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step on brake pedal, cuts out radio reception and causes static????

1717 Views 40 Replies 11 Participants Last post by  Gadget471
Hello everyone, here's one for you, I just bought a used 2022 Santa Crus SEL premium. I really like the vehicle except for the poor sound system, try listening to my favorite fm stations and reception is very poor. I figured it had to be the antenna along with the lower end sound system, very frustrating! I just noticed yesterday it only does it when you step on the brake pedal ? I figured it must have something to do with voltage drop since brake lights come on, but the headlights being on doesn't seem to effect it. My SC has a trailer hitch installed when I bought it, could the wiring connection for trailer be the problem?
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Not 100% positive, but this issue sounds more along the line of a loose ground wire or a poor ground connection to me. You may have to get the dealer involved on this one….as I suspect it may be hard to find and if it is a ground issue, most of the grounds are buried underneath other things…
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Hello everyone, here's one for you, I just bought a used 2022 Santa Crus SEL premium. I really like the vehicle except for the poor sound system, try listening to my favorite fm stations and reception is very poor. I figured it had to be the antenna along with the lower end sound system, very frustrating! I just noticed yesterday it only does it when you step on the brake pedal ? I figured it must have something to do with voltage drop since brake lights come on, but the headlights being on doesn't seem to effect it. My SC has a trailer hitch installed when I bought it, could the wiring connection for trailer be the problem?
Well, look around the forum and you will see several threads about a trailer wiring harness recall. Hyundai hasn't identified/published the exact causes yet. Presumably they are studying it. Your vehicle may be of interest to them for the study. I would contact Hyundai.
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Well, look around the forum and you will see several threads about a trailer wiring harness recall. Hyundai hasn't identified/published the exact causes yet. Presumably they are studying it. Your vehicle may be of interest to them for the study. I would contact Hyundai.
Thanks, yeah I have an appointment with dealer service tomorrow, not sure if hitch was dealer installed but am going to look today.
Did someone put aftermarket LED bulbs in the taillights? Something to check. Also thinking bad ground somewhere…maybe in brake lamp circuit.
Did someone put aftermarket LED bulbs in the taillights? Something to check. Also thinking bad ground somewhere…maybe in brake lamp circuit.
Could be aftermarket LED bulbs.
LED bulbs can cause Radio Frequency Interference (RFI), which might explain the static in the radio...
No aftermarket bulbs but after reading about trailer hitch recall I suspect that may be the problem. I looked earlier and it is a Hyundai hitch with 4-pin wiring connector. I'll let the hyundai service mechanic determine that tomorrow ( he will probably unplug it). Thanks for your thoughts
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No aftermarket bulbs but after reading about trailer hitch recall I suspect that may be the problem. I looked earlier and it is a Hyundai hitch with 4-pin wiring connector. I'll let the hyundai service mechanic determine that tomorrow ( he will probably unplug it). Thanks for your thoughts
Interesting issue. Please keep us posted...
Good luck tomorrow!
Interesting issue. Please keep us posted...
Good luck tomorrow!
Well---- took my SC to the local dealer service today. They checked trailer hitch wiring and radio amplifier and could not find the source of the problem. They said a definite ground, had reported ground problems with other SC but no solutions-SURPRISE-. Are keeping car rest of the day to look for solution, I'm not to confident they will find one.
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Auto techs are not electronic techs. That is what this may require. They may not find the problem as you say. Sorry for your troubles.
Took mine in today for the trailer hitch recall. They did not unplug the harness. They did not remove the fuses. Basically they told me not to pull a trailer. As to the radio, I listen to a great FM station from over the mountain in the next state. From day one reception has been poor in my SC. Even my beat 93 farm truck with 170k miles on it receives this station better even in the woods at the bottom of a holler. TG for Android Auto.
Took mine in today for the trailer hitch recall. They did not unplug the harness. They did not remove the fuses. Basically they told me not to pull a trailer. As to the radio, I listen to a great FM station from over the mountain in the next state. From day one reception has been poor in my SC. Even my beat 93 farm truck with 170k miles on it receives this station better even in the woods at the bottom of a holler. TG for Android Auto.
