My key doesn't turn off the engine.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 258
Likes: 26
From: NY
My key doesn't turn off the engine.
All was fine, only thing I did that might have caused this is I hooked up my timing light positive to the positive terminal on the alternator and the negative to an engine ground.
Could that have caused my problem?
Hope you can help.
PS. It's a '78 350.
another thing I did since all was good was I changed the steering wheel. An easy simple job and not near the ignition switch.
Could that have caused my problem?
Hope you can help.
PS. It's a '78 350.
another thing I did since all was good was I changed the steering wheel. An easy simple job and not near the ignition switch.
Last edited by Vette 460; Sep 26, 2024 at 07:56 PM. Reason: adding vehicle information
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2017
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2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Sounds like ignition switch issue to me.
The ignition switch failed such that the distributor is still receiving power?
I’m curious, how did you turn it off?
With the key removed can you check voltage at distributor and see if it still has 12v?
The ignition switch failed such that the distributor is still receiving power?
I’m curious, how did you turn it off?
With the key removed can you check voltage at distributor and see if it still has 12v?
1967 Pedal Car Champion
Joined: Mar 2020
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From: US-PNW
Not the source of the problem. I connect my timing light this way all the time and have never had an issue.
Race Director
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Or, a alternator that's back feeding. Sorry, I'm not there to test things. Is it a ignition switch not switching off? Highly unlikely, yet possible.
Or is it a back feeding alternator???
Or is it a back feeding alternator???
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 258
Likes: 26
From: NY
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Race Director
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
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You're still talking about the car...right?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Redondo Beach, California
About stuffing towels. Story goes that Vic Edelbrock, Sr, the man that started the company, was given some nitromethane. He apparently hadn't heard of nitro before. He put it in a flathead ford engine he had in his shop and fired it up on the nitromethane. The engine roared to red line, the headers started glowing, and the dyno pegged. He turned off the ignition in panic, but the engine wouldn't turn off.....with the nitro, it was dieseling. He had to shove a shop towel in the carb to turn it off. (Story told to my tour group by Vic Edelbrock, Jr.)
He didn't have much money. His passion was sprint car racing and he couldn't compete because people with a lot of money to spend were out competing him. After his dyno experience, he began adding nitro to his sprint car gasoline and started winning money and acclaim. He started selling aluminum intake manifolds and aluminum flatheads and started the Edelbrock company. He eventually was caught out because his nitro laced gas caused eye stinging. The Edelbrock Corporation was founded on cheating! In those early days of racing, NASCAR also, cheating was an honorable way of winning.
He didn't have much money. His passion was sprint car racing and he couldn't compete because people with a lot of money to spend were out competing him. After his dyno experience, he began adding nitro to his sprint car gasoline and started winning money and acclaim. He started selling aluminum intake manifolds and aluminum flatheads and started the Edelbrock company. He eventually was caught out because his nitro laced gas caused eye stinging. The Edelbrock Corporation was founded on cheating! In those early days of racing, NASCAR also, cheating was an honorable way of winning.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 258
Likes: 26
From: NY
Hi guys, I got side tracked with a few other projects and haven't done anything to solve the key problem. I've been thinking though, all was working well until I changed the steering wheel. It was immediately after I finished changing the wheel that I started it and couldn't turn it off. Guessing that I messed up something changing the wheel. Any ideas???
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,742
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Hi guys, I got side tracked with a few other projects and haven't done anything to solve the key problem. I've been thinking though, all was working well until I changed the steering wheel. It was immediately after I finished changing the wheel that I started it and couldn't turn it off. Guessing that I messed up something changing the wheel. Any ideas???
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,258
Likes: 7,849
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Installing a steering wheel shouldn't have touched anything to do with your ign. switch which is mounted low on the column.
Steering wheel is pretty simple and right on the very top. The only thing you could have messed with would be the horn button.
Perhaps you decided to pull your column apart when you swapped that wheel?
If not, I think your barking up the wrong tree.
Steering wheel is pretty simple and right on the very top. The only thing you could have messed with would be the horn button.
Perhaps you decided to pull your column apart when you swapped that wheel?
If not, I think your barking up the wrong tree.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 2,236
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From: NJ
Hi guys, I got side tracked with a few other projects and haven't done anything to solve the key problem. I've been thinking though, all was working well until I changed the steering wheel. It was immediately after I finished changing the wheel that I started it and couldn't turn it off. Guessing that I messed up something changing the wheel. Any ideas???
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,258
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
That rack gear is under the turn signal switch. That's mighty deep for just changing a wheel. Just sayin.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2015
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Try shutting it off in gear, and see of the lower RPM of being in gear helps
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 2,236
Likes: 498
From: NJ
Yes it is, but stranger things have happened. Aside from that, like others here have suggested, I've seen aftermarket electric fans (improperly wired) power the Ign. until the fans stop rotating,. acting like a generator. Back feeding the ignition. we are all just guessing because we can't lay eyes on the problem.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,759
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From: Fairfax Virginia
Just remember to NEVER Disconnect the Battery wire from an operating alternator while the engine is running. If I had to disconnect a wire it would be one of the two wires the ignition coil and not on a rotating alternator.