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I just used the USB port in my Cooper for the first time. Put some songs on a thumbdrive and plugged it into the USB port in the Cooper and it works great!! Great sound and easy to navigate through the folders/songs.
However, I noticed that when I turned off the radio the light on the thumbdrive was still on. I removed the key, opened the door, and still the thumbdrive light was on....
Is there power to the USB port, and therefore to the thumbdrive when plugged in, at all times?
I've read here in the forums that the vehicle's computer has a memory that lasts for a short while (maybe up to 30 minutes or so??)...does the computer keep the drive active for a while to keep the song lists available and then shut down after a certain period of inactivity?
I was hoping to keep the thumbdrive plugged in all the time so it would be handy when I jump in the car....if there is a power draw all of the time I'm not certain I want to do that.
I believe it goes off in a few minutes. I often leave an iPod plugged in. However the current draw from a flash drive would be negligible and far, far less that almost any of the dozens of always active monitoring systems (like the fob entry remote sensor) in the car.
I noticed mine flashes when I open the door, but I don't think it flashes continually when the car if off. I always leave mine plugged in, and I've never had any problems with the battery even though I've left it parked at the airport all week long a few times. I wouldn't worry about it.
I know I looked in the window about an hour after shutting the car off and the thumbdrive was still lit up.
I've since gone back to just plugging in my iPhone as the navigation of the iPhone artists/albums is better than directly off the thumbdrive.
__________________ 2009 MINI Cooper S
Midnight black, white roof, white stripes
sport | comfort | convenience | 6spd | Richbrook Antenna | Forge BOV | DoS noisemaker delete | JCW shift/ebrake knobs | Redline Goods boots
The Thumbdrive will continue to flash or remain on (depends upon brands and I have a couple that will do one or the other) for some time after you've turned the car off and walked away. My radar detector is wired to a similar circuit and if I make a quick run into the grocery store, it'll still be "barking" at the auto door opener when I come back out.
If you want to check on it to see if it's still on after a while, leave your keys in the house and walk out to peek at it after about 30 minutes. If you've got the comfort access, it'll power back up when you get near the car and if you don't, it'll power back up as soon as you unlock the doors.
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Current: 2012 MB/CR JCW MCCS "Merlin"
Former: 2009 LB/LB MCS "Archi". It's just an innocent little car...
before i upgraded to a current gen ipod i worked off the flash drive (for about 8 months). i left it plugged into the port for most of the time and never had any issues with it; you should be fine.
