VERY strange electrical issue

[fiyota]

Just went outside to move my car and saw my foglights were on, aswell as my side markers, I thought that's strange, since once when I open my door all that should shut off.

I get in to move my car and then shut it down, turn the key to off and open the door.... then look at my volt gauge, it's reading 6v, and my climate control is displaying 5.... and my windows work with the key out.... uh oh.. This is one of the first days my car has seen rain in 6 months... uh oh.

Now, what could short out to cause the car to still have power after the key is removed? I have a bad feeling it's my ecu shorting out somehow, and not completely turning off....

 

[Kurb Appeal]

Might be your ignition switch. I have noticeted in the last couple weeks that when I shut the key of it stays on. When I open my door with the key out it dings like the key is in still. It shows the same simptoms but my lights dont come on.


Try to jiggle it a bit upon removal. That will show or eliminate the swich as faulty.

 

[Hambone]

Just went outside to move my car and saw my foglights were on, aswell as my side markers, I thought that's strange, since once when I open my door all that should shut off.

I get in to move my car and then shut it down, turn the key to off and open the door.... then look at my volt gauge, it's reading 6v, and my climate control is displaying 5.... and my windows work with the key out.... uh oh.. This is one of the first days my car has seen rain in 6 months... uh oh.

Now, what could short out to cause the car to still have power after the key is removed? I have a bad feeling it's my ecu shorting out somehow, and not completely turning off....

I can definitely sympathize with ya... my '87T does the same thing - I have to disconnect the battery if I want to park for more than an hour or so, otherwise it's jump-start city... I thought it was my ignition switch and had it replaced (the switch was definitely bad) but the problem remained... it's definitely the first place to check though. Good luck trying to find/fix it!

 

[fiyota]

hmm, when the door is closed and the key is out of the ignition my door ajar light stays on slightly dim, my climate control reads 5 degrees and my volt meter reads 6volts and I still have power to everything... I have a feelign it's not the ignition switch.

 

[Nick M]

Well, what does your feeling tell you it is?

 

[fiyota]

hmm, well as I think about it, I guess I can't see the connection between the door ajar light and the ignition switch.... but every other issue points to the ignition switch. I've already ordered another one.

 

[86andhalfWhiteGirl]

I have same problem... my baby dies...:3d_frown:

any other recommendations...etc... please keep me posted too.

 

[fiyota]

Hmm, well I ordered a new ignition switch, I'll see if that helps, if not I think I'm going to have to go digging for a short somewhere.

 

[pogoism9]

check your grounds

 

[fiyota]

hmm that would be the logical place to start, now if you could tell me any circuits other than the ignition switch that would cause all of my symptoms by shorting out, that would be some usefull advice.

 

[mkIIIman089]

Maybe you'll get lucky and jetjock will help ya out.

 

[Poodles]

sounds like one of the integration relays is failing closed...

 

[fiyota]

I think it's one of the relays for the door systems or something.... very frustrating.... I'm going to start with changing the ignition switch, then start digging through the rest of the wiring. my cost for an ignition switch is like $25...

 

[fiyota]

okay, here is a sequence of events that happen, maybe somebody who understands more about how the igntition/body wiring system works can pinpoint what is failing.

1. Key is in ON position (car running)
2. Turn key to OFF... Everything shuts down like normal
3. Running lights and dash lights stay powered, fogs are now off, climate control is off, no power to windows.
4. Open door, door ajar light comes on, dash lights turn off, running lights turn off.
5. Close Door, door ajar light turns off, everything normal
6. A second later you hear igntion beeping as if key were in the ON positon, door ajar light comes on, running lights AND fog lights come on (suggesting car is in the ON position).. Volt meter shows 6 Volts or less (when off was at zero), power is now availible at the window switches, climate control is active and blowing, but display shows 5.
7. Open door again, everything powers down, interior lights come on, all exterior lights off
8. Close door again, step 6 happens again.

 

[NashMan]

most liek the tuberler akak igtion switch cause that is the main control off all that shit

 

[jetjock]

None of that stuff can work unless IGN 1 is on so you might want to look at that line. These kinds of problems are best troubleshot by dealing with the simplest circuit effected. Once you "fix" it the odds are everything else will go away. In this case I'd go for the windows or fogs.

 

[fiyota]

None of that stuff can work unless IGN 1 is on so you might want to look at that line. These kinds of problems are best troubleshot by dealing with the simplest circuit effected. Once you "fix" it the odds are everything else will go away. In this case I'd go for the windows or fogs.

Well everything that turns on and can be operated with the switch to ON, comes on. So I am going to start with the switch...

I remember now, I had put my friends turbo gauge cluster in last night, to test the tach, then put my N/A cluster back in. Are there any wires or plugs up there that if punctured with a screw, or jiggled loose could effect the ignition? Do any of the ignition wires go up behind the cluster?