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RNS-E is killing my battery

7146 Views 16 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  vs2
Like the subject says for some reason the RNS is killing my battery if it sits for a bit. I was gone for a few days and when I came back the battery was completly dead and was ready 4 volts. Also when I connected the charger music started playing and the unit was off and there wasn't a key in the car. What all should I check?
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Oh yeah I have a 2003 A6 with bose.
Dead battery

Hello!

Did you install this system by your self? Maybe you have non switched power going for amplifiers wake up wire... this could cause battery wore out. If this is the case, the amp. is on all the time... when it normally should be on only when RNS-E is giving inginition info... Check this first!
Yup that was the issue. The wiring harness I got had the number 13 and 16 pins backwards. It took me awhile to figure out because I was thinking they would have gotten that right. But I hooked up the volt meeter and looked at the pin descriptions on the site and that was very easy to fix. I don't know if I just got a bad wiring harness or they are all like that. *shurgs*
cobidawg said:
I don't know if I just got a bad wiring harness or they are all like that. *shurgs*
Seems we on this forum know more about the correct connections than some of the suppliers of adapters - shame they don't read this forum more...
I've just left my car for three days and come back to find the battery dead flat. I also have a 2003 C5 (RS6) with BOSE.

How the heck do you pull those little pins out!!! to change the 13&16 connectors

Thanks.
The "proper" way is with a removal tool, but I always use one of the medium size flat blade screwdrivers from a jewellers screwdriver set.

You need to remove any plastic tabs that will prevent the terminals being pushed backwards, then press down on the locking tab with the screwdriver and push back on the terminal. Don't forget to put the plastic tabs back in afterwards.
a good way of finding out if the amp turns off as suggested by a forum member here...

stay in the car set the alarm and in a minute or two you should here the amp turn off. I did this and mine shuts off. If it doesnt shut off then you will probably need to re-wire.
Thanks. I just did that and it does shut off after a minute (get a loud noise through the speakers when it happens)

So, whats causing my battery drain then? Was ok with the Symp. II unit.
vs2 said:
Thanks. I just did that and it does shut off after a minute (get a loud noise through the speakers when it happens)

So, whats causing my battery drain then? Was ok with the Symp. II unit.
Haven't checked or noticed yet on our batteries, but in most cases there should be an indicator that tells you if the battery is still good or bad. It could be that you have a bad battery. I've seen this happen.

Again, if our batteries have one of those green/red indicators check to see what color it is. If its green then the battery is good and something is using your battery and draining it, if its red, then you have a bad battery that cant be charged anymore.

just some stuff to look into.
PetrolDave said:
The "proper" way is with a removal tool, but I always use one of the medium size flat blade screwdrivers from a jewellers screwdriver set.

You need to remove any plastic tabs that will prevent the terminals being pushed backwards, then press down on the locking tab with the screwdriver and push back on the terminal. Don't forget to put the plastic tabs back in afterwards.
See my links below for pix of the wire/pin extraction tools. Very...very handy!!!
PetrolDave said:
cobidawg said:
I don't know if I just got a bad wiring harness or they are all like that. *shurgs*
Seems we on this forum know more about the correct connections than some of the suppliers of adapters - shame they don't read this forum more...
Someone should put together a collection of: "Common installation, and troubleshooting issues"

The "lack" of a Speed signal / GALA wire comes up a lot...
I took my car to Audi and the battery was shot so they replaced it, but they said the car has a 600mah drain through the radio somewhere (fuse37)

I can hear my amp go off after sitting in the car for 1 minute. Should I change wires 13 & 16 like in the post up a few? What colours should they be?

Any ideas on what else may be causing this drain.

Thanks.
I think its the Phatbox.
Does it matter where the CD Changer harness is grounded as before when I has the S2 radio the phatbox did not work unless I had a ground wire connected directly from the phatbox itself. Now with the RNS-e I put the CD harness ground cable directly to the chassis of the RNS-e and it works but could this cause a constant 600mah draw with ignition off?

Sorry, I'm NO electrician.
vs2 said:
Does it matter where the CD Changer harness is grounded as before when I has the S2 radio the phatbox did not work unless I had a ground wire connected directly from the phatbox itself. Now with the RNS-e I put the CD harness ground cable directly to the chassis of the RNS-e and it works but could this cause a constant 600mah draw with ignition off?
Where the cable goes won't affect the current drain, only whether the fast digital signals used to control the CD changer work. So, NO, the position of your ground cable won't be the cause of the 600mA drain.
OK, It was the same problem, terminals 13 & 16...???

Thanks.
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