Engine won't shut off

[Foundationflip22]

I have a 95 escort wagon 1.9L, a/t. It runs pretty well, but when I turn the key to shut the car off, the motor keeps running. The problem actually started as the car draining my battery after having turned it off. When I got in the car I noticed that all my gauge cluster lights were on and when I tried to start it, it wouldn't turn over. I jumped the car off and it ran fine until I got home, where I then ran into the problem of the motor not shutting off. All of my auxillary electronics turn off such as my cd player, ac, etc., but not the motor. I have no idea what the problem could be and since I'm very, very broke right now, I was hoping that I might be able to take care of it myself without having to take it to a shop or anything. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance!

PS I tried replacing the ignition starter switch (only thing I could think of) but it didn't fix the problem.

[AzTumbleweed]

In the engine compartment fuse box there should be an ignition relay. My guess is that it's stuck in the on position. Until you win the lottery you can just unplug the relay whenever you park. That should turn the engine off. An afterthought, before you unplug it try tapping on it a few times with a screwdriver handle or something. It might free it up. Good luck. Let us know what happens.

[Foundationflip22]

Thanks a lot for the advice, I'll give that a try next time I get a chance and I'll let you know how it goes. Also, I was thinking I could maybe get a battery cut-off switch or something, like they use in marine applications. That way I wouldn't have to go under the hood every time I park it.. I'm having quite a bit of trouble finding a switch that would work though.

[AzTumbleweed]

The problem with a battery shutoff is that the computer memory will get erased every time you unhook it and it may run bad the first few miles after hooking it back up. If it is the relay maybe you can get one in a junk yard. There's also the outside chance it may unstick by tapping it.

[Arnoldtheskier]

Older Ford firewall solenoid switch.Mount the switch somewhere where you can run the + batt cable to it.Mount the + battery cable to it.Run a cable from the + batt to the other side of the switch.To activate the switch run a wire from the + batt to inside the car..best to put a fuse in it..to a switch.Run the other wire friom the switch inside the car to the TOP termainal of the firewall switch.I CAN'T imagine ANY bone
yard not having a switch for next to free.

[AzTumbleweed]

Those switches will work but are not designed for continuous duty. I bought a 'continuous duty' version from NAPA once about 15 years ago. It was $60. (NAPA # ST80) I think a junk yard will have the relay. If that's what it is.


How's the weather up there, Arnold? Supposed to be 85 here today. My kind of November

[Arnoldtheskier]

I ran a dual battery set-up in my truck through a pair of these..one of the solenoids always had the entire vehicle load through it... for years.I really liked the idea of being able to completely isolate 1 battery..as opposed to those toy like "load sensing thinggies" I usually did this so I could use 1 battery as an auxillary..for my winch etc.For serious winching with the engine running I had a switch to use both batteries( 2- 1000 amp batteries) and isolate the alternator.I also wired up 4 of these solenoids(power in AND out with the winch..plus remote and in cab) and made a little switching box when my winch solenoid quit.At the time 4 of these solenoids cost $25.The winch solenoid $100.

Az.. the weather here is CRAPPY! Thanks a lot for teasing me..

about 60 deg..YAAAa..like a GOOD 30 degrees TOO HOT TO SKI! LOL