6 replies to this topic

[jmetal88]

I installed a stereo in my car a couple of years ago and recently it's been refusing to turn off when I shut off the ignition. The weird thing is, it turns off if I disconnect the fuse connector from the stereo's power wire (which is connected to a wire that should be, and originally was, only live when the ignition was turned on), or if I turn on the heater motor switch. Because I can make it turn off, it isn't really a serious problem, just an annoyance, but I am rather curious as to what might be causing the problem. My somewhat limited experience with electronics tells me it should be a sticky relay that's only shutting off when enough current is drawn through it, however the wiring diagrams I have show no relay connected to that fuse in my model of Mini, and I can't imagine any reason someone would have installed an extra relay just to power the ignition live. Is there some type of relay built in to the Mini's ignition switch that could be causing this? I haven't spotted any out of place relays anywhere in the car so far, so I'm fairly sure an extra one wasn't added in, and like I said before, I can't think of a reason to put one in there. Does anyone have any ideas as to what's going on here?

[Guess-Works.com]

Not sure where you've connected the radio, but they normally have two wires for power, one which should be connected to permanent live ( for the station memory etc ) and one for the 'live feed' which would come from either permanent, auxiliary or ignition live depending on your preference...

Permanent live sources in the loom are all a base BROWN wire, Ignition live sources are all WHITE.

[bmcecosse]

If everything else connected to the ignition switch goes off (wipers/indicators etc) then you must have it connected to a wrong wire. But could also be a bad earth connection - since you say it responds to switching on the heater fan!

[jmetal88]

If everything else connected to the ignition switch goes off (wipers/indicators etc) then you must have it connected to a wrong wire. But could also be a bad earth connection - since you say it responds to switching on the heater fan!

It's definitely connected to the proper wire. It was shutting off properly for almost two years before this started happening.

EDIT: I also noticed the behavior changes based on how many speakers I have hooked up. Two speakers and it stays on until I flip the heater switch, four speakers and it shuts off when it's supposed to.

Edited by jmetal88, 28 December 2009 - 09:57 PM.

[mars red mike]

Have you added or removed anything electrical that is powered by the ignition switch recently?

[bmcecosse]

Some kind of back-feed then. Wires crossed - or touching somewhere

[jmetal88]

Some kind of back-feed then. Wires crossed - or touching somewhere

Yeah that might be likely, I'll have to check that out once the weather gets warmer.

Something that's more annoying, though, is I advanced my timing to get a little more power out of my sparks, and now my radio antenna is picking up severe ignition whine.

I might have to get a noise filter to put on the antenna now.