New radio causes flat battery

  • Omar C.'s Avatar
    Hi - I've just installed a new car radio, and even though it is switched off (and the face has been removed) with the rest of the car completely off, the battery is flat 2 days later.

    It's not completely flat yet - still got power on the lights, windows, heating, central locking - even the radio itself... just not enough juice to get the car started.

    What advice/tips do any of you have to stop the power drain, or why it would drain at all even though the power is off.

    Cheers.
  • 18 Replies

  • bobtelecom69's Avatar
    First question that needs to be asked is how old is the battery? its this time of the year that batteries really take a hammering,with lights,wipers,heaters etc on for long periods,not much left for battery charging,and if the battery is old and on its way out,there just isnt the capacity left to start the car,especially if its freezing,might be a good idea to have your battery tested if its got any age in it .....

    On the other hand it might just need an overnight trickle charge to get it back up to capacity,most of these sort of problems arise if only doing short journeys at this time of the year...the battery just doesnt get enough time to keep fully charged ...
  • Omar C.'s Avatar
    The battery and car are 5 years old though I'm normally very careful with switching off electrics before leaving.

    The drain is almost certainly due to the installation of the new radio. I can get the battery to re-charge simply enough, but am concerned that the radio is taking power while it is "off" as this problem has never happened before.


    But good point about the short journeys - I'm really only doing a few miles a week (usually only drive it once or twice a week) so perhaps when I do get it re-charged I'll take it out for a good long drive.
  • bobtelecom69's Avatar
    I still think its just a coincidence,5 years is a long long time to have a battery,and by now a lot of sulphation of the plates has occured,and at least one cell must be giving problems....

    A normal-functioning car that is driven every day can be assured that the battery lasts a considerable period because the alternator keeps the battery at full charge. However, if the battery is left for days or weeks in a semi-discharged condition, crystals are formed causing adverse chemical reactions which will damage the battery cells, and the battery would no longer be able to keep full charge.

    Nonetheless, batteries have an average life span of between 18 and 24 months. The life-span is dependent on the rate at which the lead plates are sulphated. Sulphating occurs more rapidly if the battery is allowed to remain fully or partially discharged, or if the battery is left low on water.
    In most cases, the life-span of a battery is not dependent on the amount of work it has done. Since the battery is a chemical device, its capacity will decrease as the battery grows older and loses some of the active material from its plates. Therefore, the common belief of economising on the use of electrical equipment, such as headlights and the radio, to extend the life of a battery is usually false.
  • Sussex Patrol's Avatar
    The only way you will know for sure if it is the radio is to carry out a current drain test if you are unsure how to do this then get a garage to do it for you.

    I agree with bob I am sure it is just coincidence but why not get your battery tested at the same time and then you will know if is going flat due to current drain or a defective battery.

    I would also recommend that due to the usage you give the vehicle that you invest in a trickle charger to keep your battery charged inbetween you using the vehicle.

    HTH
  • pavanbali's Avatar
    Pionner stereo drained my Mazda battery

    Hi - I've just installed a new car radio, and even though it is switched off (and the face has been removed) with the rest of the car completely off, the battery is flat 2 days later.

    It's not completely flat yet - still got power on the lights, windows, heating, central locking - even the radio itself... just not enough juice to get the car started.

    What advice/tips do any of you have to stop the power drain, or why it would drain at all even though the power is off.

    Cheers.

    Guys this is exactly what happened to me aswell :( , i too installed a Pionner DEH-30MP sterio in my Mazda 323 and the next thing i know is its drained my battery completely. I have tried Jump starting it and going for a long ride on motorway thinking it might recharge the battery :) atleast enough to recharge the battery to start it next time. But to my dissapointment even after driving it 60 miles still the battery is exactly the same. The battery is just 1 year old and luckly under warranty so i will get it changed, but does anyone knows if this is because of the Sterio, if yes i will get it back and get a different company sterio. :confused:
    Any help will be appreciated. :D
  • bobtelecom69's Avatar
    Its been a while since I messed about with auto electrics,but I think you will find that although the radio is switched off it does draw from the battery a small amount to keep its memory and preset radio stations alive,and normally batteries are able to cope with this quite happily of course,but at this time of the year,with a heavy demand on the cars electrics and also low temperatures,car batteries do tend to suffer,especially if only used on short trips ....batteries can and do fail at any time however,Ive known them fail internally in as little as 3 months myself from new :eek: twice this has happened to me ...
  • pavanbali's Avatar
    Thanks for that Infor Mate, but Omar has the same car and he has installed Pioneer aswell, it cant be coincidence that both of us had the same problem, luckily my battery is under warranty to Kwik Fit will replace it. But i am thinking of buying a charger.
    If anyone of you know if there is problem with Wiring with Pioneer.

    Regards
    Pavan
  • pavanbali's Avatar
    Battery Problem Sorted

    Guys
    I went to Argos to buy a battery charger to see if i can recharge the battery and if the system will drain it again and it appeared that the Battery was 100% charged. The terminals were loose that was the reason why the Car woudnt start it was just coincidence that this happened when i installed the new stereo. Cleaned the terminals and the wires and connected it back properly, + terminal needed a piece of metel with it as the terminal was still loose and tightened the terminals and the Car is up and running as it was before. :)
    Omar try and check the same thing in your Car aswell otherwise get the battery checked there is definately nothing wrong with Pionner stereos and make sure that those connections of red to red and yellow to yellow are connected as they were. :D

    Best Regards
    Pavan
  • Omar C.'s Avatar
    Thanks for your info/input guys.

