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Posted 18 April 2011

Car radio draining battery

So the battery on my car would drain after only around a day or two if the car hadn't been driven. Disconnected the radio and it will start after not being driven for over a week now.

The radio is definitely turned off when the car is off. How can I stop it drawing power when it's turned off? At the moment I'm having to completely unplug the radio and remove the whole unit every time I'm not driving.

Any advice would be appreciated.
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  1. deleted22222's avatar
    Sounds like your radio has been wired onto the permanent live rather than the ignition or the configuration is wrong on the back of your stereo. If you swap the red wire for the yellow one or something like that it will stop it being hooked up to the permanent live and swap it onto the ignition.

    Might need to cut and chop a couple of wires, either way you'll need your stereo's user manual.
    (edited)
  2. deleted124453's avatar
    Are you sure the battery is not slowly dying? How long has the battery been in the car?
  3. craig.guy's avatar
    good post
  4. deleted128312's avatar
    Author
    Thanks for the advice, don't think i have the manual as I bought it second hand off someone on here. I'm pretty sure it's not the battery as I replaced it not long after I got the car thinking it was the fault, and it was still doing the same with a brand new battery. I've also had the battery and alternator checked and there was no problems.

    I'll try and find a user manual online Lumor and try what you said, thanks.
  5. .MUFC.'s avatar
    What lumoruk said, That's certainly what I'd expect, Little test for you, Can you turn stereo on without key's in ignition? if so I guess it's wired up to permanent live.

    What car is it?
  6. ricko's avatar
    I have 2 identical Silvercrest CD/MP3 players in my motors , 1 wired live with the the ignition on and the other live all the time . They both dont drain the battery but the live when ignition is on player naturally loses all the programed stations and settings when I switch off. So, it's safe to just rewire your radio to a live wire when ignition is on .For quickness just use a 'scotch-lock' to a feed . I use a continuity tester ..................metal point with a bulb and a length of wire ..........to prod the wire till I find the right one .
  7. deleted128312's avatar
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    shauneco

    What lumoruk said, That's certainly what I'd expect, Little test for you, … What lumoruk said, That's certainly what I'd expect, Little test for you, Can you turn stereo on without key's in ignition? if so I guess it's wired up to permanent live.What car is it?


    It's a fiat punto, yeah I can turn the radio on without the ignition on, so I guess you're right and it is connected to the live.
  8. deleted22222's avatar
    In theory it shouldn't drain the battery, but if it's a second hand radio then I suppose it might be, in some way faulty.

    (edited)
  9. Caminaram's avatar
    Is there an amp? I would check to see if the remote cables are all correct. Just check the wiring over.
  10. deleted2125862's avatar
    I got a 2002 Buick LeSabre and I hooked up the wires but it's two orange wires that are hot and I switched them and the still turns on with the car off
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