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A car radio that won't turn off can drain a battery pretty quick.
by Jeremy Laukkonen
Updated February 01, 2017
Question: How Do You Fix a Car Radio That Won't Turn Off?
My car radio won’t shut off when I turn my car off and remove the keys. I’m afraid this is going to eventually kill my battery, so I’m looking for some kind of fix. Do you know why car radio won’t turn off? Hopefully it’s something simple, since I don’t know a whole lot about cars.
Common Reasons a Car Radio Won't Turn Off
There are a few causes that can result in a car radio not shutting down when you expect it to, and each one applies to a pretty specific situation.
The most common cause of this problem is an improperly wired head unit, so if you have an aftermarket radio, that might be your issue.
Other than that, you could have a problem with your ignition switch or some other component, and there are also some cars that are designed to allow the radio to stay on for a given amount of time, usually about ten minutes, unless a door is opened first.
Some of the most common fixes for a car radio that won't turn off include:
Improper head unit wiringIf the main power wire for the head unit is connected to a power source that is always hot, the radio won't ever turn off.Fix: rewire the radio to receive power from a source that is only hot when the ignition is in the accessory or run position.Ignition switch problemIf there is a problem with the ignition switch or cylinder, accessory power may be available even when the key is removed.Fix: check to see if accessory power is available when the key is in the off position. Realign the cylinder or replace the ignition switch as needed.Worn out key or ignition cylinderIf your key or ignition cylinder are especially worn, you may be able to remove the key when the switch is still in the accessory or on position.Fix: make sure that the ignition switch is actually in the off position in the short term, and replace the cylinder when you can.
Radio designed to stay on for a set amount of timeSome car radios are on a timer, so they are designed to not shut off immediately.Fix: check if the radio has turned off a few minutes after the doors have been shut and locked. If it still hasn't turned off, check if the dome lights turn off when the doors are shut. This type of problem may require help from a professional.
The Perils of Improper Radio Wiring
The basics of car stereo wiring aren’t terribly complicated, but it is pretty easy to get it wrong if you’re missing some vital information or don’t take a methodical approach to the job. The crux of the problem, as it relates to this issue, is that every car radio requires a ground and then two or three connections to battery positive.
One connection is “always on,” and it’s used for the memory keep-alive function. The other, which actually provides power to run the head unit, is switched, so that it’s only hot when the ignition is in the accessory or run position.
If a head unit is wired wrong, so that the “always on” wire is connected where the switched wire should be connected, the radio won’t ever shut off. It will always have power, so it will continue to draw down on the battery even after you shut the engine off and remove the keys.
Depending on the shape that the battery is in, this drain can absolutely result in a dead battery, a jump start, and possibly even a broken radio.
To fix this issue, the head unit has to be removed and rewired. If you recently had a new head unit installed, and you’re experiencing this issue, then you should take it back to the shop that did the work and ask them to fix it. If you installed the head unit yourself, then you may want to check out the following head unit wiring resources:
Aftermarket car stereo wire colorsCar stereo installation basicsHow to identify car stereo wires
In broad strokes, you will want to check the power wires that are connected to the head unit and determine which one is switched.
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One wire should be hot all the time, and the other should only show 12 volts when the ignition switch is turned on. If these wires are reversed, or the “always on” wire is connected to both, then connecting them correctly should fix the problem.
How an Ignition Switch Prevents a Radio From Turning Off
In some cases, a bad ignition switch or ignition switch cylinder may also prevent a radio from turning off. The issue here is that, under normal circumstances, accessories like your car radio only receive power when the ignition switch is in the accessory, run, or start position. If accessories are powered up when the switch is in the off position, your radio won't turn off.
The specific procedure for diagnosing this type of problem will be different depending on the make, model and year of your vehicle, and you will probably have to look up a wiring diagram. In basic terms, when the ignition switch is in the off position, the ignition accessory wire should not have power. If there is an accessory relay in the circuit, it should not be activated with the ignition switch in the off position.
If you're finding that accessories have power when they shouldn't, the problem could be in the ignition switch or the relay. The problem could also be in the mechanical ignition cylinder, which could be worn out or misaligned.
Radio Shut-Off Delay Issues
Some cars come with a feature that allows the radio to stay on after the keys have been removed from the ignition. This feature typically shuts the radio off after about ten minutes or if a door is shut, although that isn’t a universal rule.
If you drive a car that was built in the last 10 or 15 years, you’re experiencing this problem, and you have an OEM head unit, you may want to start by checking your owner’s manual to see if your vehicle does have this feature.
If you do have a problem that’s related to a radio shut off delay feature, then both the diagnosis and fix are probably going to be outside the realm of an easy DIY job. If you notice that opening and closing your doors doesn’t activate your dome light, then you may be dealing with a faulty door switch, which is typically pretty easy to replace.
In other cases, you may have a problem with a relay or other component. You can attempt to test or replace your accessory relay, for instance, but depending on your vehicle and what problem you’re actually dealing with, that may or may not fix the problem.
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