I'm usually pretty good at solving electrical issues and doing my own wiring, but this issue with my car has gotten me struggling for an answer. This has done this since I bought the car last year.

There are two issues, possibly related.

The first and main issue is with the stereo. When I shut the car off, the stereo does not shut off for approximately 10 seconds. It's very consistant and always does this, UNLESS the windshield wipers are on, or I turn them off after I shut the key off, it will turn the radio off prematurely...yeah, it's weird.

Previously I took the stereo out, which is aftermarket, and verified the wiring. It was correct.

Today I took it back out and decided to verify the voltages going to it. This is where the problem comes in. The contant 12V source is there, no issues with that. The switched 12V has issues. When you turn the key off, it doesn't immediately go to 0, rather it drops to about 11.5V, then gradually bleeds off. This explains why the radio doesn't shut off right away, until the voltage drops below a threshhold that the radio will turn off at. On the same note, if I turn the wipers on with the key off, this voltage goes to 0. Release it, and some voltage returns, but not enough to let the radio turn back on. The longer they are in the on positon, the less the voltage bleeds back up.

To me this appears that there is capacitance in the 12V switched circuit. Why it's not immediately being discharged I'm not sure, possibly a bad ground (the one at the head unit is good)

I do not see a relationship with the wiper and stereo circuits other than the ignition switch, which provides the switched 12 volts to both of these circuits. There is nothing wrong with the head unit, as this does this even with it disconnected, the switched 12V remains, but bleeds at a much slower rate.

The second issue I have is that when I shut the car off, my temp, gas, and tach, all move up slightly after a few seconds. The gas gauge is worst, it'll actually show about 1/8 tank when this happens. The only thing that makes this go away is to insert the key in the igntion and open the door so the door chimes works. If the door is closed with the key in, it will do it, if you open the door with the key out, it still does it. Only with the door chime in operation does this go away. Related? Is this normal with these cars?

Has anyone else had any issues, or has some insight on these problems. I'm thinking about putting a new ignition switch in it, but was curious if anyone else had any insight on this first.

 

the stereo thing its int the cars factory wiring its all ****ed up all u have to do is run 18 guage speaker wire 13 bucks at walmart for a 100ft roll exactly the way the factory wire is ran and then reset the stereo and put aftermarket speakers and tweeters in bcuz they most likely all blown and the head unit wont play blown speakers bcuz of the safety installed

 

You're an idiot.

 

im having the same issue with my radio. shut the car off and the radio stays on for few secs.... been driving me nuts for mouths, if ne1 has ne info it would be great!!!

 

thats funny, like you said it sounds like there is a capacitor in there somewhere that is not discharging untill the radio drains the power from it. but somehow I do not recall there being and Cap's on the car for the radio. does it drain the battery when the car is off or is it more of a nucance issue?

 

My dak will play the radio, work the power windows, wipers, etc after you turn off the ignition and remove the key! As soon as you open the door it shuts everything down!! It has a delay built in! But i don't know if it still works on an after market radio!!!

 

for me its a nucance issuse... doesnt seem to drain the batt. at all... just annoying. thats what i was thinking it was a cap. that was just being drained by the radio till it had no more juice to power it. but iv never had that issue on ne other cars... and for a long time i owned this car with no problems, it just started one day.

 

well for you TJ there might be a few caps in the radio that cause it to maintain power for a few seconds. You won't know for sure untill you test the wireing with a volt meter.