Car does nothing with key in ignition.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From: Everett WA
Car does nothing with key in ignition.
I have a 1990 and lately have been having issues with my car and I'm sure many of you have seen a post or two by me the past few weeks. I finally got it down to thinking it was the ECM, replaced that and problems were still there, after tapping the ECM one day I thought the reman ECM was faulty so I was about to buy a new ECM and PROM to see if this would fix it. My girlfriend bought me new headlights for my birthday which was yesterday so after I install them I turn the car around and put it back into the garage. As I turn the car off the car will not shut off and the starter keeps trying to engage when I pull out the key, when I put it back in the car will start right up without having to turn it or anything. I try wiggling the key in the ignition to see if it will do anything but nothing happens and during this time the starter ends up killing my battery - car slowly dies down. I hooked it up to a charger and come out after work and nothing has happened - I have no lights when I put the key in, NOTHING. I am replacing the starter this weekend but what can I do to get some power to this car in the meantime?
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Angelo Texas
I have a 1990 and lately have been having issues with my car and I'm sure many of you have seen a post or two by me the past few weeks. I finally got it down to thinking it was the ECM, replaced that and problems were still there, after tapping the ECM one day I thought the reman ECM was faulty so I was about to buy a new ECM and PROM to see if this would fix it. My girlfriend bought me new headlights for my birthday which was yesterday so after I install them I turn the car around and put it back into the garage. As I turn the car off the car will not shut off and the starter keeps trying to engage when I pull out the key, when I put it back in the car will start right up without having to turn it or anything. I try wiggling the key in the ignition to see if it will do anything but nothing happens and during this time the starter ends up killing my battery - car slowly dies down. I hooked it up to a charger and come out after work and nothing has happened - I have no lights when I put the key in, NOTHING. I am replacing the starter this weekend but what can I do to get some power to this car in the meantime?
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,691
Likes: 71
From: Phoenix Arizona
Disconnect the solinoid (small) wire off the starter. If the problem stops, it's probably your ignition switch (not the tumbler, but down the column). Unless of course the wire is shorted, probably at the starter.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
The starter solenoid at the end of its stroke forces two copper contacts together that switch current to the starter motor. Sometimes these contacts weld together keeping the starter running until the battery is dead. Remove the negative battery cable and charge the battery back up. Also, you might have a defective ignition switch from your symptom description.
