Clutch casues RFI

Do you have to go to hab before you can go to rehab?

Anyway, I checked some of the details today. It does do it with the engine off. The brakes do not make it happen, and it does not affect the USB input, only the radio, so it looks like I have a circuitry issue with the antenna.

Help, the starter cable on my car is leaking anti-freeze.

Andy D said:

Help, the starter cable on my car is leaking anti-freeze.

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I have seen PCMS leaking coolant, fuel, ATF, or motor oil into the passenger compartment all over the carpet.

adsm08 said:

So get this...

When I put the clutch in, even just a little bit, my radio goes from crystal clear to a wash of static. My clutch switch is not hooked up, it's bypassed. Same with the NSS switch on the side of the trans, which shouldn't matter anyway, since the clutch pedal is the only thing that makes a difference.

I have no electronics hooked up to the pedal at all.

Anyone have any ideas? I'm kinda stumped.

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WAG here. What happens if you attach a grounded jumper lead to the antenna ground shield?

adsm08 said:

Do you have to go to hab before you can go to rehab?

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Only in Canada...Since the Montreal Canadians are aka Les Habs...but due to hockey season being a few months off (when I entered rehab) they let me forgo that part of the treatment...

adsm08 said:

Anyway, I checked some of the details today. It does do it with the engine off. The brakes do not make it happen, and it does not affect the USB input, only the radio, so it looks like I have a circuitry issue with the antenna.

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Aha~! I knew it had something to do with your truck specifically since mine wasn't doing it at all...

Andy D said:

Help, the starter cable on my car is leaking anti-freeze.

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Check your alternator.

BRUTUS_T_HOG said:

WAG here. What happens if you attach a grounded jumper lead to the antenna ground shield?

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I'll try it when I get a chance.

Well, since this thread ain't even a year old and I'm now showin' the same symptom, just wonderin' there was a definitive solution to the problem?

I never did figure it out. The problem comes and goes, it seems to be related to the weather more than anything. Now that I think about it though, I have been through a few weather cycles recently that should have made it act up but didn't, and the only thing I can think of that I changed was I replaced my cab mounts. Odd as it may sound that could potentially have been the issue.

Assume the problem was grounding. The cab mounts take some bump out of the ride, but they also help keep the cab in it's proper shape. Due to the design of the pedal bracket pushing the clutch down puts stress on the structure of the cab, namely the firewall. If the bushings were gone, and mine have been for almost 3 years, and hitting the clutch was flexing the structure of the cab just right it could have exasperated a weak ground enough to let a little noise into the radio system.

Isn't the clutch switch hooked to the cruise control? Push pedal, complete a circuit to cut the cruise, similar to the brake switch. Do you have electronic cruise control? Just throwing out an idea.

Jim

Thanks. Guess I'll have to live with the problem. Hell, maybe I'll just check some of the grounds, since there's been a problem with static on AM since I got the truck a couple of years ago.

Oops, slipshift, I was replying to adsm08 just while you were posting. I don't know about any other '87, but there's no CC on mine.

slipshift said:

Isn't the clutch switch hooked to the cruise control? Push pedal, complete a circuit to cut the cruise, similar to the brake switch. Do you have electronic cruise control? Just throwing out an idea.

Jim

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It is, but mine isn't, which is why I was a bit befuddled. Being that I am lazy and frequently tinker in a manner that has me starting and stopping the engine a lot I have the clutch switch bypassed so I can just reach in and hit the key.

Inbred Redneck said:

Thanks. Guess I'll have to live with the problem. Hell, maybe I'll just check some of the grounds, since there's been a problem with static on AM since I got the truck a couple of years ago.

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If you have issues on the AM bands try replacing the capacitor that is bolted to the coil. I have had issues looking them up by a Ranger going back that far recently, but the 05+ F-150 5.4L unit fits and works correctly, and they are easier to look up.

I'll have to see about that capacitor. As for the clutch safety switch, mine's no longer hooked up. I'd much rather be able to crawl over out of traffic on the starter and in gear when I can't start a vehicle and I'm in the way of everybody else.

adsm08 said:

I never did figure it out. The problem comes and goes, it seems to be related to the weather more than anything. Now that I think about it though, I have been through a few weather cycles recently that should have made it act up but didn't, and the only thing I can think of that I changed was I replaced my cab mounts. Odd as it may sound that could potentially have been the issue.

Assume the problem was grounding. The cab mounts take some bump out of the ride, but they also help keep the cab in it's proper shape. Due to the design of the pedal bracket pushing the clutch down puts stress on the structure of the cab, namely the firewall. If the bushings were gone, and mine have been for almost 3 years, and hitting the clutch was flexing the structure of the cab just right it could have exasperated a weak ground enough to let a little noise into the radio system.

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that part makes you sound like a self-proclaimed effin genious, are you sure you're not a liberal?




Perry