Re: Accessories

[Chris Woodward <cwoodwar@bellsouth.net>]

Andrew Duane USG/PE wrote:

> My new A6QW has a slightly different arrangement. When the car
> is turned off, the radio stays on as long as the key is in the
> ignition. When I remove the key, the radio goes off, then I have
> to turn the car on again to make it play.



Andrew--try this.  After you turn the key off and pull it out, the raido will
shut off, correct?  Much better than the older cars that leave it on to drain
the battery warning you only with a bell.  But, what if you want to listen to
the radio but have the security of NOT leaving your key in the ignition.  Well,
turn the power off, then back on to the radio, after you've pulled the key out.
I bet 10 bucks it will come back on.  Neat, eh?

Now, to answer Steve's question.  On my fiancee's 80, I used the power mirror
fuse.  It's on when the car is on, off when the car is off.  Just connect it to
the lead on the radio which was designed for switched current.  The fuse box on
her car was in the engine compartment, so it is a little tricky to get a wire
thru the firewall, but it can be done.  If you give up on the thru-firewall
approach, there is always a way to run it behind the fender and then through the
door weatherstripping.  Just a little hole in the weatherstripping and seal it
back up with silicone after the wire is thru.  This wire doesn't have to be huge
because the switched lead only draws like 0.1 amp.  Good luck.

Chris
'97 A4t
'90 80