying to trace the problem it could be one of many things - Vodafone and O2's 4G signals, changes to DAB and/or DVB tuning information, solar activity (very high recently).

I'm interested to know of experiences. Car type, model year, etc would be useful. Thanks

[ArsE92]

[JamesRellort1993]

My car is fine

Your car is the problem

Your car may have a virus

[chrisellis30]

Yep, same thing happening to my RR. Cuts out for a second and the power light flashes twice.

[PanzerCommander]

ArsE92 said:

Mine hasn't but I agree with the guy in the picture with mad hair.

[Impasse]

Your n/s/r window seal is leaking.

[DCLXIV]

I noticed it in a 13MY Sport last Tuesday, thought it was just the individual car.

[Craikeybaby]

Is it an L322 or an L405 (new Range Rover)?

If it is happening on all sources it is likely to be an amplifier issue, on L322 the head unit only does AM/FM and on L405 DAB isn't in the headunit.

[V8LM]

The issue is looking like it's a rogue or incompatible DVB channel information signal following a change on August 27th. Turning off the DVB TV tuner by selecting a different country appears to stop the problem - although obviously you can't watch the TV.

[anonymous-user]

JLR quality shines through again! In my S-Type I could never use an iPhone as the airbag sonar system drove it nuts so that all the other person could hear was clicking.

[Kimbie]

dme123 said:

JLR quality shines through again! In my S-Type I could never use an iPhone as the airbag sonar system drove it nuts so that all the other person could hear was clicking.

To be fair bit hard blaming them as if its a change made to the DAB system that is outside of their control

[bobby_vimto]

Could be onto something here - tried to upgrade to a Kenwood unit for my Skoda Octavia and a normally good signal went t*ts up, no amount of fettling by the garage could get a strong, clear signal on the thing. Now the original headunit was fine so we put it down to a duff Kenwood unit but there's recently been a spate of phonemasts setup that are for 4G. And now the original unit signal drops out & crackles near these masts (though not anywhere as badly as the Kenwood).

Too much of a coincidence? If you bump into that Kevin Bacon chap then ask him!

[Craikeybaby]

V8LM said:

The issue is looking like it's a rogue or incompatible DVB channel information signal following a change on August 27th. Turning off the DVB TV tuner by selecting a different country appears to stop the problem - although obviously you can't watch the TV.

That's a strange one, as the TV tuner is a separate module, so not sure how it would affect the other sources. It may be worth asking your dealer if there is a software update for it.

[Kentish]

I thought it was my BMW stereo until I got into my wifes Nissan & that was doing the same thing too.

Where's my tinfoil hat?

[V8LM]

Craikeybaby said:

That's a strange one, as the TV tuner is a separate module, so not sure how it would affect the other sources. It may be worth asking your dealer if there is a software update for it.

Been there. Done that. My car was with the dealer today whilst JLR were working with them to source the problem. As an Evoque owner found, set the TV tuner to the US so it doesn't pickup the channel information and all seems fine. On the way back from the dealer I had the system set to TV and watched/listened to Dave (Top Gear in fact). Every few minutes the audio cracked and went silent, coincident with the TV rebooting and retuning to ITV4.

There was a channel reorganization last week (with Film4+1 coming online) which coincides with the start of the issues. However, some people without TV tuners are reporting problems. The day after was the launch of Vodafone and O2s 4G service, but this is restricted in location.

It may be a rogue or incompatible DVB channel information broadcast. It may be LTE signals interfering with DVB/DAB information.

It may be aliens.

[AstonZagato]

The aliens have been doing this to my Rangie too.

How does one select US TV?

[Whitean3]

Slight thread resurrection- I have a 2013 RRS and have the f*cking annoying crackling noises. First experienced in the UK (we are based in Switzerland) last July/August (so this would presumably predate the 4G signal as a cause); went away, but has just returned since the car was serviced in February.

The crackling noise comes through both front speakers; it doesn't matter whether the entertainment system is on or not, nor if the engine is on or not. We don't have the TV module (at least, I don't think we do) or DAB. My thoughts re that there is some sort of interference, either from mobile phones, or the keyless entry system or something. Either way, it's driving me mad, and it seems that there is no obvious solution available. Not something I would expect from a "luxury" vehicle.

[Craikeybaby]

When the infotainment system is on, does it take a while to recover after the crack? If so it could be the system restarting. Have you asked your dealer if any of the infotainment modules were updated when it was serviced? If they were it would have been logged on their system automatically.

If you are hearing a crack from the speakers it is likely yo be either an wiring problem between the speaker & amplifier, the amplifiers itself or one of the infotainment modules causing the system yo reset (hence the first question).