    When I installed the radio, it was a simple "plug into the existing socket" job - very simple.


    Anyway - I solved the problem with an overnight trickle charge to the battery - I think the problem has been caused by (as Bob and Matt's suggestions) under-use of the car and heavy reliance of the electrics (heating/lights) at this time of year.

    No further drain has been made by the radio - it was probably just a coincidence that this happened just after the installation.

    I'll certainly get the battery checked out and replaced if necessary at a garage as a long-term solution.


    Happy new year to you all.

    Omar
  • Richboy455's Avatar
    I have a 2000 Chrysler Cirrus with a Pioneer reciever similar to the ones above. I have Pioneer speakers in the doors as well as Pioneer 5x9's in the back. Ever since the radio has been installed, the car looses the charge overnight, and is becoming a real pain. the car is driven almost everyday. i just unhooked the stock amplifier to see if there is something wrong with in there (the car was in a flood a couple of years ago, and all the audio equiptment was replaced, except for the amp). Other than that, any suggestions as of what to do?
  • bobtelecom69's Avatar


    Anyway - I solved the problem with an overnight trickle charge to the battery - I think the problem has been caused by (as Bob and Matt's suggestions) under-use of the car and heavy reliance of the electrics (heating/lights) at this time of year.

    No further drain has been made by the radio - it was probably just a coincidence that this happened just after the installation.




    Happy new year to you all.

    Omar

    Glad you got it sorted Omar :) its a seasonal thing at this time of the year Im afraid :D cars that have been functioning all Summer with no battery problems,all of a sudden develop starting problems whatever,just because of the increased demand on the electrics....batteries do not last forever,even though they are a lot more reliable than they used to be,they can and do go faulty at any time,all it needs is one cell to go down ....jumper leads are rarely seen in Summer months,but any Winter morning its a familiar sight .....
  • bobtelecom69's Avatar
    I have a 2000 Chrysler Cirrus with a Pioneer reciever similar to the ones above. I have Pioneer speakers in the doors as well as Pioneer 5x9's in the back. Ever since the radio has been installed, the car looses the charge overnight, and is becoming a real pain. the car is driven almost everyday. i just unhooked the stock amplifier to see if there is something wrong with in there (the car was in a flood a couple of years ago, and all the audio equiptment was replaced, except for the amp). Other than that, any suggestions as of what to do?

    Personally I cant add anything more than has already been said in earlier posts...how old is the battery? is it holding a charge? just because it appears to charge up it doesnt mean it will hold it ...if it has any age in it you need to get it tested somewhere,I once had the same symptoms as you and after a few frustrating days it turned out to be that a light in the glove box switch had gone faulty causing the light to be on all the time,and it was that which was draining the battery :eek: even though a car is driven daily,if the trips are not long enough the battery capacity will slowly and surely drain,more so at this time of the year...all I can add is that if I were in your position and the battery is more than a few years of age I would be getting it tested,it only takes a few seconds....keep us updated ...

    Over to you Matt anything you can add???
  • Richboy455's Avatar
    the battery is only 8 months old. A weird thing that i noticed a little while ago (after i posted the first message), is that the radio goes on and functions properly when bypassing the amp, but will not go on when the antenna is plugged in. The car also starts up fine when the antenna is not plugged in, but struggles when it is.
  • Sussex Patrol's Avatar
    @ Richyboy.You will need to get your vehicle checked for excessive current drain and also get the battery checked(new ones can fail).
    If the vehicle has been in a flood it is possible that corrosion has occured on a multiplug/relay somewhere and could be causing a drain.
    The only way to know for sure if something is draining the vehicle is to get a current drain test done.

    HTH
  • Richboy455's Avatar
    The car has been through multiple repairs since the flood, and is in normal condition now. The only thing in question that could still be affected is the amp. Regardless, I think i'll still go have that test done to see if that can uncover anything, as the car has to go in for routine service soon anyway.
  • roddersdad's Avatar
    "When I installed the radio, it was a simple "plug into the existing socket" job - very simple"

    Hello to all, new to this forum,but just a word of caution on the above,although the plug/sockets are the same and will fit it is not unknown for manufacturers to change where some of the wires for various things go and do,to different pins within in these plugs/sckts,unless you are 100%certain you would be better off checking with a voltmeter first,
    best regards to all for the new year,Clive.
  • Richboy455's Avatar
    Well, I have found out what the problem is (or at least where it is). There is something in the antenna circuitry that is causing the drain. After I unhooked the antenna, I left the stereo hooked up so that I can still listen to CD's, and so far, no battery drain. I have no idea why this happened, or exactly what it is, but all I know is that it is in the antenna system, and my battery no longer drains. Woo Hoo!
  • bobtelecom69's Avatar
    Well, I have found out what the problem is (or at least where it is). There is something in the antenna circuitry that is causing the drain. After I unhooked the antenna, I left the stereo hooked up so that I can still listen to CD's, and so far, no battery drain. I have no idea why this happened, or exactly what it is, but all I know is that it is in the antenna system, and my battery no longer drains. Woo Hoo!

    Looks like you need to be having a good look round that antenna motor then,to see what sort of condition it is in ....