Possible Electrical Issue - Ford Focus?

[Warwick Hunt]

I drive a 57 plate Ford Focus and for a few days last week, I noticed that when I went back to the car after an unspecified length of time (e.g. a working day) I would notice the radio was on. I would think nothing of it as I thought I had merely left the radio on myself and I was just losing it. However earlier this week as I tried to start it to head to work, the battery had drained out completely. The AA man got it going again, but I am having to nip out for 5 minutes every few hours to start the engine to keep enough charge in the battery and the radio has been on every time I headed out to the car.

Has anyone else (especially other Ford Focus owners) had this issue and can offer me advice, or can anyone else with a bit more motor/engine sense than me possibly shed some light on what is happening/why it's happening so when I do take it in to the garage (I can't get it in for a few days unfortunately) I can sund like I know what could be going on?

Any help you can throw in my direction is gratefully received!

 

[Weebl]

Standard radio?

little security panel that can be removed (buttons two to five)?

If so, take it off, the plastic in it has probably warped a little bit and is making the contacts. You can give it a bit of a bend to try to sort it.

When you get a blokey to look at it, get him to wire the radio properly, so that without the keys in, it does not work.

 

[Craig855s]

Standard radio?

little security panel that can be removed (buttons two to five)?

If so, take it off, the plastic in it has probably warped a little bit and is making the contacts. You can give it a bit of a bend to try to sort it.

When you get a blokey to look at it, get him to wire the radio properly, so that without the keys in, it does not work.

Is the power button sticky at all?

Justanswers.com says (to a question about the radio fascia being on for 10 mins after locking)

Hi there Boris , i have just had a quick look at the GEM functions on your car and this is perfectly normal for this vehicle , it is called a battery saver functions and starts 10 minutes after locking the vehicle , This is carried out by the GEM module through the power saving relay which is located inside the GEM, it starts by turning off the constant power supply to the footwell lights /audio unit /interior lamps etc,,,

Then after 30 minutes all waring signals or current consumers are shut down to save battery voltage , so theres no need to worry about it as its perfectly normal for this style of vehicle

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Expert: Gallagher99
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Answered: 6/8/2009

FORD SENIOR TECHNICIAN

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This may imply your GEM module or power saving relay is the fault

 

[busby1971]

Take the fuse out if this sorts it you know the problem.

By the way you've got a five year old car, batteries tend to be good for five years might be time to buy a new one.

Sent with predictive text, apologies for bad wording

 

[Teh Wal]

By the way you've got a five year old car, batteries tend to be good for five years might be time to buy a new one.

Hmmm, not necessarily true in this day and age, it very much depends on the nature of your journeys. Constant short trips day in, day out may well shorten the life of the battery but interspersed with long trips will make a huge difference. For instance my last Focus (2000 model) had the original battery still fitted when I flogged it last year. My Sierra still had the original (13 year old) battery fitted when I sold that back in 2003. My missuses Fiesta's battery was 10 years old when she flogged the car (and all she did was mainly short journeys).

Weebl: I know the security strip that you are talking about but from 2005 the audio units are of a different style and no longer feature the removable button strip.


If it is the GEM according to the Haynes manual it needs to be changed by a Ford garage because the unit settings need to be saved prior to removal and then the new one needs initialisng utilising the Ford WDS diagnostic tester. Don't look cheap if you ask me DT_Xtremez_26:

It's certainly an odd little fault. If you turn the radio off before you switch off the engine does the radio still come back on by itself? How long does it take for the radio to switch itself on? I'd be considering the on/off switch on the radio rather than the car power saving system due to the fact that with the key out of the ignition you actually need to press the on/off switch to switch the radio on. The GEM then switches the radio off automatically after 60 minutes.

 

[gemarriott]

Is the power button sticky at all?

Justanswers.com says (to a question about the radio fascia being on for 10 mins after locking)



This may imply your GEM module or power saving relay is the fault

OI it's fcuk all to do with meDT_Xtremez_42:

 

[Shackfairy]

Phantom Radio switch-on

Phantom Radio switch-on

Had exactly this problem with my VW Golf. Radio used to switch itself on at random when car was parked. Car was under warrenty and the garage said
the radio was faulty and replaced it. No problem after that.