I have the USB port on my factory receiver and noticed that if I leave the flash drive in the port, the LED on the drive remains on even when the engine is OFF and the key is out of the ignition. I understand there is a Retained Accessory Power Relay that provides power for accessories up to 15? minutes or so. Does anyone know if it is a good idea to leave the USB drive in the port all the time or should I pull it out once I park?

 

Won't hurt anything.

 

I'd take it out just to keep someone from trying to break in to the car once they see that. But really it shouldn't hurt to keep it there. It's like my radar detector, sometimes i forget to unplug it and it just stays on, but it doesnt really hurt anything.

 

Its not going to drain enough juice to hurt anything. I would remove it though. No need to attract thieves.

 

I say leave it in.
For years GM's concept of a security system was to place a
red LED on the dash that would light up to "scare away would be theives"

LOL

No, honestly, I don't see a 40 dollar flash drive welcoming more theives than
the headunit would by itself.

 

is it really that hard to put in and take out?

 

Yeah it's a waste of time trying to remember to take it out. Just leave it in. USB won't draw hardly any power.

 

And if it does, your battery will cut power and leave enough to crank the engine over.

I would suggest not just pulling it out powered up as that may corrupt the memory itself.

 

not unless it's a old drive- the new ones will not be harmed by hotswapping (unplugging without "deactivating" the drive)

and my concern wasnt the car running out of power, but with the USB stick having power to it all the time, it may shorten the lifespan.

 

Uh my car cuts power to the stereo as soon as I open my door after I turn it off, including the USB stick.

 

NCC-2000: Good call. I didn't realize this at first.