cx501 never turns completely off

This is a noob question, please be gentle. I have a 2000 Regal GS and I recently had a Clarion CX501 stereo installed by a local shop. About a month later, my car battery went completely dead, which never happens. I charged it back up, and it went dead again a few days later. Since the new stereo is the only thing that has changed, I suspect it is drawing from the battery. I have noticed that even when the car is completely off, the keys out of the ignition and the doors open, there is a quiet hiss from the speakers. Additionally, even though the stereo LOOKS off (no lights, no display lit) if I press the power button on the stereo during this time, I hear a low bass-y click in the speakers like when you turn on audio equipment. Nothing else happens (the stereo doesn't turn on), but it seems like I shouldn't hear that noise either. Is this expected behavior or does something sound fishy?

Sounds like a fishy install job to me.  Do you want to try and trouble shoot it or will you just take it back to the shop and have them fix it (and maybe demand that they buy you a new battery too)?Support the12volt.com

Thank you for your reply! I took it in to the car stereo shop today and they confirmed the stereo itself is installed and operating properly, but they suggested that the hiss is probably the amplifier never turning off. They said it could be a short somewhere that just keeps it on all the time, or something where the BCM isn't turning it off. So when I got home I pulled out the fuse for the Monsoon sound system, and sure enough the hiss stopped. Monday I'm planning on taking it in to have the BCM and amplifier looked at. Do you think I'm on the right track here?

According to information on metraonline.com, that vehicle has nothing data about it.  You need to make sure that they did not connect the amp turn on wire to a constant source.

Ah well you never said there was an amp involved.  Did the same shop install it?Support the12volt.com

No, it's still the "stock" amp that came with the car. It's a Monsoon system.

I would take out the deck and look at the wiring to see how they interfaced with the amp. As in how the deck is hooked into the wiring. Did you purchase a wiring harness when you had it installed? If yes we can walk you through some tests to see why the amp is staying on.Brad Marvin

yea it sounds like they might have hooked the amp turn on wire to a constant source or maybe the output on the radio is holding some power on that wire keeping the amp on. you might be able to fix it by wiring a relay to isolate the amp turn on wire from the radio. monsoon systems can be tricky sometimes

soundnsecurity wrote: monsoon systems can be tricky sometimes

Tricky and a PITA.  I say rip it out and replace it all. 

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