Help. Radio is staying on with ignition off and key out

Gents, Just today my 2008 CS started acting up. I was parked and, prior to shutting it down, absent-mindedly took my foot off the clutch while in 1st and killed it. I thought "what the hell" and shut it down (because I was where I was going anyhow). Anyways... the radio stayed on after I took the key out of the ignition. I cycled the ignition - full left, then started the motor, but now, when I shut off the car and remove the key, the head unit remains powered on. For reference, this is an Pioneer Avic X930BT installed with a EuroMotorSpeed kit. I have had it in the car, problem free, for over 2 years now. This is the first time this has happened. The only way I can get it to shut off is to remove the little security panel. I don't know if stalling it screwed with it or what, but I've stalled it before with no such effect. I can just see this biting me in the butt and killing my battery if I forget to pop off the panel, so I'm looking for any kind of help you can provide. That, and I want to keep the car in order because I'm planning on selling it soon. All the fuses look good (even though I can't see how that would do matter). Is there some goofy mode I tripped or something? Help please. :helpme:

I've had similar odd things happen - e.g. radio goes on after I open the door but before putting the key in and, separately, popping noises in the radio as I turn the key. Indications are it is the ignition key module but haven't confirmed that yet.

Anything in particular you've done to troubleshoot? I haven't heard any noises or seen any other electrical anomalies thus far. I can only imagine what the dealership will charge for troubleshooting and repair of whatever it is, especially out of warranty.

Odd. Some guesses - I think the module gets the ignition key on/off signal from the CAN bus . Perhaps the module is fine, and the CAN bus is communicating that the key is on. If so maybe disconnecting/reconnecting the battery will reset the system. Another possibility is that the key switching has gone bad and is ON all the time; that when you restarted the car and turned the key left, then right that was the last straw and the switch has now failed. An experiment - wiggling it left/right with the key might be revealing. p.s. Keep in mind too that when you insert the key, at least on my car, the radio will turn on for about a minute, then turn off if you don't also turn the key. This implies that there is a bit more going on then simply sending an on/off signal from the key switch over the CAN bus .

Have you checked your battery ? I know it sounds odd, but I had all kinds of weird gremlin kind of behavior with my car, headlights wouldn't turn off, radio would turn on by itself (without me in the car), the volume level would increase on it's own, mute by itself, etc. The dealer even replaced the radio at one point but the odd issues continued. Turns out, the battery in the car had a dead cell and wouldn't hold a charge. Once the battery was replaced, all the issues went away. I'm not saying this is your issue, but just giving you another idea to research and troubleshoot.

Funny that you mention this. Today as I went to leave for work, the battery was dead. Thinking it was just the alarm had hit the 7 day mark, I unlocked the door and went to start the car. Dead as a doornail. And of course the key got stuck and the frunk is locked. Thank you Porsche for that bit of engineering. I picked up a WalMart Maxx H7 (based on input from here) and am about to embark on the swap. Hopefully it's just a bad battery causing the radio to act up and not something else smoking the battery . It is the OEM one I believe, so it's past the 5 year mark. I'll report back soon.

Alrighty. Swapped the battery out and the radio functions normally. Cane.MBA called it. Now that I think about it, in addition to the radio weirdness, the window drop with the door handles was acting a little wonky lately too. The driver side wouldn't drop until you pulled the handle out a bit more than normal, and then it wasn't as smooth or quick. Strange electrical gremlins those Germans have. Of course in the process of the swap, I discovered that whomever replaced the OEM battery threw away or lost the holddown clamp. It's in there loosely for now and I'll just take it really easy or park it till I can make it to the dealership. How much are you going to gouge me for this Porsche ? It's always something. For reference, the Wal-Mart Maxx H7 was $139.97 w/ a $9 core charge.

Glad your new battery fixed the problem. As mentioned earlier, my 09 CS had a popping/static noise in the radio when first inserting the ignition key. After replacing the head unit, then the amp, the dealer replaced the connector for the amp with an updated version (10 000-979-009-EA wires according to the work order). Problem fixed. The rep said there is a recent service bulletin on this. Bern

Good call Cane.MBA So Gremlins come out when batteries are low or in need of replacement?... interesting. I've noticed my own gremlin behavior on occasion when I take the key out of the ignition. I hear the chime with my dash warning saying that my "Running lights are On". I look up front and only my Left running light is lit. If I start up the car and let it run and turn it off again the chime + dash warning + running light are off. My CS is a 2008, so I must be running on the limits of its life expectancy. I've read nothing too favorable about Porsche stock batteries so maybe I should be considering a more durable replacement soon.

"I've noticed my own gremlin behavior on occasion when I take the key out of the ignition. I hear the chime with my dash warning saying that my "Running lights are On". I look up front and only my Left running light is lit. If I start up the car and let it run and turn it off again the chime + dash warning + running light are off. " What you are describing is what happens when your turn signal hasn't cancelled/returned to neutral and you turn off the motor. It's happened to me a few times and apparently it's supposed to in order to alert you that that turn signal light will stay on. I read it's something to do with the narrow street parking in some of Europe and those lights are left as a safety warning to passing traffic. Easy enough to test. Let us know.:cheers:

do you think the battery might have something to do in regards of the navi unite not powering up when i turn on the car. Started having this problem this past weekend ... worked fine in the morning, but in the evening it did not turn on ... then this morning it turned on on my way to work. but after i turned of the car it did not turn on.. hmmm lost in a thought process regarding this issue any one had this problem

actually to add to my problem i am getting the same stuff for my navi unite staying on after i turn of the car... or when i use the other key it shows a msg on the dash board above the speedometer that the Redio is off... I just had the problem with the unite staying on and had to turn it on and off a few times for it to turn off... Does anyone know how to check the battery to see if thats the problem is there a voltage that a health battery should read out?

Well good thing I had previously read this thread. The same just happened to me today, but I also noted the engine was turning over a bit slower. Replacing the battery likewise worked for me. The radio now shuts off when the key is turned off.