Expert: Cleggsan - 3/11/2011

Question
When I remove the key from the ignition and exit the vehicle the radio amp is saying on. My battery was draining over night (12hrs or more) where I had to boosted off. I can hear a very low static sound coming from the speakers.  I isolated the source down to the factory radio amp by removing fuses under the hood till the noise went away. When I pull the fuse and replace it the noise does not come back until the key is switched own. Not much help from the dealer expect take it to a audio store, of course the easy answer was to upgrade the whole system. The The radio has two blown light can the radio not be send the go to sleep signal to the amp? Or is it the Amp bad?

Answer
It is a simple solution.  The remote 12v line is for some reason staying on.  There are two 12v connections to the amplifier; one is constant 12v which is for powering the unit, the other is for remote turn ON.   The remote turn on comes from either the ignition or from the radio head unit. Then when the ignition for the head unit is turned on it applies 12v to the remote connection of the amp and turns it on.

Either the wiring is wrong or the ignition switch or head unit has a short circuit.

Good Luck.