Jump to content
Skills

Could this be the source of my problem?

Recommended Posts

I've had a problem with my battery draining if the car is left for more than a few days since I fitted a new head unit(Alpine ida-x300). The unit works fine and I only really have a problem if I go away on holiday as the car is used as a daily. If I replace it with the orignal sony unit the problem disappears. I've just been out to try and get to the bottom of it and found this.

 

IMAG0146.jpg

 

It looks like a previous owner has spliced the permanent live with the switched power behind the iso. It doesn't seem to affect the operation but could it cause the battery drain problem on one head unit and not the other?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Its quite possible. I have had a drain in my car for a while, but it got significantly worse when I changed my old Alpine and fitted an XDA-200. Like you my live is spliced with the switched.

Have you got a multimeter to test the drain on the battery? Pull out fuses one by one and measure the draw until you have narrowed it down. (something which I have yet to do! lol its all a bit of a mess behind the dash, so that's another project for the summer)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I actually bought a multimeter of ebay during the week so will have a go with that next weekend.

 

It just seems strange to me that it would be different for each head unit, unless of course the original sony is still draining the battery but uses so little power that even after sitting for a couple of weeks it still doesn't kill the battery.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The curse of the corrado's not quite ISO radio wiring strikes again... 90's dubs have the switched and permanent live wires swapped over in the ISO plug in relation to the ISO standard. This means if you plug in a normal head unit, it'll lose it's memory when you turn off the ignition. To remedy this, the right thing to do is either fit an adaptor cable or swap the pins over in the ISO connector. Some HU's have connectors in-line on their loom to allow you to swap these on the radio rather than in the car, IIRC the alpine probably does? I had a ida-X200 in a mk3 polo which had no switched live on the radio loom (poverty spec) thus the radio was permanently live..."no problem" I thought, turning it off on the front panel will do the same...wrong! Same as you've described, flat battery in a couple of days. I had to put in a switch (a spare corrado demister switch if anyone's interested) to kill the switched power to the HU.

 

Looks like the previous owner got round the swapped wires issue by joining the switched and permanent lives - I'd put it back to standard, swap the lives on the alpine loom and you should be sorted.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

About to try and tackle this now. What colour is the switched live wire on a '95 VR6? Just need to know what I'm looking for in the dash!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Right, I got it all wired up correctly yesterday only to realise why the previous owner must have done it in the first place! It seems the ignition must have a slight loose connection. The key has to be in a very precise position for the head unit to work.

 

I've had no problems in terms of the car starting but when the key is in the 'on' position there is a little movement and it as to be exactly in the right position for the stereo to come on. Anyone else ever had this problem? Is there a quick fix or will it mean a new barrel?

 

Tom

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

You've got a faulty ignition switch. There's more than one set of contacts in the switch. The radio is a separate switch as the key is pushed in hence the wiggle bringing it on.

 

New switch should cure it.

 

.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

You just need a switch. Buy one at the dealers for long term. Not expensive.

 

.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Right, just spent the afternoon trying to replace the ignition switch and that bloody screw did my head in! After first trying to unscrew it and then resorting to trying to force it off I gave up!

 

Having put everything back together again though the original problem has disappeared! All that banging and trying to force the screw out has obviousely sorted out the loose connection......for now at least!

 

Happy days!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

easiest if you drop the steering column, very tricky in-situ, you have to lie upside down in the footwell!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Come on guys, the ignition switch isn't difficult. Easily done from above- remove cowling, drop column to lowest position. A selection of tiny screwdrivers is essential. DO NOT refit that tiny screw afterwards! Just cable tie the switch in ;)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

ignition switch was a doddle. just a small pozi screw driver and bend it. seat flat and away you go.

 

dont think i even spent ten mins on changing mine. and i even put the screw back in :lol:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


×
×
  • Create New...