stereo wont shut off upon exit

Doonatic · May 8, 2017

03 2500hd, (originally equipped with Bose) 6.0L 4x4 LT Crew 204k. Recently, (within the last 8 months), I have noticed the Sony head unit that I installed (in 2005) is not shutting off, after the key is out of the ignition, the door is opened (also closed) and keyless entry is activated, along with all perimeter lighting and interior lighting shut off. I have tried every configuration. Regardless everything is supposed to shut off when the driver door is opened and the key is out of the ignition. I have replaced the instrument cluster, due to its failure a year or two ago, and recently replaced the climate control (due to it decreasing temp, when turning to increase temp). It has drained a red top Optima battery Saturday night. Ipod is disconnected, cell phone charger unplugged, auxiliaries unplugged, and the stereo is still receiving power from some place, preventing it from shutting off. Sometimes upon exit, the stereo will activate the back up camera, and show on the screen. Short of tearing the whole dash apart and trying to find out why the stereo wont shut off, I'm hoping that someone will have an idea. Its getting to be too quiet without background noise, such as music.

Formulabruce · May 9, 2017

The original radio had a timer circuit in it. You must have hooked the accy wire to a 'timed" circuit when installed, it might be shorted on a hot wire somehow. My double Din Sony is hooked to a acc that shuts off radio when key is off now.

davester · May 9, 2017

You have to tear into the dash. If your radio turned off when you open the door (vs turning off with the key), then you have a 3rd party unit to support RAP, and it isn't working right. You have to figure out why or replace it.

Maybe you pinched/cut a wire for the radio when you were working on the climate controls?

Doonatic · May 9, 2017

Formulabruce, and davester, I ordered my Sony from Crutchfield, and they send a wiring harness with it, per your vehicle. Its pretty much plug and play, however, with complex wiring systems of the late, auto manufacturers put many different components in series, and could screw stuff up. when I installed it in 2005, I never had any issues, until about 3 years ago.

Davester, as for a 3rd party unit to support RAP, can you clarify? AS for the climate controls, I believe the last unit that went out was defective. the new unit works, like it should, however, it is just always cool, unless on 90 degrees.

jake111 · May 9, 2017

Since it worked for a long time, and it's doing what my '04 often does . . . door latch. If you open the door and the radio doesn't shut off, you can try sticking a screw driver in the door latch and vigorously jiggle the latch up/down. At least on mine, it will get whatever contact is in there to work and the radio will go off, usually.

Some, including me, have tried shooting WD-40 or a penetrating oil into the latch to try to get to work better. I also tried readjusting the striker bar a little higher (seemed to work at first, then not so much). Actually, mine has started working again (but I'll soon regret saying that, I'm sure).

davester · May 9, 2017

That '3rd party unit' is the wiring harness. It will have a little module that handles RAP and turns the power on and off to the radio.

I'm not saying the climate control itself is the problem, but maybe as part of replacing it, the harness for the radio got altered in some way, accidentally. You said you recently worked on it, so maybe something happened while doing the work.

And maybe test if it is the wiring harness or the door latch. Other things should happen when you open the door, like courtesy lights going on, power windows should stop working with the key off, dome light should go off in 20-30 seconds when you close the door.

Formulabruce · May 10, 2017

Start with the yellow ACC wire on your Sony, trace it. I am curious to know how its hooked up as I have a Sony system now.

Doonatic · May 23, 2018

So its been a year since this incident has taken place, and one of my Navy mechanic Brothers has informed me that it is the door jamb switch. Common problem with RAP and Gm products. I have searched everywhere and short of trying to find one at a junk yard, do you guys know anyplace that would sell that switch?