[FocusWorld]

I've been doing various repairs on my 2007 Focus ZX4, so it hasn't been driven lately. I found out that the battery goes dead if the car isn't started for about seven days or more.

I tracked down the problem and it's related to the radio. I removed the fuse for the radio and the battery stays charged. I'm able to start the car after it's been sitting for a month or two.

I guess this isn't a problem if the car is driven on a regular basis, but I'm wondering why the radio is draining the battery dead within a week? Any fix for this problem, or maybe the radio needs to be repaired/replaced? Thanks...

 

[pizzaboy192]

Is this the factory radio?

Are there any known additional features added (aux cable, Bluetooth, etc?)

Have you removed the radio yet to check for anything installed behind it that isn't factory? It's rather simple. The trim that holds the HVAC knobs, the 12v socket, etc has no screws. It's all clips. Pull it from the car and then 4 screws hold the radio into the dash.

There's every possibility if you're not the owner from the dealer that something has been added to either the radio, or the circuit to the radio for some benefit to the driver, and they never expected the vehicle to sit long enough for it to impact the battery.

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[FocusWorld]

Yes, it's the original radio/CD player. There are no visible add-on devices such as aux cables, Bluetooth, etc.

I was thinking there might be something wrong with the radio internally. It needs constant battery power to retain the time of day setting, so maybe a component in the radio has gone bad making it use too many amps... I'll pull the radio unit to see if anything is going on behind the radio... Thanks!

 

[cheap sleeper]

Radio failure is pretty common on fords.
Just put one of those Blaupunkt/ or DUAL/ or Pioneer MP3 players from Walmart in it.
They look just like a regular head unit, but they don't play cds. COSTS UNDER $20!!!

I bought 3 DUAL ones for my ZX3s and I like them. They are pretty loud and I haven't had any issues with them.
They get good reviews from others as well.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Blaupunkt-AM-FM-Bluetooth-Media-Receiver-Toronto/836526302?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222228261076405&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=311007787814&wl4=pla-627016554877&wl5=9012392&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=836526302&wl13=&veh=sem&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIys3394344QIViY3ICh3XUwB6EAQYAiABEgJiTfD_BwE

Here's the one I bought.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Dual-Electronics-XDM16BT-High-Resolution-LCD-Single-DIN-Car-Stereo-with-Built-In-Bluetooth-USB-MP3-Player/54596679

They have really cool double din touch screen ones for $100 from Sony, pioneer, and the cheap brands.

Yes, it's the original radio/CD player. There are no visible add-on devices such as aux cables, Bluetooth, etc.

I was thinking there might be something wrong with the radio internally. It needs constant battery power to retain the time of day setting, so maybe a component in the radio has gone bad making it use too many amps... I'll pull the radio unit to see if anything is going on behind the radio... Thanks!

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[pizzaboy192]

Radio failure is pretty common on fords.
Just put one of those Blaupunkt/ or DUAL/ or Pioneer MP3 players from Walmart in it.
They look just like a regular head unit, but they don't play cds. COSTS UNDER $20!!!

I bought 3 DUAL ones for my ZX3s and I like them. They are pretty loud and I haven't had any issues with them.
They get good reviews from others as well.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Blaupunkt-AM-FM-Bluetooth-Media-Receiver-Toronto/836526302?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222228261076405&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=311007787814&wl4=pla-627016554877&wl5=9012392&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=836526302&wl13=&veh=sem&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIys3394344QIViY3ICh3XUwB6EAQYAiABEgJiTfD_BwE

Here's the one I bought.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Dual-Electronics-XDM16BT-High-Resolution-LCD-Single-DIN-Car-Stereo-with-Built-In-Bluetooth-USB-MP3-Player/54596679

They have really cool double din touch screen ones for $100 from Sony, pioneer, and the cheap brands.


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I've been tempted to pick up the $30 7010B Android Mirrorlink unit to mess with personally. I'm expecting abysmal audio quality since they're horrid cheap components but put it in front of a quality amp and tuner and it wouldn't be half bad.

That said, most junkyards will sell you either a third party head unit with wiring or a factory radio for $15-20

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[BowerR64]

Are you sure its just the radio?

Ive been laid up in be for a while and i havnt driven my car for a while and when i first got out of the hospital mine was going dead after a couple of weeks and i have an aftermarket "kenwood" unit.

I thought it was the alarm, when i lock my doors i have a little light on the dash that blinks constantly

Ide like to try it, but what fuse goes to the radio? if i could pull that rathe rthen unhook the battery every day ide rather do that.

 

[billkandi]

Does your cd player work? I've had 2 6006's with bad cd mech's that caused a battery drain. Pulled the fuse, no drain. Two diff radio's same car 02 ZX5.

 

[Vohaul]

Are you sure its just the radio?



Ive been laid up in be for a while and i havnt driven my car for a while and when i first got out of the hospital mine was going dead after a couple of weeks and i have an aftermarket "kenwood" unit.



I thought it was the alarm, when i lock my doors i have a little light on the dash that blinks constantly



Ide like to try it, but what fuse goes to the radio? if i could pull that rathe rthen unhook the battery every day ide rather do that.

The little light on your dash that blinks constantly is the PATS system, Fords antitheft system


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[Paul1958]

what fuse goes to the radio?

There are three fuses that power the stock radio (all located in the CJB):
F31 (20A) - Hot at all times
F41 (7.5A) - Hot in RUN or ACCY
F62 (7.5A) - Hot in START

If you are getting a constant drain thru the radio with the ignition switch off then you need to remove F31.

Paul

 

[amc49]

If the battery is getting old even normal drain can kill it that fast. Normally it takes a month or so undriven to run one down. If the car sits you should always yank a cable anyway, they ALL pull more power sitting than they used to, the computer memory does it.

 

[pizzaboy192]

If the battery is getting old even normal drain can kill it that fast. Normally it takes a month or so undriven to run one down. If the car sits you should always yank a cable anyway, they ALL pull more power sitting than they used to, the computer memory does it.

On my spare car (a 1994 Chevy commuter car) I installed a quick shutoff switch like they use for racecar's and show cars. It cost $8 off the internet and just bolts to your existing wiring. Worth it for cars rarely used. Just turn a knob and the battery is reconnected

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