Hi everyone!

Today, after turning off my car, I realized the radio lights were still on. Sometimes the lights are erratically flashing. Turning the radio on, I was surprised that it works even though the ignition and key is out.

Problem is that the car radio isn't supposed to turn on while the car is off.

Has anyone experienced this problem or have any suggestions on how to fix it?

My car is a '93 Volvo 940 Turbo Sedan.

Thank you for your help!

-JM

 

I'm guessing its either bad wiring behind the dash, or your ignition switch is getting flakey and somtimes staying in Accessory (I) even when its removed.


Is this a factory radio, or a aftermarket stereo?

If you pull fuse 14 out (behind ashtray), does it stay out ?

note. Fuse 14 is not only the factory Radio, its also the power door mirrors, the cigar lighter, the tailgate washer, the tailgate wiper, and the ambient temperature sensor, if you have one. you probably don't want to leave it out, except to test this.

the factory radio is also connected to fuse 5, which is always on, and runs the clock, vanity mirrors, glove box and trunk lights, door warning lights, and alarm. most aftermarket stereos would use this for memory power.

 

Hi! Sorry for the late response! I was going through exam season. The radio is a factory model. When I pull out fuse 14, the radio does stop. I will probably leave fuse 14 out until I can bring it to the mechanic because I don't think this is something I can fix. So it's most likely the car being stuck in accessory mode?

Thanks for your help!

 

I'm inclined to suspect a short in the wiring somewhere.

 

Perhaps. There are times when I turn off the ignition and the radio turns off too. That happens once in a while. Hopefully it's an easy fix :/

 

ok, lets see. battery + goes to the 'positive terminal' (on my 740 its up under the driver dashboard), and from there 2 red wires go to 2 pin 30s' on the ignition switch... pin "X" on the ignition switch (on when ignition in I or II) has a black wire to fuses 14 and 16. fuse 14 has a orange wire to radio pin 11, ACC+

fuse 16 goes to the cabin fan if you have manual AC or just heat, or the electronic climate control unit if you have that. its just remotely possible that circuit is somehow back-feeding power to the radio, just for laughs, replace fuse 14, and pull fuse 16 and see if your problem persists.

 

Most likely your ignition switch is bad.

 

Looking this over again, yeah, lev is probably right.

I think I'd pull fuses 14 AND 16, then use a thin wire probe or something and a volt meter, and see if there's any juice on one side of those relative to ground when the ignition is off. there SHOULD be juice when the ignition is in I (accessory) or II (run).

 

the radio in my 81 245 turns on but no sounds from the speakers =/

 

thats an original radio? so its 32 years old?

the fix is a $120 new CD deck, I generally use Pioneer, Alpine, Kenwood, depending on which one has the least obnoxious front panel display in a given year. more $$ gets you things like bluetooth integration.

 

I agree, my best bet is to just buy a new deck, i think after 3 decades things tend to deteriorate.

But the tape deck that came with mine is actually an aftermarket radio, still from the 80's though =)