2nd Dead Battery and Speaker Noise

[CruizerHound]

So I'm looking for a little help with a reoccurring dead battery and some driver side speaker noise.

Details:
2000 LC
NO MODS
NO Aftermarket parts
Always serviced at dealer
Electric trailer brake control installed 2007

This started last summer (2012) when the lower driver side speaker started to make a crackle sound (pretty loud) as I open the door, even with the car OFF. I replaced the battery in August, and now it's dead again.

Before I start digging around in the door, has anyone seen this before? Could there be a short in the speaker killing the battery? Why am I hearing this noise with the car off?

Nothing worse than having to get a jump from your wife's Volvo grocery getter.

-Jake

 

[DMX84]

Try connecting a test light between the negative terminal and the battery connection- should only barely light up (Normal stereo memory etc).
Now have someone open the door and verify the sound problem (make sure your dome lights are off) while you watch the test light to change. If it gets brighter as the noise is happening you have located the area.
Hope this helps.
DMX

 

[CruizerHound]

Its baaaaack

Completely dead battery this morning. I hooked up the test light and it worked really well. Thanks for that awesome trick!

With the door closed the light looked pretty bright to me. When I opened the door the light got a lot brighter and stayed that way. I made sure the dome lights were turned off. Shut the door and the light stayed bright.

I pulled all the fuses in the engine bay and when I pulled the radio fuse the light went off.

To get a better reading I hooked up my volt meter, and of course both fuse in that are blown.

Could the radio stay on even after the car is turned off?

Any idea about how much current it takes to keep the radio memory going with the car off?

 

[Sandroad]

I have not measured the actual radio draw (I'm having dead battery issues too), but it could so small as to be irrelevant. Keeping a few transistors alive while the ignition is off needs a tiny about of power (even a AA battery could provide memory power). However, it is also possible that an inefficient design uses more than necessary. If you're into trial and error testing, leave the radio fuse out for a while and see if the battery discharges too much while the ignition is off. Unless there is something else on the radio fuse that's needed in your LC. That test could tell you if the radio circuit is causing the problem.

 

[DMX84]

Completely dead battery this morning. I hooked up the test light and it worked really well. Thanks for that awesome trick!

With the door closed the light looked pretty bright to me. When I opened the door the light got a lot brighter and stayed that way. I made sure the dome lights were turned off. Shut the door and the light stayed bright.

I pulled all the fuses in the engine bay and when I pulled the radio fuse the light went off.

To get a better reading I hooked up my volt meter, and of course both fuse in that are blown.

Could the radio stay on even after the car is turned off?

Any idea about how much current it takes to keep the radio memory going with the car off?

It would depend on how your stereo is wired - if its stock it will turn off with the key. Some new cars will stay on for a bit (or until a door is opened).
Do you have any aftermarket electronics wired that may be tapping into the radio power circuit? Your radio should only barely light up the test light and sounds like you have a bit of a draw there.

 

[CruizerHound]

Sorry for the delay, Im moving this week.

A funny thing happened this weekend. My wife drove the 100 following me as I moved my back hoe. When we got to the new job site she got out turned the truck off and got out so I could drive. When I got in the stereo was still on and no key was in the ignition. It looks like you can remove the key in the ACC position.

I dont know if the key is worn out or the lock.

I am pretty sure I would have noticed leaving the radio on when I would get out myself.

This still doesn't explain the driver door speaker crackle.

I ordered some new fuses for my multi meter ad should be able to measure the draw then.

-Jake