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Author Topic: Gremlins in the BT50  (Read 5094 times)

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Offline sparksy

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Gremlins in the BT50
« on: July 24, 2019, 09:01:34 PM »
Next door neighbor came over today to ask a question. He asked as he thinks I am an electrician who should know everything electrical why would this be happening.
I proved him wrong.. :D

He has a small apple FM modulator that he uses to play music from his Ipod to the radio in his 2007 BT50. Works well. But.
When he presses the next track button on the Ipod the indicators flash on the BT50.  Not every time but when he showed me it did it at least every 3rd press and sometimes flashed only once but sometimes more than 4 times. The Ipod and FM transmitter run on its own battery so no power lead
Its got me stumped.  Only theory is somehow the Ipod is transmitting a frequency that upsets the cars wiring. Canbus ???
« Last Edit: July 24, 2019, 11:27:10 PM by sparksy »
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Offline nab

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Re: Gremlins in the BT50
« Reply #1 on: July 24, 2019, 10:12:25 PM »
It's just warning you a crappy song is playing.....
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Offline Fizzie

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Re: Gremlins in the BT50
« Reply #2 on: July 25, 2019, 08:40:54 AM »
Or warning everybody else that the driver has just picked one of his favourite songs, so will be concentrating on the music, not the road ... ;D
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Offline Bad Scott

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Re: Gremlins in the BT50
« Reply #3 on: July 25, 2019, 08:46:40 AM »
It’s apple, it’s had a bite outta it  >:D
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Offline sparksy

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Re: Gremlins in the BT50
« Reply #4 on: July 25, 2019, 10:45:03 AM »
Its just scary to think that something a simple as a Ipod player can mess with the cars electrics.
We were talking about it later about what if the ipod was closer to something like the ECU would it affect the engine.

Might be something in Jeepers love for old cars.
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Offline paceman

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Re: Gremlins in the BT50
« Reply #5 on: July 25, 2019, 11:01:38 AM »
so, the FM transmitter is plugged into a 12V socket and the ipod is connected to the transmitter via bluetooth?
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Offline HKB Electronics

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Re: Gremlins in the BT50
« Reply #6 on: July 25, 2019, 11:09:18 AM »
Does it only do it with the FM transmitter active?
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Offline edz

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Re: Gremlins in the BT50
« Reply #7 on: July 25, 2019, 11:51:03 AM »
Google BT-50 Canbus problems .. Seems HID lights play up with it too .
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Offline Pete79

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Gremlins in the BT50
« Reply #8 on: July 25, 2019, 01:25:55 PM »
My first thoughts were if it’s a wireless thing could it have more to do with it interfering with the central locking?
But I have no idea.
« Last Edit: July 25, 2019, 01:31:46 PM by Pete79 »
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Offline paceman

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Re: Gremlins in the BT50
« Reply #9 on: July 25, 2019, 01:39:39 PM »
some FM transmitters (usually cheaper versions) have sometimes caused problems because they use too much power and apparently can conflict with the electrical systems of vehicles...
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Offline sparksy

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Re: Gremlins in the BT50
« Reply #10 on: July 25, 2019, 02:48:24 PM »
Quote from: paceman on July 25, 2019, 11:01:38 AM
so, the FM transmitter is plugged into a 12V socket and the ipod is connected to the transmitter via bluetooth?

No transmitter plugs into base of Ipod gets it power off the Ipod and its a FM signal to the radio. Theres no wires connected to the car.

Quote from: HKB Electronics on July 25, 2019, 11:09:18 AM
Does it only do it with the FM transmitter active?

Yes. FM unit is transmitting signal which radio plays through a preset FM station.

Quote from: Pete79 on July 25, 2019, 01:25:55 PM
My first thoughts were if it’s a wireless thing could it have more to do with it interfering with the central locking?
But I have no idea.

You and us as well.  Seems to have no effect on the door locks when it does it. Just the hazard lights flashing but not the same number of flashes each time.
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Offline Pottsy

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Re: Gremlins in the BT50
« Reply #11 on: July 25, 2019, 03:11:29 PM »
I'd be calling ghostbusters! ;D
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Offline #jonesy

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Re: Gremlins in the BT50
« Reply #12 on: July 26, 2019, 09:48:44 AM »
I had a ranger (un-rebadged BT50)

When I installed the brake controller I ran the Erath direct to battery. This caused similar indicator flashing when locking the car.  Also would do it a little later, presumably when the brake controller timed out and turned off.

Moving the earth to the grounding bolt near the battery solved it.

Has he installed anything with a direct earth to battery? (And the iPod is just a symptom and not the cause)
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Offline sparksy

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Re: Gremlins in the BT50
« Reply #13 on: July 26, 2019, 10:14:34 AM »
Quote from: #jonesy on July 26, 2019, 09:48:44 AM
I had a ranger (un-rebadged BT50)

Has he installed anything with a direct earth to battery? (And the iPod is just a symptom and not the cause)

No the car is 100% original.  He hasnt installed anything at all.  The Ipod just sits in the tray on the dash.
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Offline moeite

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Re: Gremlins in the BT50
« Reply #14 on: July 26, 2019, 12:23:53 PM »
As a fellow radio amateur and I discovered, some newer cars as well as enough cable to reach to the sun and back also have a wireless communication network. You may be interfering with that, if it exists in a BT50.

What happened in our case was that we were fitting snap on ferrites to try and get rid of some of the interference that the car was causing because he wanted to be able to at least listen to the amateur bands while he was driving. When we put a ferrite on part of the loom that was emitting LOTS of interference [1] we killed the brake lights and the cruise control. After speaking to the manufacturer we found out that we had suppressed the antenna for the cars radio network and that we were lucky that we didn't set off the airbags.

[1] We used a home brew sniffer that let us hear broadband RF from up close and personal.
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Offline GBC

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Re: Gremlins in the BT50
« Reply #15 on: July 26, 2019, 01:51:44 PM »
I'm pretty sure the only things that had canbus systems on 2007 were exotic and European?
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Offline kizza1

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Re: Gremlins in the BT50
« Reply #16 on: July 26, 2019, 07:12:01 PM »
Possibly is it receiving a similar frequency to the key fob.
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Offline sparksy

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Re: Gremlins in the BT50
« Reply #17 on: July 26, 2019, 09:44:18 PM »
Quote from: kizza1 on July 26, 2019, 07:12:01 PM
Possibly is it receiving a similar frequency to the key fob.

We thought that but tried pressing the fobs buttons and they have no effect while engine is running. Also pressing button on Ipod has no effect on the central locking, engine running or not.

I think it will just be one of lifes mysteries.
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Offline sharkcaver

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Re: Gremlins in the BT50
« Reply #18 on: July 26, 2019, 11:43:28 PM »
Quote from: kizza1 on July 26, 2019, 07:12:01 PM
Possibly is it receiving a similar frequency to the key fob.

A harmonic maybe a long shot. FM band is 108-136Mhz, I believe remote fobs are in the 300 and 400 odd Mhz range??
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