Expert: Cleggsan - 9/27/2011

Question
I have a 01bit ford sport trac the radio drains my battery when not started for a few days pulled the fuse to make sure wanting to know how I can or if I can fix this issue

Answer
Don't know which audio/radio system you have as there were many different versions in the 01.  The greatest cause of the problem you described is when an external amplifier is in the system and does not get turned off.  Either the remote wire to the amp is not being switched off by the head unit of the amplifier's ON/OFF feature is malfunctioning.

Do you have a voltmeter or vom? Do you know how to use it?  (A good auto troubleshooting tool is a little vom sold at Walmart or Home Depot for under $10).  

First, check the wire coming from the ignition to the radio unit.  If it does not go to zero when you turn off the radio then that could be the problem (some Sport Tracs have the delay turn off radio - which stays on for several minutes and automatically turns off on its own or at least it should do so.)

If there is an external amplifier, check it's remote wire coming from the head unit to make sure it is turning off the amp.  (An amplifier has two 12v lines; one from the battery which is always on and the other from the head unit which is the remote wire for the ON/OFF function.)

If you don't know the color coding for your vehicle you can find it online with a google search.

Here is one you can try; this site is not always 100% correct, but I think in the case of Ford's they are ok.

http://www.modifiedlife.com/2001-ford-explorer-sport-trac-car-stereo-wire-guide/

Hope this helps.