Another 99 Taurus problem!!

Forgot to mention another problem with the 99 Taurus. This has happened intermittently since my daughter-in-law bought the car a year or so ago. Every once in awhile the car will not shut off with the key. In fact you can turn the key to OFF, pull the key out, and the car still keeps running. It finally happened to me yesterday. Everything else appears to shut off-radio, dash lights, etc. I tried cycling the key a few times, but still no luck. I ended up doing what she had been told to do, popping the hood and pulling the wiring connector off the coil assembly, then pulling the ground off the battery. I should also mention that when I cycled the key I took it all the way to START and the starter did grind even tho the car engine was still running. Fairly intermittent, I've had the car for over a week-started and stopped probably 40-50 times and didn't have this happen until yesterday. Then it happened three times and then stopped again.

My best guess would be something in the ignition switch?? Or maybe a relay sticking?? So many problems--so little time!! :banghead:

Brian

Look on page 66 of this forum(Taurus/Taurus wagon), under, "won't shut off", by, "sei_".

Explains about a pin in the key cyclinder to ignition switch linkage that wears and causes loss of motion in the linkage.

I should also mention that when I cycled the key I took it all the way to START and the starter did grind even tho the car engine was still running.

Very few cars have a provision that locks out the starter when the car is already running. So, even when you get the rest of the issues with the ignition system repaired, you'll still be able to engage the starter when the engine is running.

-Rod

Found and read the post. Not exactly what mine is doing as he said when he pulled his key out all electrical components were still working as tho the key was still in the ON position. When mine would not shut off and I turned my key off and pulled it out, everything appeared to be off--radio, dash lights, etc. Only thing I could tell was working was the engine running!

Not saying that linkage isn't the problem, but would that be something that would happen all the time if the arm was loose or broken?? Mine happens quite infrequently.

I'd guess more likely either an issue with some plastic piece that holds most of the time, but when the plastic or grease gets cold or thick enough, it no longer grabs like it should. Or, there is a contact in the ignition switch (not the key cylinder switch) that fails to open sporatically. You may see something obvious if you were to pull the covers off the steering column and inspect the linkage.

-Rod

Went out in the cold AGAIN and found the three screws that hold the steering column cover on. Removed those and worked the top cover off over the flasher unit and gearshift handle. Without removing the ignition switch can't see how to get the lower cover off. With the top cover off the only thing I could see move when I turned the ignition key was a small shaft that slid back and forth with the key movement. It had quite abit of yellowish grease around where the shaft moved along a track. I looked under the dash when turning the key and saw the other end of the shaft moving back and forth with the key movement. Couldn't see any linkage that moved. When I turned the key, under the dash there was a module that sounded like it clicked when that shaft moved back and forth. Was this the actual ignition switch?? Sounded like that shaft moving back and forth may have opened and closed a contact.

If I had the car long enough I could probably leave the top cover off and when the car refused to shut off watch and see if the shaft was moving back when the key was shut off. Again as I said it doesn't happen that often

The part of the ignition that covers the handle portion of the key it actually just a cap which will pop off to allow the lower steering cover to come off. I've always had good luck with just pulling the steering cover off to do the prying of the key cover when a tap with a rubber malet doesn't get it after a couple of trys.

If I remove the lower steering cover will I see any more of the moving parts when rotating the ignition key through it's motions?? Or is the shaft moving back and forth all I'll see??

And is that the ignition switch under the dash towards the base of the steering column?? That moving shaft appears to be working in conjunction with it. SO many questions--so little time!! :crying:

Have you tried this web site ? It has free repair guide info., parts location, etc..

http://www.autozone.com/home.htm

It does have the ignition switch removal & installation procedure in it.

Went this morning to talk to the local auto repair shop--not Ford's, and explained the situation about the engine not shutting off when the key is turned to OFF. They pretty much agreed that it's probably the ignition switch, probably not the sliding shaft. Chances are the sliding shaft would bind or if that pin is loose or gone the problem would happen all the time. Whereas being intermittent, a good chance the switch is bad. Plus that shaft does operate the switch and they have seen the ignition switch out of adjustment so the shaft isn't properly operating it. Left the car there and they are going to do it. VERY cold here and don't have a heated garage. I'll post with results, although I may not know immediately as it was an intermittnet problem!

Brian

Had the ignition switch changed this weekend. So far everything shutting off OK, but as the problem was intermittent, time will tell if the problem is fixed! They said the sliding shaft looked to be working properly.

Brian