help! electrical problem with my car!

[jmsjags]

so basically i can turn my car off, take the key out the ignition, open and shut the doors, and lock the car and the radio stays on. the owner before me did install an aftermarket stereo deck and some amps so i figured when he installed all this he must have connected the radio wire to a hot circuit or something which would explain why it always has power going to it. but then i checked the windows just for the [censored] of it and they work with the key out of the ignition and the door open too! so now i don't have a clue what's wrong. i would guess that the ignition is stuck in the acc position but my instrument panel and control center display thingy near my sunroof don't stay on, only the radio and windows. i'm stumped

 

[MrMeeks]

Your radio is certainly 'hot wired' . Follow the 12v (hot) wire from the radio to see where it is picking up the 12v.Now you need a schematic to see where that hot wire should be connected.Looks like the windows got the same type of connection as the radio.Look for any loose unconnected ground wires.Particularly from the anti theft 'box'.

 

[Colt45ws]

Sounds like when they were [censored]ing around with the wiring they bridged constant hot and switched hot.

 

[firefighter]

Wouldn't it be nice when people post questions that my car does this or my car does that, that they would also post make, model, and year. Not all cars are the same. I don't know if this is the jeep in your singnature, cause your name also sounds like you might have a jag. A little more info please. Does it eventually go off or does it drain the battery?

 

[Papa Bear]

Originally Posted By: firefighter
Wouldn't it be nice when people post questions that my car does this or my car does that, that they would also post make, model, and year. Not all cars are the same. I don't know if this is the jeep in your singnature, cause your name also sounds like you might have a jag. A little more info please. Does it eventually go off or does it drain the battery?


If the OP is referring to the 2000 Jeep, how long has he owned it? Was this fault there when he got the vehicle? When did this problem begin? Does the vehicle still have the aftermarket stereo in it or is the original radio back in the dash?

Could this fault be caused by a stuck door switch (you know, the little switch that turns on the interior light when you open the door). On my Uplander, the radio will play and the windows will go up/down until you open the door... maybe the Jeeps door switch is stuck "in".

 

[meep]

agree- jeep/chrysler has 10 minute acc-off delay OR until FRONT door is opened. dome light working ok? how long does it stay on?

They could have tied the clock lead and power lead together... or even fed the "switched" lead back to the acc power, such that if the radio is turned on, the windows work...

M

 

[pottymouth]

There is a relay for retained accessory power on many vehicles. Could be yours is stuck in the closed position.

 

[Vikas]

Have you connected something to one of the lighter socket? If so, does it have nice capacitor in it?

When I have my inverter plugged in the car, the radio will keep on running when I turn off the car and take the key out. If the inverter is not plugged in, the radio turns off when the ignition key is in off position.

- Vikas

 

[mechtech2]

First thing is to undo whatever the radio installer did.
This is because of the obvious.