Engine Won't Turn Off

I just got a call from my wife who is 400 km away in another city and the engine won't turn off on our 98 Ford Escort Zx2 even when she turns the ignition key off.

She eventually got it to turn off by turning the key back and forth a number of times and now the car turns on fine.

I have two questions:

1) What's wrong? Some sites have posted that is a short in the main fuse box, others claim it's the starter.

2) Is it safe to drive the 400 km home if it starts properly? or is she going to get stranded on the Canadian highway in late November (-15 Celsius brrrrrr)

Welcome to AF. Really cold weather will make the contacts inside the ignition switch stiff especially if it has ever been lubed through the key port. Yes, a short in the fuse block could make it do this, but if that was the problem you never would get it to shut down, moving the key back and forth would not make a difference. The major + cable from the battery goes to the starter and that is the junction for the + electrical wire that goes to the ignition key. The problem is with the ignition switch not with the starter. I don't think your wife will have anymore trouble with it. If the problem was that it wouldn't start I would be concerned. If she can't get it to turn off, she could always pull the 15 amp engine fuse in the fuse block in the passenger compartment. I think it is just a cold weather fluke. I don't think she will have any problems.

Thanks a lot. It's been a few days now and we haven't had any further problems. I'm not sure if the ignition has ever been lubed but either way the problem is not persisting.