Is your radio controled via ign. on 355

1997 USA car, radio goes on/off with ignition.

 

I have noticed the 360 to be the same and only works when the ignition is on. There is no ACC mode where you can run the radio w/o heating up your starter solenoid.

 

Okay, I understand the question...right, the 355 has three positions, off, on and start....no acc position.

 

I FOUND MY BATTERY WAS GOING DEAD AFTER SITTING FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME AND AS I HAD NO RADIO MANUAL I DID NOT KNOW THE REASON. I FOUND OUT THAT WHEN RADIO IS TURNED OFF I NEEDED TO TURN OFF THE CLOCK DISPLAY ALSO (IT WAS DEAWING POWER FROM BATT.) I'VE NO MORE PROBLEMS ON MY 97 355GTS. THE RADIO MANUAL READ THAT THIS NEEDED TO BE DONE IF THERE IS NO ACC. POSITION ON IGNITION

 

1997 355's for the North American market did not come with a "factory" radio. So each will be different.

But to answer the question, the radios are typically wired to the ignition, so they go off with the ignition key. But you can always get them wired to be constantly "on" and must physically push the "off" button....

You should be able to take your car to your dealer to have this corrected. Or to a trusted car stereo installer.

Dave

 

My car is also a Euro 98 355 spider (Italian build, with the Ferrari/Sony stereo), and, just like yours, the radio power is not switched to the key. You do have to remember to turn the radio off each time.

It wouldn't be hard to change it to a switched lead since one of the fuseboxes is in the passenger footwell - you'd just need to tap into one of the fuses and run a switched lead up to the radio.

Let me know if you want further instructions on radio removal or wiring.

 

Wally

Mine was fitted by a dealer and isn't wired via the ignition (i.e. I can leave it on when the ignition is off).

If your head unit has an aux in connection, have you considered using an iPod with the head unit? Either that, or getting a hard disk based head unit?

I have the latter set up, but can also use the iPod too if so desired, and would never go back to a CD changer. It also saves the weight and wiring aggro of a CD changer.

I know what you mean about the remote. I'm just a little more than a comfy stretch away from some of the controls. A remote makes life much safer.

 

1998 355 F1 - radio has constant power independent of the ignition switch.