Pioneer avh draining battery
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,329
Likes: 346
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
The constant power comes from the RADIO ACCY fuse in the dash fuse panel. It splits into two feeds somewhere behind the dash (I don't know exactly where). So the best way to install your relay is behind the dash someplace close to the back of the fuse panel while it's still a single wire.
To connect the relay, you would cut the orange wire (make sure you have disconnected the battery first because that wire is live) at some location where you have enough slack to make the connections. Connect pin 30 to the orange wire coming from the fuse panel. Connect pin 87 to the other side of the orange wire going to the amp. Connect pin 86 to the blue/white remote turn-on wire from the aftermarket head unit (actually from the harness adapter) - you would likely have to extend it to reach. You can use the solid blue wire if necessary but that is really for power antenna control so some HUs might turn it off when using an audio source other than radio. Finally, connect pin 85 to ground - either a metal chassis ground behind the dash or the black wire in the radio harness.
To connect the relay, you would cut the orange wire (make sure you have disconnected the battery first because that wire is live) at some location where you have enough slack to make the connections. Connect pin 30 to the orange wire coming from the fuse panel. Connect pin 87 to the other side of the orange wire going to the amp. Connect pin 86 to the blue/white remote turn-on wire from the aftermarket head unit (actually from the harness adapter) - you would likely have to extend it to reach. You can use the solid blue wire if necessary but that is really for power antenna control so some HUs might turn it off when using an audio source other than radio. Finally, connect pin 85 to ground - either a metal chassis ground behind the dash or the black wire in the radio harness.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Nova Scotia
No luck with relay I have installed the relay with no luck. I am at my witts end. i uninstalled the relay and found my old factory stereo and did what you suggested. And works just fine with the factory stereo.
my only conclusion is that the blue/white wire from the pioneer harness(remote) is hooked up to the wrong wire. It is the only wire in question. I know this wire controls the remote amp turn on, but researched everywhere and says to connect to the power antenna wire to the car(blue wire). In addition, with this connected this way, my amp is working(speakers have sound) and my antenna works as advertised.
i researched and found that if the remote wire was not hooked up properly, the amp simply would not work at all.
Can you shed some light on if I in fact have the blue/white wire from the HU is hooked up properly? This must be the issue. If it is, how should this wire be connected?
my only conclusion is that the blue/white wire from the pioneer harness(remote) is hooked up to the wrong wire. It is the only wire in question. I know this wire controls the remote amp turn on, but researched everywhere and says to connect to the power antenna wire to the car(blue wire). In addition, with this connected this way, my amp is working(speakers have sound) and my antenna works as advertised.
i researched and found that if the remote wire was not hooked up properly, the amp simply would not work at all.
Can you shed some light on if I in fact have the blue/white wire from the HU is hooked up properly? This must be the issue. If it is, how should this wire be connected?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Nova Scotia
Pic of harness 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,329
Likes: 346
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
Is that a splice under the bundle of tape at the far left of the first photo (green, blue, black wires)? If so, that's definitely not correct. That blue wire should go to the coil terminal (#86) of the relay you added.
If the drain is indeed coming from the amp and you correctly added the relay to cut off power to the amp through the orange wires from the fuse panel then there's no way you could still have the amp drawing power while the ignition is off.
If the drain is indeed coming from the amp and you correctly added the relay to cut off power to the amp through the orange wires from the fuse panel then there's no way you could still have the amp drawing power while the ignition is off.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Nova Scotia
Sorry. I just removed the relay completely. When I hooked it up the stereo would not work at all. This is the origional set up. The blue/white is going to the straight blue and the bypass module. That is not a splice, it is the bypass module I got from amazon to bypass the dvd player.
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,329
Likes: 346
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
The only way the relay would not work if it is connected as described is if either the relay is defective or there is no power coming through the blue/white wire from the head unit to make it trip.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Nova Scotia
Well Whitebird. I really thank you for the help. I have come to this conclusion. Last nite I disconnected the blue/white wire from the blue wire and installed the unit to see if it still drained. And it did. My power antenna would not work(obviously) but the stereo worked and still drained the battery.
my conclusion after trying two stereos, exchanging my pioneer for a new better model, and trying the relay(which I may have installed wrong) is that the monsoon amp simply does not get along with the pioneer unit. I hate quitting but it has been almost a month of headache that I cannot figure out. So my answer;
i have just upgreded my new jeep wrangler with a kenwood DPX502bt. I am going to swap the units. Shitty part is that the poineer is touchscreen and has the camera installed for backing up. Oh well. I will still have Bluetooth, hands Free, Sirius and many other features. Plus the poineer makes more sense on the jeep for the camera with a tow package. In addition to, the jeep has no amplifier. But will sound kickass because I just upgraded my speakers with new kickers.
Sad to say but I am defeated on this one. Thank you for your help. I will update you on the other unit and come to you if I run in to any issues. You have been awesome help.
my conclusion after trying two stereos, exchanging my pioneer for a new better model, and trying the relay(which I may have installed wrong) is that the monsoon amp simply does not get along with the pioneer unit. I hate quitting but it has been almost a month of headache that I cannot figure out. So my answer;
i have just upgreded my new jeep wrangler with a kenwood DPX502bt. I am going to swap the units. Shitty part is that the poineer is touchscreen and has the camera installed for backing up. Oh well. I will still have Bluetooth, hands Free, Sirius and many other features. Plus the poineer makes more sense on the jeep for the camera with a tow package. In addition to, the jeep has no amplifier. But will sound kickass because I just upgraded my speakers with new kickers.
Sad to say but I am defeated on this one. Thank you for your help. I will update you on the other unit and come to you if I run in to any issues. You have been awesome help.
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Teching In
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Nova Scotia
Update So I did the swap and it has been two days now. Both stereos are working perfect. No drain on batteries. It is a mystery. All I can guess is that pioneer AVH modals do not like the monsoon amps. The Kenwood is working great. Oh well. Thanks for the help.