Car didn't turn off just now

[MPitt]

This happened on the Turbo but I'm posting here in case it is something not specific to those.

To start with, when I left work today the I believe alternate belt was squealing a good bit and my voltage gauge was way down. The only thing out of the ordinary was I gave it a good washing before a car show Saturday but nothing underneath or that should have gotten up inside the engine bay. It ran fine Saturday to and from too.

When I got home I turned the ignition off but the engine sounded like it was still running sort of, but not completely on like you would expect. If I turned the key back to the on position without cranking the engine started up like normal but still would not turn off.

I tried putting it in gear to stall but it didn't seem to want to stall either. I was able to put it in reverse and get back out of the garage with very little power.

I popped the hood to get to the fuses and tried removing the ignition relays but that didn't do the trick either. The one ignition relay had a good bit of corrosion on the bottom. Eventually the engine sputtered out.

Right now I'm afraid to start it back up because there was a small amount of smoke and a really bad burnt plastic smell. I don't see anything leaking or dripping in the engine bay or under the car.

I did a lot of looking through here and RL and saw some posts talking about "dieseling". I don't think that's what was happening, but that was new to me so I'm not sure. Are there any more obvious things I missed that should be checked?

[944 Ecology]

Until you figure it out, don't park in your garage and don't leave it in gear.

[dgcantrell]

Or just leave the battery disconnected. Sounds kind of like some water ingress under the battery tray to the DME harness..

[MPitt]

I did jack it up to check the starter. When I accidentally touched the solenoid is was very hot like it had constant current going to it. After disconnecting the battery it cooled off. There was a faint burnt smell by the wires but it was more noticeable in the engine bay directly above the starter. I didn't get a good look at the alternator last night but it didn't smell unusual by it. I can't say that I noticed any water under the battery but I'll take it out when I get home.

[dgcantrell]

OOhh... You need to check and make sure the positive cable from the battery is not starting to ground out due to a deteriorating insulating jacket somewhere between the battery, alternator, and starter..