If you have the actual Hyundai trailer harness I would unplug it for sure if they didn't. What's the point of having them look at it if they don't replace it or disconnect it?
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If you have the actual Hyundai trailer harness I would unplug it for sure if they didn't. What's the point of having them look at it if they don't replace it or disconnect it?
There has been only 1 fire across a half million vehicles of several models of both Kias and Hyundais. Now that I've done my due diligence and it is in Hyundai's computer, I figure if it burns up they will have to give me a new one, and if it burns my house down I'll get me a bulldog attorney.
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Well---- took my SC to the local dealer service today. They checked trailer hitch wiring and radio amplifier and could not find the source of the problem. They said a definite ground, had reported ground problems with other SC but no solutions-SURPRISE-. Are keeping car rest of the day to look for solution, I'm not to confident they will find one.
talked to service yesterday ,face to face, they said not hyundai trailer hitch or radio amp. They strongly suspected brake light switch. Replaced it, no fix, unplugged it and no fix. According to them all electrical for rear lights goes through this switch so when it was unplugged and still had the same problem they were completely baffled. This was all determined by certified hyundai tech. Monday will be day 4 and still no idea what is going on, they now have 2 techs on this. Push brake pedal down, radio reception and volume cut out????????
Sux. Sorry you are having troubles! IMO as before, I still think it’s a bad ground connection somewhere. Perhaps you might suggest to your dealer to TRY a temporary substitute WELL grounded test wire attached somewhere on the frame and then try systematically grounding various assemblies in the Cruz, starting with the entertainment center…and maybe the amplifier…and perhaps when you test adding a good ground to the affected component…then the issue will clear as long as the wire is there. Then if that works….unhook the wire and try troubleshooting the suspect harness wiring. Does this make sense? In other words, take about a 20ft single length of wire and attach it somewhere on the frame…and then use the other end of the wire to selectively touch the outside frames of the amplifier…..the entertainment center..the body control electronics….etc. while testing. This will create a SUBSTITUTE ground path and allow you to test quickly on various subsystems. Of course you have to make sure you touch bare metal…
And you could also try using a straight pin…and pricking a harness wire….with a ground. Of course, this will require some disassembly and tech knowledge of the Cruz and it’s wiring. Be careful, you can also short something if you are not sure what you are doing and accidentally touch the wrong thing. You could also even add a very low amp fuse in the wire…and that would give you some protection from shorting something while testing. This may not be a Hyundai approved way to troubleshoot….but it should theoretically work if it’s a ground issue…..if not, then all bets are off. YMMV and try this at your own risk. Best wishes!
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If this has been tried, I don’t see it. You/they say the brake light switch was disconnected with no joy. There should be a fuse for brakes. I am not able to verify now. Try pulling the fuse. That leaves vacuum assisted power brakes, I assume since I haven’t had time to study. I saw a fuse for vacuum pump if that be the case. About all that is remaining is the antilock system. I still refer to my #10 post. Sorry for your troubles.
I’m still thinking a bad ground, maybe at the antenna? Maybe between the brake switch and power distribution block? Any issues with the headlights on? Can be frustrating……
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Well, today is a week local dealer service has had my SC. According to them they have a hyundai service technition working on it every day and have hyundai involved (whatever that means). They still have no clue as to problem. To recap what I have been told: checked hyundai trailer hitch, radio amplifier, disconnected brake light switch which they say totally isolates electrical connection to rear light system. Still lose radio reception and volume when brake pedal is depressed??? As to ArizoniaFred guestion, headlights on or any other electrical use does not cause this, just brake pedal. I have a hard time understanding how this would be so difficult for a trained tech with all resources to SC system info could not have a clue after five days. How long should I wait before calling hyundai and complaining?? Thanks to all for your responses.
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Latest update: Wednesday marked a week service had my SC, were advised by hyundai tech to pull and check audio player, audio amplifier, check a specified ground on circuit and replace anything necessary. I was told this would require removing console and some of the dashboard pieces. Today I was told the sharkfin antenna is bad???? I thought that was one of the first things they checked??? Gave me back my SC and ordered the part, still have problem but was (assured) this will fix it when changed out. We'll see.
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