So my ‘98 ‘Burb started a new thing. Walk up to the truck after being parked all night and the factory stereo is playing! Keys still in my hand, haven’t unlocked the doors yet. All factory stock. Have owned the truck since October ‘20 and this just started. Nothing else works that’s not supposed to when the stereo is on. Turning on the wipers shuts the stereo off as well as the power windows on/off switch on the drivers door. Actually any window button will stop the stereo though the windows don’t move (they work fine with the key on). This sounds like it’s going to be a PITA to track down! Accessory circuit via the key switch maybe? To make matters worse, it s not all the time though last night it did turn off with the key, but five seconds later it came back on! It was still on when I went to work this morning (I did turn off the stereo to minimize power drain, but the display with the clock stayed on when it is normally off). Just replaced the battery in November.

Accessory circuit via the key switch maybe? That's probably a long shot.

 

Ok, 1998 is about 22 years old. My own policy is that once a vehicle gets that old, then one does not need to fix stuff to "as new" condition.

So, if mine - I might just get a toggle switch and use that to interrupt the "switched positive voltage" line to the stereo (which would leave the clock/station memory intact) or I might just wire that "switched positive voltage" wire to a different switched circuit at the fuse box.

 

Thought about that that, but if power were also flowing where it didn't belong or it was due to a short, it could lead to other nastry issues down the road.

 

Update: So was thinking on the way home, what circuits would have power all the time and include the radio? The memory line! Looked in the manual, it’s fuse #19 in the dash. Pulled it and the radio went off!

Guessing there is an internal short in the radio.

Will have to wait till the weekend to pull the radio and open it up.