Additional information on this subject and related topics can be found in back issues of QST and the following:

ARRL RFI Book
The AC Power Interference Handbook
The RSGB Guide to EMC

The ARRL has an extensive catalog of books and materials related to Amateur Radio.

Automotive Ignition Noise

Solving Ignition Noise RFI, the ARRL Technical Information Services Ignition Noise Page.

Articles:

Note: Some of the following articles are in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files. To view and print these files, you'll need a copy of Adobe's Acrobat Reader program. (Version 3.0 or later required). More information here.

• Automotive Electric Motor and Fuel Pump Noise
• K0BG's Thoughts on Mobile Interference
• Automotive Interference Problems: What the Manufacturers Say
• Lab Notes -- Mobile Installations and Electromagnetic Compatibility (32,768 bytes, PDF file)
  QST March 1995, pp. 74-75

Web Links: 

• The ARRL RFI Book contains a simple circuit for reducing alternator whine. Look for it in the "Automobiles chapter." (Note: While it is possible to homebrew a low pass filter out of discrete components to eliminate alternator whine, it is generally more practical to buy filters designed for this purpose.) Another simple "circuit" might be a battery that directly and solely powers your radio.
• These pages describe techniques to eliminate alternator whine. As these articles point out, a bad diode can make the whine much worse:
  • http://www.termpro.com/articles/noise.html
  • http://www.sacskyranch.com/altnoise.htm
  • http://www.avweb.com/news/maint/182896-1.html
• The K0BG Mobile Pages
• Ford Motor Company EMC Online
  Contains much information including Mobile Radio Installation Guidelines
• Ford Explorer Radio Frequency Interference
• GM Radio Telephone / Mobile Radio Installation Guidelines
  GMNA Engineering Centers General Motors Corporation
• K8CU Mobile Radio RFI Solutions
• W8LMF Mobile Installation In 2005 Toyota Prius - Contains information and graphics for an Amateur Radio installation in a modern hybrid vehicle
• Pat Freeman, N3GWZ, outlines the use of Radio Shack ferrite cores he used to solve a fuel-pump problem in his 2002 Sport Track.

Note:

Contact information for suppliers mentioned in the above articles should first be confirmed using TIS Address Database Search.

Article Reprints:

All Past QST articles from 1914 through three years ago are available in electronic form as a membership service.  If you are an ARRL member, log on to the ARRL web site and enjoy reading years and years of QST! If you aren't a current member, ARRL can provide photocopies of past articles for a prepaid fee of $5.00, postpaid, but it is a much better deal for you to join ARRL and have access to nearly every article that ARRL has ever published in QST!  Photocopies are available to members, too, for a discounted price of $3.00 postpaid, if a member needs a copy other than what is available for free in the archives.  Those needing photocopies instead of downloadable articles should contact the ARRL Technical Information Service, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111 by postal mail, including a list of article titles, issue year and month and author name, if known.  Please enclose a check payable to ARRL for the amount for the article copies requested.  ARRL cannot make photocopies of non-ARRL articles such as Ham Radio, CQ, etc.

This information was prepared as a membership service by the American Radio Relay League, Inc., Technical Information Service, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111 (860) 594-0214. Email: tis@arrl.org (Internet). ARRL HQ is glad to provide this information on the Web free of charge as a service to League members and affiliated clubs.

If you have any questions concerning the reproduction or distribution of this material, please contact:

TIS Coordinator
American Radio Relay League
225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111
Tel: 860-594-0214 Fax: 860-594-0259
(email: tis@arrl.org)