Have you ever heard about the ghostly radio station that no one claims to run? This is our article all about. You might find it weird if your car stereo turns on by itself even when the car is off. There are certain reasons behind this which can make you wonder how to fix this. Many times, we don’t have the key in the ignition, still dashboard lights, car radio seems to be working. So in this article, we will be talking about why my car radio turns on without key?
Table of Contents
Why Does My Car Radio Turns On Without Key?
The possible cause of a car stereo that keeps turning itself on is because of the power wires shorting out. If a ground wire comes in contact with the ignition wire it will power on the car stereo. Going over your connections on the car cd player’s wiring harness will fix this kind of car audio problem.
If you have already checked the wiring, the radio is faulty as the switching circuit that shuts off the power is failed. So it’s best to swap out the car stereo with a different one to see if the other different car stereo keeps turning on itself. Here are the most common problems that will prevent a car radio from turning off:
- Head Unit Wiring
If this problem has always been present since the head unit was installed, then it’s probably wired incorrectly.
- Ignition Switch
The ignition switch may be providing accessory power even when it seems like it’s switched off.
- Key and Ignition Cylinder
Similarly, a worn-out ignition cylinder may seem to be in the off position when it’s really in the accessory or run position.
- Radio Designed to Stay On
Some car radios are designed to stay on for a set period of time. When this feature breaks down, you’ll usually need help from a pro.
How Can You Fix This?
Car Radio consists of two to three machines together set up to function together. So it becomes an advantage that the problem lies in these parts only. Once detected, you just need to remove and repair it or replace it.
1. Wiring For A Car Radio
The most common issue with all the car radios is in the wiring itself. So, before jumping to any conclusion first check whether the wires of the radio are properly inserted and tight or not.
Ensure that your turn off the ignition of the vehicle and remove the car stereo from the din slot. Disconnect the wiring harness from the car stereo. Inspect every wire on the wiring plug. Using heat-shrink tubing to ensure that all the wires including, power, ground, and speakers are covered up securely. Also, any wire that is not in use, cut them off so that no copper strands are exposed. This will ensure that there are no shorts that could lead to the car stereo turning on itself.
2. Check Head Unit Wiring
If you have an aftermarket head unit, and your problem has existed ever since it was installed, then you’re probably dealing with a wiring problem. Car radios are designed to have a single ground wire and two power wires. One power wire is hot all the time, and the other only has power when the engine is running, or when the ignition switch is in the accessory position.
If the main power wire for your head unit is connected to a power source that is always hot, the radio won’t ever turn off. You can check for this problem with a voltmeter or test light. If both power wires are hot all the time, you’ll need to rewire the radio to receive power from a source that is only hot when the ignition is in the accessory or run position.
3. Check Ignition Switch
Some ignition switch problems can result in accessory power being available even when the key is removed. If you found that both of your power wires were hot in step one, but you couldn’t find a power source that was only hot with the ignition switch in the accessory or run position, this might be your problem.
You’ll need to check and see if accessory power is available when the key is in the off position. If power is available, then you will have to realign the cylinder or replace the ignition switch as needed.
4. Check your Ignition Cylinder and Key
This is a related problem, but it has to do with the mechanical ignition cylinder instead of the electronic switch. If your key or ignition cylinder is especially worn, you may be able to remove the key when the switch is still in the accessory or on position.
To fix this problem, you’ll need to make sure that the ignition switch is actually in the off position when you remove the key. That should allow the radio to turn off. In the long term, replacing the worn-out cylinder will fix the problem.
5. Check The Design of Radio
Check if your radio is designed to stay on for a set amount of time. Some car radios are on a timer, so they are designed to not shut off immediately. In this case, you’ll want to turn off your engine, remove the key, leave the vehicle, and shut the door. After a few minutes have passed, check if the radio has turned off.
If it still hasn’t turned off, check if the dome lights turn off when the doors are shut. If the dome lights don’t turn off, you might have a bad door switch. Otherwise, this type of problem usually requires help from a professional.
How to Prevent Car Radio From Turning On?
Above we have explained the reasons and solutions for car radio turns on without key. Here are some methods that you can follow to prevent the car radio from turning on without a key.
1. Make Sure Car Radio is Wired Correctly
If your car radio won’t turn off or it is intermittent (turns on and off frequently), the first thing you will have to do is to pull it out and check the wiring. This could be overwhelming when you remove the head unit to find the harness with many colored wires. Which one is for what, and how would you test to see if they are working correctly?
2. Faulty Ignition Switch
A faulty ignition switch may keep your radio from turning off. We know that your car radio should turn off when the ignition starts and should only stay on when the ignition is in the “off” position. To troubleshoot this problem, see if your radio stary on when you start the car, and if it does, the problem is most likely a faulty ignition.
In older model cars, ignition is easy to replace and relatively inexpensive; however, if you have a modern vehicle that works with software, electronic systems, and circuitry, you will need to have it repaired by a professional.
3. Shut-off delay problems
Some radios can be faulty, and when they are programmed to shut off after 10 minutes or when a door is opened, the radio could still stay on. If your radio does not have this feature, the problem could perhaps lay with a faulty door switch. To troubleshoot this, all you need to do is open and close the doors. Then check if the light on the roof of your car is turning on and off. If it is not while the door is open, then the problem may be a faulty door switch.
If the above-mentioned ways also fail to solve the problems then you will have to troubleshoot the problem,
- Manually turn off the radio using the power button or remote.
- If the keys are in the ignition, then set the ignition to the “off” position.
- If the car is off and the keys are out of the ignition, then open a door.
Conclusion
You can troubleshoot why my car radio turns on without key by carrying out the above-mentioned ways. These concepts are very easy to understand and are not very expensive. Your car radio’s main aspects to why it is not turning off was a wiring issue, a car ignition issue, or shut-off delay issue either from the radio itself or the door. It will be something that is minor and can be fixed without going to the extremes of purchasing a new radio or getting your entire car rewired.