I can't turn the engine off.

[Auzie]

Hi,
I have a 1991 jeep cherokee and am running into some strange problems.
The engine start and runs great, but I can't turn it off. I replaced the ignition switch and it didn't work either.
The gauges stay on when I take the keys out of the ignition in the off position.

Do you know why?

Thanks.

[ June 28, 2002, 10:23 PM: Message edited by: Auzie ]

[gwinn]

Did you make any ignition modifications immediately prior to this problem?

[Jambo1]

Maybe because it's late, but your post cracks me up.....I can see if it was a 78' beat up wagoneer like my hunk a junk, but you got a 91' Cherokee and you cant shut the motor off....and the dash lights dont go out........ Somebody's got to be pulling a practical joke on you!!!! Do you know anyone that is clever enough to rewire your electrical system?......Im sorry, I'm no help, but your post has me laughing anyways. I hope you get it fixed. LOL :D

[Auzie]

Hi,
I did not make any modifications to the vehicle of any kind. Only thing that did happen was a radiator hose burst going to the heater core the prior day. Before this everything worked fine.
I am new to jeeps so any insight would be apreciated.

This is a pretty funny problem considering normally a vehicle does not want to start...but this one won't turn off??? The light turn off, but the gauges stay on and the battery is dead in no time. :confused:

Thanks

[irbob]

Mine did the same thing. It has something to do with the alternator wireing. The exciter wire that tells the alt to start charging the system and stops power to the coil or something like that. I don't really understand it but as my rig sits right now the way it is wired (not by me) I have to rev the engine to get the alt to work but at least it shuts off. My mech friend says I need a new alt and need to find a short in the resistor wire. Have yet to do either.

[gwinn]

I'm green when it comes to auto mechanics (but getting better). Is there a possibility the problem is in the starter relay? Just a guess!

[Auzie]

The starter is acting weird...but would a fault in the starter keep the car from turning off? how about the gauges?

The alternator seems to charge.

Thanks.

[nightflyers]

Mine did the same thing one day at work. Had to kill power to the fuel pump to get it to shut down. After work tried it again, same thing. Torn my hair out trying to figure it out.

Next day I was at it again. This time no problem. Had not had a problem since so I have no idea what it was. I had some one tell me that there is a rod of some sort in the steering column that wears out but I never checked it out since it never did it again.

Sorry can't be more help.

[johnypreflt]

I had an old Plymouth that did the same thing, it ended up being a bad starter relay and fuseable link. tongue.gif

[shadowfax101]

Mine did that when I first got it. It did have somehting to do with the alternator wiring. In this wiring there is a resistance wire. My PO wanted to make the wiring a little neater so he shortened some of the wires. Well he made the resistance wire to short and it was not enough resistance to kill be flow from the alternator, so the engine would keep running. But in your case, since your gauges stay on that would indicate to me a bad ignition switch. about 10 dollars at Auto Zone. This is the part on the column not where the key goes. It is either you are missing some wire, or that the igniton switch arm is not coming back far enough with the key turn to break the cuircit with the ignition mod.

If you have not done any wiring latly, and nothing under there looks burt(wiress) then I would lower the colunm and look at the part you need. It will be sitting right on top about 5 inches deep after the dash starts. I would take it off, and have someone turn the key(WITH BATTERY UNPLUGGED). By doing this you can see how far the key turn moves the arm(you will see what arm I am talking about) If it does move back when you turn it off then you are more than likly just out of adjustment with the ignition switch. You could lossen the screws and slide it down the column. I think, very early in the morning. If that does not do it, try to sliding it the other way.

That is more than likly your problem, unless you have been doing some wiring or baking:)

If moving the switch does not help buy a new one. I carry 2 with me anyway. GW's are good about stuff like this not working 50 miles from home.

And if either one of these do not help, I would change out the starter relay. I am 95% sure a falty starter will not do it, but a bad starter relay could. If could keep sending volts to your coil, but the igniton mod. should stop that..or so I thought.
Good luck

[ June 30, 2002, 07:15 AM: Message edited by: shadowfax101 ]

[will e]

Do any of the other accessories keep working like the guages do? This would be stuff that normally only operates when the ignition is on like the radio, power seats, power mirrors? This might narrow it down to the ignition switch.

If you broke a rad hose I guess it is possible that water messed up your alternator or the wiring.

Good Luck

P.S. Gwinn - Like the new sig picture.

[Auzie]

Thanks for the advice I apreciate it.

I have replaced the ignition switch on the steering column and the problems remains. When I put the keys in the OFF mode the radio,windows turns OFF... so I believe the switch is working fine. The gauges still stay on and the car stays running in the OFF position. I have not done any rewiring to the vehicle, but I am sure previous owner has before me but it worked fine when I got it.

I have not changed the starter relay...I will tomorrow. I have no schematic on alternator so I am not sure which wire is which. Which is the resistance wire? I will unhook the alternator tommorow.

Thanks again,

R

[Mallman]

There is a wire on the back of the starter relay, try pulling it off and see if it dies. I had the same problem, took a few days to figure it out. New relay solved it. Hope this helps.

[Auzie]

I figured out what the problem was in my case.
I found a wire going up into the steering column not part of the ignition. There is one black wire going up and it seemed to keep the car from turning off (and gauges).
I think it is for the horn since it quite working now, but not sure what it is for yet. I will have to take the column apart to see.

Thanks for all help.

[Dan G]

I used to have this problem with my 87 GW, but it 'went away' I think I changed the starter relay (for other reasons) and come to think of it, the problem went away.

I used to pull the thin coil wire to cut the engine. No spark, no ignition.

[Auzie]

I looked at the wiring inside the column and it seemed to have a short in the wire and it is part of the cruise control. Not sure why it kept the vehicle from turning of. When I connected the wire again the engine wouldn't cut of till I fixed the short in the cruise control.

[Glenn_tx]

Starter solenoid. My 74 AMX went thru them like oil thru the rear seal. It was mounted on the fender and wired to the battery and starter. The magnet inside will stick and keep the circuit closed between the two.

[Glenn_tx]

Oh yeah, try hitting the solenoid with a hammer, it should knock the stuck part loose.

[Auzie]

I had the starter do weird things too and rebuild it after I beat it with a hammer. The starter no longer is the problem but the whole thing started in the steering column. The vehicle no longer has any ignition problems till I plug this one wire in and everything goes hay wire on me.