Radio / Other Systems Won't Shut Off

Asked by kfletchk Sep 15, 2016 at 12:54 AM about the 1998 Ford F-150 STD LB

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

Over the past few weeks my truck has been draining its battery while I let it
sit (sometimes for just a half hour or so). When I remove my key I know the
battery stays connected because my radio won't shut off (only sometimes),
the passenger airbag light will flicker, and I hear a clicking sound (that
makes the same sound as the hazard lights but with no particular rhythm)
underneath the dash with my theft light flickering. When I come back to my
truck (even overnight) sometimes it will start and sometimes it will die. On
top of that, I do not know if it has anything to do with it, my gauges won't
come on for 10-15 seconds and the warning lights on my dash won't work
except for the first 5 seconds of start-up. I replaced my ignition cylinder
because it froze up at the same time that this started happening. Thinking it
is a short somewhere but do not know where to start or any other
suggestions? (Alternator is about a year and a half old and upgraded,
battery is probably about the same age).

8 Answers

73,250

If the problem is intermittent and affecting the radio and other components, determine if you have an accessory relay in the fuse box. If so, remove and replace. They are not that expensive. The relay should shut off the power to those systems after a certain amount of time, if your vehicle is so equipped.

17 people found this helpful.
73,250

Also, check your owners manual's radio section. If there is a relay it should say something like; your radio will stay on for "X" number of minutes after the ignition is switched to "off" if the key remains in the ignition and drivers door is not opened.

14 people found this helpful.
90

My 2015 F150 had the same problem. I have a remote start fob for my truck. The fob was dropped into a cooler and caused the battery to corrode. When I changed out the battery and started the truck with the remote, and then turned the truck off with a key everything went back to normal. All accessories now turn off when I open the door. Hope this helps.

9 people found this helpful.
240

My 2015 F150 did this today. Volume knob worked, doors locked, dome light went off when door was shut, everything worked normally except the radio would not turn off. I had to pull Fuse #32 on the passenger side fuse panel, and reinstall it. It fixed the problem.

24 people found this helpful.
200

My radio stays on when I take key out and wipers work on there own and now the high beams come on by them selves And low beams as well , like it’s doing it by it self ?? Where do I start to look for this problem ?? Is it the ignition switch or the wiper switch ??

20 people found this helpful.
240

FUSE #32 - UNINSTALL and subsequent REINSTALL FUSE #32 fixed the problem of radio not turning off and draining the battery on my F150, 2016 model. Inspection of my fuse show no defect and simple reinstallation took care of everything (like rebooting a computer). Thank you Lumberjack1982 for this fix! Other devices that were not working BEFORE this fix also included: no dome light, no A/C, no driver or passenger window control, no right or left turn signals, and no running board extension. This particular fuse box is located on the far right passenger side (next to a passenger's right foot - see owner's manual).

24 people found this helpful.
40

We have a 2017 Ford 150 when we get in truck it shows shut off ignition or start the truck what is it trying to tell us?

4 people found this helpful.
10

FFXKS Did you figure out your problem?

1 people found this helpful.

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