Battery drain after head unit install?

[haroldp]

I just bought a 2000 tubro beetle and the lady said after she had a aftermarket head unit installed they is a 1.5amp draw on the battery, she said the installer said this was normal for a beetle. She has a 1.5amp solar charger hook up all the time, but says after 4 or 5 days it will be dead anyway if not driven. I have never heard of this. I have looked over the posts here but still need help. Where would i start?

Thanks harold

[h_2_o]

was there a monsoon system in there? my guess is yes and the amp is what is drawing it, but have to ask.

[haroldp]

No clue about the monsoon system. I'v only had the bug for 1 day. I have read some posts on the monsoon, i'll start looking tomorrow to see if it had one. How can i tell?

[haroldp]

OK, they is no monsoon in the car. I checked the trunk and there is no amp, no speakers on the dash by the windsheild. Also the window sticker when new did not show it. The head unit turns off with the key out and will not turn back on. Now it will work if you leave the key in, but turned off.

Any help?

[dmbluebeetle]

1.5amps sounds like the radio is still powered up, I would be looking at the harness to the radio and make sure it's wired right.

[haroldp]

I have not checked the amp draw yet myself, the lady said her tec told her that. I pulled the radio and the wire harness off the unit has an adaper harness that plugs into the factory harness. Also there is a red wire that comes out of the antenna wire that is cut?
I'm going to put a meter on it tomorrow and pull the fuse to see how much amp draw.

[h_2_o]

the red antenna wire should be there they have powered antenna's. if you turn the car off and take out the key and have a door open can you still listen to the radio?

[VW Lady Bug]

Some of the aftermarket systems (especially if you have an aftermarket amp and capacitors installed as well) will continue to draw on the battery unless you manually power down the head unit itself. While it stops making noise when you remove the key, unless it's actually off it may still draw.

With Lady's set up I have to remember to power off the head unit every time I get out of the car.

[haroldp]

The red wire is just cut, does it need to power something? Also the radio turns off when i remove the key, but will play as long as the key is in. Also the head unit has very bad reception.

[squirreljuice]

It sounds like you have an amp somewhere and don't have the remote turn on hooked up to me. I know my stock amp was hidden behind the plastic panelling of the trunk. If it is the new head unit, I would take it to someone who knows what they're doing and ask them to see if the remote on is working.

[haroldp]

Car didn't come with monsoon system. Window sticker says am/fm cassette w/6 speakers. Where does the red wire coming out of the antenna wire hook to? I read that the antenna is a powered antenna and i guess the red wire goes to 12v somewhere.

[h_2_o]

normally that red wire either goes to the amp power on or the power antenna wire from the new head unit.

[haroldp]

Thanks