I have a 1997 F150 that recently started having the following issues:
1. The door chime dings with the door open whether or not the key is in the ignition (and my headlights are not on...)
2. The radio stays on when the key is out.
3. The battery will drain if I leave it connected for a couple days and don't start it up. (The radio is off, and the door chime is not dinging 'cause the door is closed, so I am not sure what is draining the battery.)
Here's what I have done so far...
1. I've tested the ignition switch and looked at the cylinder in the steering column that moves the ignition switch. The cylinder looks good and the ignition switch ohms out correctly.
2. I've made sure the GEM is getting power and I removed it and made sure it looked OK. (I looked for burnt parts, ohmed out resistors, caps, etc to make sure they are OK.) There is an FPGA on there that could be messed up, but I think if that was the case, I would have bigger problems.)
3. I uninstalled the alarm module, the remote start module and the 6-disk CD changer (all of these were aftermarket and installed by a local shop) I removed the alarm and remote start because I also had an issue with the truck continuing to run after I took the key out. Removing them fixed this problem.
Last night I was trying to debug the problem some more and I found out that the door chime will stop dinging when I disconnect the radio.
I also found that the Accessory Delay Relay will click when I disconnect the radio and it clicks again when I connect the radaio again.
So now my questions are:
1. What does the Accessory Delay Relay do? I know it allows me to use the power windows for a period of time after I shut off the vehicle, but why does it switch with the radio connecting or disconnecting? (I don't remember the radio staying on for a period of time when I shut the vehicle off...maybe the guys at BestBuy who installed my radio didn't hook this feature up correctly.)
2. Why would my door chime stop dinging when the radio is disconnected?
Keep in mind, I have had this radio in my truck for about 5 years, and haven't had the door chime (accessories staying powered up) issue till recent months.
It seems like I need a more detailed schematic of the Radio, Door Chime, and Accessory Delay Relay circuits. (The Haynes manual just doesn't cut it...) Know where I can get this?
Any help or ideas would be much appreciated.
Thanks. :)
Wow, I'd probably disconnect the illumination wire from the wiring harness at the deck and see if that does anything, or turn the lights on and off while taking readings with your multimeter. There may be a problem inside the deck itself. That could be why the chime stops when the radio is removed. You might try temporarily connecting the factory deck to see if the problem stays or goes away. That's about the best I can do. I hope this helps.
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My ex once told me I have a perfect face for radio.
How about factory or aftermarket radio? If aftermarket how is it wired, with an adapter harness or hardwired?
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Certified Security Specialist
Always check info with a digital multimeter.
I promise to be good.
Tell Darwin I sent you.
I've been sick lately, sorry I won't be on much.
well, i put the factory radio back in and my problems went away. the door chime works properly, the radio goes off when it should and the battery no longer drains.
The only thing I noticed about the aftermarket radio installation was that one of the grounds was not connected. (according to the electrical diagrams in my haynes manual, there are 2 grounds going to the radio...) so maybe that had something to do with my problem.
Thanks for the replies. My electrical problems are finally gone.
ANYONE WANT TO BUY A TRUCK?
hey the door chiming will stop with a spray of wd-40 in the door latch too, i had a 96 that had the same problem