2 part question

[HellBoy]

So here I am getting the boat ready for what promised to be a great weekend and things are quickly deteriorating... 

I have a rhythmic popping in my stereo which I believe to be a bad ground.  I have traced back through the deck, both amps, and can't seem to find an obvious culprit.  Has anyone else experienced this?  Did you find that something was grounded incorrectly and gave the same symptoms?  If so what was it? 

Somehow as I got below the dash I managed to bump one of the diverters for the heater vent off and it fell down the tube.  This was of course the fixed tube.  So now I believe I have to pop the kick panel off in order to straighten out that tube and find the missing part before someone turns on the heater and I end up with an even bigger problem.  How is the kick panel attached under there and what is the easiest way to take it off? 

[skiboarder]

The kick panel under the drivers seat? It should have some stainless steel screws along the bottom and the left side at least thats how it is in my epic 21.

[HellBoy]

Thanks, got the kick panel off and got that piece out.  On to the other problem.

My DECC seems to make an extremely soft rhythmic clicking sound whenever power is on to the batteries. The popping in the speakers is synced with this popping. Where do I go from here???

[cyclone]

It's your depth finder. Be patient, it will stop functioning. End of problem:)

I was going to put a supressor on the  the 12vdc supplying the depth finder before mine failed. New boat, doesn't work, no problema senor! I don't need a depth finder on my lake, I know all the shitty spots.

You can use a ground loop isolater on the RCA's between the head unit and the amp, that will help.

[HellBoy]

Funny!  I had disconnected it and was about to post a progress report and there we go.  Thanks!  Is that just because it is emitting the signal from there or is it because of the electricity which it draws?  Too bad no more depth finder.