[RFI] Escalade and Power Line RFI

[Wes Stewart]

 I have a story going back even further.  In 2009 I purchased one of the last Pontiac G8 GTs made from the local Buick-Cadillac-GMC dealer.  These were actually Aussie built by Holden, a GM division, and rebadged as Pontiacs.

I had an issue with the car and returned to the dealer.  The Service Manager said, "Let's take a ride and check it out."  Off we went.  During the course of the ride we engaged in small talk which included me telling him that I was an EE working on RF/Microwave stuff for Hughes Aircraft and I was also a ham radio operator.  His ears perked up and he told me about a Buick they had sold to an elderly woman who often visited a friend and every time she did, her car would refuse to start when she wanted to leave. It had a new at the time keyless startinf system.  They would have to go out a move the car several feet and then it would start.  He asked me whether I had any ideas and I of course thought RFI.  So I gave him the name and number of the RFI guy at the local power company and kind of forgot about it.

At my next service visit the Service Manager heard that I was there and thanked me profusely. The power company guy found an issue, got it fixed and the lady's car starts every time.

ps.  I still have my Pontiac, and although I don't drive it often, it has 200K miles on it and still runs flawlessly.

Wes  N7WS

     On Sunday, December 14, 2025 at 09:49:53 AM MST, K4RO Kirk Pickering <k4ro at k4ro.net> wrote:  
 
 Here's an RFI story that I've not encountered before.

https://www.motor1.com/news/781675/cadillac-escalade-power-line-lights-on/

Many thanks to all of the RFI hunters and experts who share their 
knowledge on this list, year after year. IMO, this is one of the most 
valuable email lists in all of ham radio.

—Kirk K4RO


_______________________________________________
RFI mailing list
RFI at contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rfi