remote 12 CD player always powered on
10-18-2014, 11:05 AM
#1
Heel & Toe
Thread Starter
remote 12 CD player always powered on
I just purchased a 2002 convertible last week (what a car!) and it has a remote (trunk mounted) Pioneer 12 disc CD player. My question is: Is the power always supposed to be on to this unit? With all the parasitic drain on these cars, this would seem to be a battery killer. I have disconnected the wire harness to the CD player until I can figure this out.
Can anyone provide some advise? Thanks.
Can anyone provide some advise? Thanks.
10-18-2014, 01:08 PM
#2
Le Mans Master
I just purchased a 2002 convertible last week (what a car!) and it has a remote (trunk mounted) Pioneer 12 disc CD player. My question is: Is the power always supposed to be on to this unit? With all the parasitic drain on these cars, this would seem to be a battery killer. I have disconnected the wire harness to the CD player until I can figure this out.
Can anyone provide some advise? Thanks.
Can anyone provide some advise? Thanks.
10-18-2014, 02:38 PM
#3
I just purchased a 2002 convertible last week (what a car!) and it has a remote (trunk mounted) Pioneer 12 disc CD player. My question is: Is the power always supposed to be on to this unit? With all the parasitic drain on these cars, this would seem to be a battery killer. I have disconnected the wire harness to the CD player until I can figure this out.
Can anyone provide some advise? Thanks.
Can anyone provide some advise? Thanks.
Last edited by thisMSGgood4me; 10-18-2014 at 02:41 PM.
10-19-2014, 07:20 AM
#4
Instructor
Member Since: Mar 2013
Location: Lenexa KS
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It always has power so you can eject or change the cartridge. They require very little power so you probably won't notice much if any difference having it disconnected.
10-19-2014, 09:22 AM
#5
Le Mans Master
If it were me with that setup (which it is not as I don't have the remote CD player in the back), I would rewire it so that the power is from a switched source. IMO there really is no good reason to have constant power to that unit, given the drain it puts on the battery. This of course would also mitigate some of the need for a battery tender (or at least reduce the need for it as frequently as some suggest).
Last edited by JR-01; 10-19-2014 at 10:17 AM.
10-19-2014, 11:45 AM
#7
Le Mans Master
10-19-2014, 12:14 PM
#8
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Nov 2008
Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada
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Unless you are a automotive electrical engineer, lol. No savings to be had by rewiring except grief...go out enjoy your new ride. Wishing you many happy miles/smiles. 
10-19-2014, 05:53 PM
#9
Apparently it uses more power than you think, always being "ON", if it's capable of running the battery down in only a week (as some here say).
10-19-2014, 06:00 PM
#10
How and why would you get an ERR message? The head unit is off when the ignition is OFF, and when the ignition is to either ACC or ON, the head unit and CD changer would be ON, therefore no ERR message.
10-19-2014, 06:03 PM
#11
Why do you think it takes an automotive electrical engineer to change an accessory from an unswitched power source to a switched power source? I don't think it does, but that's just my opinion.
10-19-2014, 06:08 PM
#12
Le Mans Master
Many of the electrical problems in these cars are caused by changing things from factory. The forums are filled with them.
10-19-2014, 07:04 PM
#13
Le Mans Master
For most sensor devices in the C5 this is a true statement. But for the 12 disk CD changer there is no sensor and hence no codes (DTC's) could ever be generated. I have a factory 12 disk changer in the back of my 04 C5 and the cable to it has been disconnected for years. No messages or codes what so ever.
Even when I press the AUX CD button on the radio there are NO messages. Of course the aux CD doesn't play and without knowing the cable is disconnected you have no clue as to why.
Even when I press the AUX CD button on the radio there are NO messages. Of course the aux CD doesn't play and without knowing the cable is disconnected you have no clue as to why.
I thought the changer was scanned since there is a code for the radio. U1128 Everything else seems to have a code. Just figured the changer would too.
I still think it's a bad idea to mess with the power to the changer.
Last edited by JR-01; 10-19-2014 at 07:08 PM.
10-19-2014, 07:30 PM
#14
Team Owner
There's a difference in having power to it, and being powered on. It is not powered on until you slide the door open to eject the cartridge, or turn the radio control unit on. Your power antenna has power to it, but doesn't drain the battery because the power isn't used until you turn the radio off or on. That's true of other circuits as well.
10-19-2014, 07:33 PM
#15
Le Mans Master
There's a difference in having power to it, and being powered on. It is not powered on until you slide the door open to eject the cartridge, or turn the radio control unit on. Your power antenna has power to it, but doesn't drain the battery because the power isn't used until you turn the radio off or on. That's true of other circuits as well.
