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If you have a stereo system in your car and suddenly find that it doesn’t turn off even when the ignition is off, you are likely to be frustrated.
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Though car radio doesn’t take up a lot of power, it can easily drain your battery if stays on for long hours or render it dead if it is already on its last legs. This is a common problem resulting from some kind of electrical issue.
In this post, let us talk about a few common causes of this problem and try to understand how to fix them.
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Why Does A Car Radio Stays On All The Time?
A car radio may not turn off upon turning off the ignition due to some problems, each of which applies to specific situations.
The most common of these issues is improper wiring of the head unit. So, if your aftermarket radio stays on when the ignition is off, this is the first place you should look for.
Apart from this, there can be an issue with the ignition switch or some other component in the system responsible for the problem.
Moreover, some car models are designed to allow the radio to stay on for some amount of time, generally around ten minutes, after the ignition is turned off unless the door is opened before this.
Let us discuss some problems that keep a car radio from shutting off upon switching off the ignition.
- Head unit wiring – If your radio staying on problem has been existing since the head unit was installed, it is probably because it is wired incorrectly and needs a fix. This is particularly true when you have wired it yourself.
- Ignition switch – This switch is responsible for sending a signal to the radio to turn off when the ignition is turned off. A defective ignition switch won’t cut the power to the radio and hence it stays on.
- Worn-out cylinder – The ignition cylinder is the part that powers the electronic components in the car. If it is worn out, the sensor does not get enough power to send a signal to the radio and may seem to be off when it is in the run position.
- Radio shut-off delay – A few vehicles come equipped with a feature that keeps the radio on for a while after the car is turned off. This delay time can be anywhere from 1 minute to 10 minutes after which the radio automatically turns off. The radio shut-off delay feature can be deactivated in your car and you can even adjust the delay time from head unit settings.
- Door switch and sensor – Another possible reason why your car radio won’t turn off is a problem with either the door sensor or switch. The door switch disconnects the signal to the radio so that it turns off when the door is opened.
- A sensor is responsible for detecting the door opening and triggers the radio to turn off. If the door switch or sensor is not working properly, the radio can stay on even when the door is open.
How to Fix a Car Radio That Doesn’t Turn Off?
If your car radio stays on after the ignition is turned off, there are a few ways you can eliminate the possible culprits behind the problem.
Let us discuss how you can troubleshoot a car radio that doesn’t turn off and some effective ways to fix the underlying problem.
How to Fix a Car Radio That Doesn’t Turn Off?
Total Time: 1 hour
Check the head unit connections
If you have installed an aftermarket head unit in the car and the radio staying on problem has been existing since then, you may be dealing with a head unit wiring issue.
Radios are designed to have two power wires and a ground wire out of which a power wire is always hot and the other has power only when the ignition is on.
Check if the head unit’s wire is connected to the always-hot power source. If yes, the radio will never turn off.
You can do this with the help of a voltmeter; if you find that both wires are hot all the time, you can rewire the radio to get power from the wire which is hot only when the ignition is on.
Test the ignition switch
Sometimes, a problem with the ignition switch can result in power being available all the time. If you have discovered that both your power wires are always hot instead of one hot wire when the ignition switch is on, this can be the issue.
Check if your radio is powered even after the ignition is turned off. If so, you need to replace the switch or realign the cylinder as required.
Check the ignition cylinder
This is a similar problem but has more to do with the ignition cylinder and not the switch. A worn-out ignition cylinder or key would let you take out the key even when the switch is on.
To resolve this issue, see that your switch gets in the off position upon removing the key so that the radio turns off. Replacing a worn-out cylinder should fix your problem.
Reset the radio
You can manually turn off the radio if it keeps running after the key is turned to the off position. Press the power button which should have no problem working unless your radio itself is faulty. You can also do it by turning the key to the off and then the on position.
This generally resets the radio and turns it off.
If these solutions don’t work, you can try and disconnect the battery to reset the entire electrical system to fix the problem. You can take your car to a professional if you are not comfortable trying these things.
Final Thoughts
We hope this post helps you understand why your car radio stays on even after the ignition is turned off. You can now troubleshoot the radio and find the underlying problem to fix it.
In most cases, resolving this problem should be simple and minor and can be done without getting your car rewired or purchasing a new radio.
