Won't shut off........

[sean m]

OK.....so today took the car for a spin. Worked like a champ. Got home and the car would not shut off when the key was turned to the off position. Thought it was a key issue so used several of my spare keys with the same result.......no shut off.

Obviously, this is new issue. I disconnected the battery to shut the car down.

Where do I start? Normally, I just turn the key to off and everything shuts down.
Not an electrical wizz and hoping there's something simple that I need to do.

Open to ideas from the group before I take it to a shop and pay extra dollars.

Let me know.

Sean

[High Life]

I would start with the ignition switch. I would do a search on this forum for replacement procedure.

Its a fairly common issue that these things go bad.. I always have trouble the opposite way - it wont make contact when starting.. Have to turn the key back and forth a couple of times..

[proporsche]

Start with electrical portion of the ignition switch..of course the best would be if you get another switch.Unplug the pg from the ignition se.and then you would insert the switch and do the troubleshooting...so i would get one it is always good the have a spare anyway

Ivan

[Jonny H]

Have you messed with the 3 way fuse panel in the engine bay? Connecting two of the terminals can cause the car not to switch off.

[proporsche]

that is true, as Jonny said...sometimes we do not the whole story to solve the problems;-)))

Ivan

[sean m]

Jonny H......have not messed with the 3 way fuse or even opened the hood in months.

Car worked great, made several stops doing errands and it started and stopped perfectly until I got home and wouldn't shut off.

I guess I'll order a new ignition switch.

Thanks

[john walker's workshop]

Changed any taillight bulbs lately?

[boyt911sc]

Originally Posted by sean m

Jonny H......have not messed with the 3 way fuse or even opened the hood in months.

Car worked great, made several stops doing errands and it started and stopped perfectly until I got home and wouldn't shut off.

I guess I'll order a new ignition switch.

Thanks

Sean,

Test and verify that the culprit is the ignition switch. What if the culprit is not the ignition switch? Buy another part for trial and error troubleshooting? Well, it is your money and time anyway. Do what makes you happy.

Tony

[sean m]

Have not changed any taillight bulbs....car has run great.

It just seems strange as everything I've read on the forum is more "won't start" issues.
Can't find one that says "won't turn off".

I've read in 101 projects...looks straight forward. Am concerned if I'll have in issue with breakaway bolts as I don't know if this has been done in the past.

[stownsen914]

Careful disconnecting your battery to shut off the car. Do that allows a damaging voltage spike since the alternator can produce substantially more than 12-14V unrestricted. Ironically the alternator can basically fry its own diodes.

[Locker537]

Originally Posted by stownsen914

Careful disconnecting your battery to shut off the car. Do that allows a damaging voltage spike since the alternator can produce substantially more than 12-14V unrestricted. Ironically the alternator can basically fry its own diodes.

What's the safest way to shut the car in this situation?

[LIRS6]

Originally Posted by Locker537

What's the safest way to shut the car in this situation?

Remove the fuel pump relay (red)?

[Locker537]

Originally Posted by LIRS6

Remove the fuel pump relay (red)?

Carbed car will run off of what is in the floats..for some period of time.

[darrin]

Originally Posted by Locker537

What's the safest way to shut the car in this situation?

Stall the engine -- e.g. let out clutch while standing on brake --

[rattlsnak]

Will it shut off if you step on the brake or raise the parking brake?

[sean m]

When the car wouldn't shut off after turning key several times......I simply let out the clutch with it in gear and foot on the break to stall it out.

[john walker's workshop]

If the alternator light stayed on afterwards, maybe the mechanical tab in the steering lock assembly that turns the electric switch broke off. Does the key turn with less effort now?

[Locker537]

Originally Posted by darrin

Stall the engine -- e.g. let out clutch while standing on brake --

That's a safe choice.

[boyt911sc]

Originally Posted by john walker's workshop

If the alternator light stayed on afterwards, maybe the mechanical tab in the steering lock assembly that turns the electric switch broke off. Does the key turn with less effort now?

If the electrical section of the ignition switch does not fully disengage when you switched off the ignition switch, the problem lies within your ignition switch system. Investigate both the electrical and mechanical sections.

Removing the two (2) screws behind the dash is a very daunting and tedious task. You will need all the patience you could muster to get this work done. Stay focus and you will succeed.

Tony

[sean m]

John Walker.......I think you're on to something. I did notice the steering wheel did not lock as it should've when I turned the key to the off position.