Stereo draining power?

[BigFurryWhale]

So I've had an ongoing battery drain problem that I've been investigating (roughly .4 amps) and I've discovered something suspicious with the stereo.


The previous owner of my car installed an aftermarket cd player. I took it out, thinking that this could be the cause of the drain, but the drain persisted even when the cd player was unplugged and out of the car. The weird thing is, is that when I went to plug the cd player back in, it made a sort of popping sound in the speakers. Keep in mind though, that the car was %100 off with the key not even in the ignition. Is it normal for the speakers to make a bit of noise when the cd player is reconnected, even if the car is completely off? Could this be a bad install causing me the battery drain?

Cliffs: PO installed an aftermarket cd player. Car was %100 off with the key not even in the ignition, and when I reconnected the stereo it made a popping sound in the speakers. Could this be a bad install causing me to have a battery drain?

[eyagel]

thats a good question..

[xLibelle]

i have this exact same drain, .4 amps and all!
i too, thought it was the alpine head and kenwood amp. i took them out and found the leak still there.

i took apart the doors and found corrosion in the plugs. its a possible reason, but not likely. i havent tested since then because the bat. is still dead.

anyone with experience, please chime in.

[BigFurryWhale]

i have this exact same drain, .4 amps and all!
i too, thought it was the alpine head and kenwood amp. i took them out and found the leak still there.

i took apart the doors and found corrosion in the plugs. its a possible reason, but not likely. i havent tested since then because the bat. is still dead.

anyone with experience, please chime in.

What fuse is your drain on? Mine is on fuse 21.

[xLibelle]

i havent checked that far... would be ideal for me to find that if i wanted to kick the bug eh? give me a week or so while im putting the car back together.

[StereoInstaller1]

Use the diagrams found on http://wedophones.com/BMWManualsLead.htm to trace what that fuse does

Luke

[BigFurryWhale]

Use the diagrams found on http://wedophones.com/BMWManualsLead.htm to trace what that fuse does

Luke

I'm having trouble following those (i'm very new to electronics/cars in general).

Luke, could you tell me whether or not it's common for a cars speakers to make noise when a stereo is reconnected, even if the car is totally off? (no key in ignition)

[thereisnoyun]

if its connected

if you didnt unplug yoru battery... and the wiring is a bit screwy, ofcourse it will make a sound, which mean... which ever power is doing the drain is STILL ON, and when you put the speaker plug in, it has charge.

Almost always its fuse 21, which is constant power for the HU. Look for a red wire or a yellow and red if I didnt remember wrong. and then look for the ground for that particular. If everything is in tack its probably corrosion at a plug. Or the PO wired it wrong...

I would just rip the unit out and redo the whole thing. It would take you alot less time to do it right then to trouble shoot someone else's hackjob.

[StereoInstaller1]

I'm having trouble following those (i'm very new to electronics/cars in general).

Yeah, boy howdy. Sometimes, those diagrams can be as clear as mud. Hang in there! Look for the fuse first, then look to see what it controls...that should help.

Luke, could you tell me whether or not it's common for a cars speakers to make noise when a stereo is reconnected, even if the car is totally off? (no key in ignition)

NO! Absolutely not, if the key is off when you connect power, some decks will go through an "EJECT" cycle, but aside from that, no noise at all from the speakers.

If you are having noise, check the wiring on the stereo.

Check it with a test light. If you don't own your very own test light, GO FUCKING BUY ONE!!!ELEVEN!!111! It is an absolute necessity if you own an E30.

Here is what you should see: (deck side wiring, NOT car colors)
Yellow: +12V constant
Red: +12V ACCESSORY
Blue: +12V Power Antenna
Blue/White: +12V Amp Remote

Of course, black is ground.

HTH,
Luke

[BigFurryWhale]

Yeah, boy howdy. Sometimes, those diagrams can be as clear as mud. Hang in there! Look for the fuse first, then look to see what it controls...that should help.

NO! Absolutely not, if the key is off when you connect power, some decks will go through an "EJECT" cycle, but aside from that, no noise at all from the speakers.

If you are having noise, check the wiring on the stereo.

Check it with a test light. If you don't own your very own test light, GO FUCKING BUY ONE!!!ELEVEN!!111! It is an absolute necessity if you own an E30.

Here is what you should see: (deck side wiring, NOT car colors)
Yellow: +12V constant
Red: +12V ACCESSORY
Blue: +12V Power Antenna
Blue/White: +12V Amp Remote

Of course, black is ground.

HTH,
Luke

Thanks luke, I appreciate that. I'm going to go have a little dig around out there and see if I can figure it out, and if not I'll just have to go to a stereo shop. One last question though:

If the stereo is wired improperly (and it appears to be) could that cause the stereo system to drain battery power EVEN WHEN then head unit is totally disconnected?

[StereoInstaller1]

If the stereo is wired improperly (and it appears to be) could that cause the stereo system to drain battery power EVEN WHEN then head unit is totally disconnected?

Well, it depends. If the stock amp is still in place, it might have been turned on with the constant wire...asshat installer right there!

Your stock amp is the big issue...see if it is there. If it is BYPASS THE DAMN THING!

It really sounds like it is.

Luke

[BigFurryWhale]

Well, it depends. If the stock amp is still in place, it might have been turned on with the constant wire...asshat installer right there!

Your stock amp is the big issue...see if it is there. If it is BYPASS THE DAMN THING!

It really sounds like it is.

Luke

Where do I find the stock amp? How do I bypass it? Sorry for all these silly noobie questions, but I really can't find my ass with both hands when it comes to electronics and stereo stuff.

[StereoInstaller1]

OK, here is the basics.

Amp is under the left trunk liner, near the antenna, bolted to a metal bracket.

As far as bypassing, I am not gonna get into typing all of that shit out, I have a cold, which causes me to get sand in my colon. Search, my man, answers you shall find.

[xLibelle]

I have a cold, which causes me to get sand in my colon.

oh wow, that sounds bad!