HELP!!! Replaced Ignition Switch, But Still Can't Shut OFF Car!!

x030399 · 03-19-2009, 02:11 PM

I just put in the brand new electric part of the switch, and the ignition is still on with the key out. The only way to turn off the car is to pull the DME plug, then disconnect the battery because the ignition (oil, alt, all idiot lights stay on) will drain the batt.

When the engine warms up and the fan kicks on, if I take the key out, the engine keeps running, but the fan shuts off. It did this with the old ignition switch, and still does with the new.

What the heck could be going on?

p.s., when I disconnect the igniton switch by pulling the plug off, the ignition still stays on and the engine will run.

x030399 · 03-19-2009, 05:40 PM

Ok, gotta love POs. I bought this car in 1999, and never had a single electrical gremlin till now.

At my wits end, I noticed a black wire hanging down under the driver's side footwell. It's a hot wire that the PO wrapped around the #1 terminal of the horn relay. I yanked it out, and now the car works perfectly.

Have no idea why PO put it in, but I thought maybe it was to jumper a malfunctioning horn. Apparently not, because I have everything back together, and all works perfectly, including the horn, without this phantom wire.

I assume that the folks at the tire place (I just had 4 new tires put on it) must have snagged it with their boots, and cause a short condition that kept the ignition on.

Whatever.....I'll try to look on the positive side: Now I know how to service the steering column stalk/switches if they ever give me trouble.

Zero10 · 03-20-2009, 08:09 AM

... your PO concerns me greatly. I feel your frustration.

Icey1174 · 03-20-2009, 08:12 AM

Too bad our POs did not access this site!

x030399 · 03-22-2009, 09:49 AM

Hmmmmmm.......looks like the gremlins are still haunting my car.

Took it out Fri night to make sure all the electrical demons have been exorcised, opened it up on the highway, glanced in the rear view mirror and saw a huge fog bank.........emanating from my car! BIG TIME coolant leak. Only 3 miles to home. Made it with temp still in the OK zone.

The 6" hose to the heater valve burst. No problem, local NAPA dealer helped me fashion a perfect replacement.

Took her out Sat to make sure all is in order, got home, turned off the car......AND IT CONTINUES TO RUN WHEN I PULL THE KEY OUT!!!!! ARRRRGGGGGGGG (read primal scream here...)

Right brain kicks in (i.e., the emotional part) and I smack the fuse panel and violently jiggle relays.........voila, the car stops!!!!! (here's real evidence to support brutish solution, in the right circumstances, of course.)

Bottom line is, I've got some electrical gremlin that cause the car to be essentiall hot-wired, i.e., the ignition is on with the key out. It seems to have something to do with one of the relays and/or the fuse block.

I have no idea what PO was trying to accomplish with the phantom wire, but it seems it was a red herring, and un-related to my problems.

Any ideas on how a car can have a short that results in a "hot-wired" condition?

Respectfully,

Pissed off and really, really, really, frustrated in New Jersey.

Icey1174 · 03-22-2009, 10:00 AM

What year is your car again? Mine is a later 944, an '87. I had a problem with my turn signals working intermittently when I first got my car. I good jiggle to fuse block and they would work again just fine. So one day I was looking for something to do (and I had plenty of time) I decided to try to find the root cause of the fuse box. I took the whole fuse box apart and found one wire way at the bottom with missing insulation. I also cleaned everything real well. There are dozens and dozens of pieces! If you take it apart just take your time and be very organized and you'll be fine. The turn signal has worked fine for the past couple years. That MUST have fixed the problem. Maybe you have the same type of problem in the fuse block area.

Icey1174 · 03-22-2009, 10:03 AM

After researching my threads on here about my fuse block problem I also found that I had a loose wire harness under the fuse block.

x030399 · 03-22-2009, 12:56 PM

It's a 1984 944.

After looking through the Haynes and owner's manual, it doesn't seem there's any sort of ignition relay, so I'm assuming it's just coincidental that when I smack the horn relay, it fixes the problem.

For now, everything is operating normally.

I guess I'll look at the fuse block, but I don't think I'll be able to diagnose anything in that rats nest of wires.

I just find it very odd that it's so easy for the car to "hot-wire" itself due to some short. I still suspect the PO might have some funky jumper back there.

Oh well, any advise is much appreciated.

USMC_944lover · USMC_944lover's Garage

I noticed that when my lights are on or sometimes when my turn signal is on, the car still runs till I turn off the lights or signal. very wierd. I will turn the car off (try to) and still running, keys out. then turn the light key and bang, cars off. wierd huh?

onZedge · 07-24-2009, 06:17 AM

Do you have an aftermarket ignition system, like an MSD unit? If you do, there is a fix for this as it is a known problem. What happens with the MSD (in some cases, but not all) is that the "power on" trigger (smaller red MSD wire) remains powered through the alternator charge light. The fix is to add a diode between the idiot light and the alternator. Wire this way:
ALTERNATOR...-|<-...IDIOT LIGHT

emoore924 · 07-24-2009, 11:20 AM

I think you should threaten the car with percussive maintenance delivered via BFH