Radio always on when ignition is off!

[Glun34]

I’ve got an issue with the radio in my car and looking for some advice. I have continuity between the battery and accessory circuits, so the radio and clock in the dash are constantly powered on when the ignition is off. I’ve checked the ignition switch and it’s working as it should, and disconnected both the radio and clock to rule out any internal shorts. It looks like the short is either at the back of the fuse box, or somewhere in the wiring. One thing that doesn’t make sense is that if I pull fuse 29 (consumer cut-out) and then reseat the fuse again I lose continuity between the two circuits for a minute or so, and then it returns. The only wiring diagram I’ve come across is the one below. Is there a relay or something that’s missing from that diagram? Has anyone else had this issue?

 

[Gavin.]

Try swapping the yellow and red bullet connectors over so it’s yellow to red, red to yellow. One is permanently live the other is only live when ignition is on. It’s different in different models of cars.
Or used to be years ago anyway.

 

[Glun34]

Thanks for the reply mate. Will give it a go but I think i'll have the same issue as the short between the two circuits is after the fuse box, so both circuits are live at the back of the radio when the ignition is off.

 

[Gavin.]

Yeah that’s odd, try locking the car and see if both are still live. If so something is bodged somewhere.

 

[Glun34]

Yeah they're still live with the car locked unfortunately. It's really odd because it's been absolutely fine for years, and then one day it just decides to do this.

 

[Brigsy]

Ive had a quick look at clio2 ph2 wiring on visu.

Clio II Phase 2 - N.T.8234 - ...> 01/2003

Using visu for ref, radio is 261, fusebox is 1016, it seems to be linked to the cold air blower relay (233) and could be backfeeding it somehow in the underbonnet fusebox. Try pulling fuse 34 see if anything changes.

 

[Glun34]

Thanks @Brigsy! No difference unfortunately though. I'm pretty confident now that there's a short between the battery and accessory power circuits after the fuse box. You don't happen to have a drawing of where those circuits go after the fuse box when they head off to the radio? F7 and F29.

Starting to wonder if the loom is somehow damaged, although giving it a good shake around in the areas that I can grab hold of it makes no difference.

 

[Glun34]

@Brigsy do you know what "EBCC" and "ESP2E" are? and where they're located?

 

[Brigsy]

Wiring splice joins by the looks of it. I reckon the issue is pre fuse box, have you had test meter on it on the supply side to the fuse.

 

[Glun34]

Yes, with the ignition off the supply side of F7 is dead, however the other side (radio side) has 12V. With the ignition on both sides have 12V. Any ideas?

 

[Brigsy]

F7 supplies all of the above, time to start unplugging stuff to see if you can eliminate it/find out what circuit is backfeeding.

Ive no idea what central communication unit is - i get a feeling its part of the clock setup as it has 2x plugs. Is clock lit up all the time as ign on? Daft one- have you unplugged the radio?

 

[Glun34]

We're thinking the same thing! I've unplugged the radio and clock to rule out internal shorts, but no luck. I was just having a look at the electrical manual and reading about the central communication unit. Can’t locate it or work out what it actually is. Googling it just comes up with the body control module, but unplugging that makes no difference. I’ve taken out every relay in the engine bay and interior now and that makes do difference. What’s the courtesy mirror? The clock is lit up when the ignition is off and on. It’s a really frustrating issue because there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the car, but I can’t really use it because leaving it anywhere will just drain the battery with the radio and clock on. I’m really interested to know what this central communication unit is. Looking at the diagram you sent it’s the only other thing along with the clock and radio that both the battery and accessory power connections go to. Those are the two circuits that I’ve got continuity between, so in other words the radio and clock are constantly being powered off the battery connection.