'93 Escort quit turning off! Yes you read that right.

[AClb5]

I payed $200 for the car after my Oldsmobile Achieve died (yes I was stupid enough to buy one of those lemons). The Escort had about 140k miles on it and was a rust bucket to say the least. It was a solid high school car, went from A to B; heat and AC worked fine. I even installed a CB Radio with a PA speaker attached that I had placed under the hood in a gap that I had found that was just big enough lol. I was living the life. Then, one day I pulled in at my house and the engine would not turn off. Before this incident, you were able to pull the key out and leave the car on and it would still run, but the key was required to turn it off. However pon this occasion, I turned the igniton BACK and pulled the key out and the engine was still running. I tried numerous times and it just simply would not turn off. So I resorted to pulling out the engine fuse but the rest of the car that used battery was still on. Making the car worthless because every time I went somewhere I would either have to jump start it or pull out EVERY SINGLE FUSE. This was last sumemr and I have since junked the car but I wish every day that I had it back it was an awesome car.

Anyways, just thought I would share my story and at the same time ask you geniuses what the hell went wrong!?

[mightymoose_22]

It sounds like you car just needs a new ignition switch. They do wear out over time. The contact inside just don't do what they are supposed to anymore. YOu can get a replacement at any parts store, but you will have to use the new key.

OR

If you didn't mind doing it, you can continue pulling the fuse to shut off the engine, and then just pop the hood and remove the negative battery cable. I am sure that would be frustrating too, but maybe easier than pulling all the fuses.

Best thing to do is just put a new switch in... it isn't hard at all.

[AzTumbleweed]

Run the ignition wires to a toggle switch.

[AClb5]

I wish I had known this forum before I junked it lol.

[Intuit]

333

[mightymoose_22]

If it wasn't the ignition switch itself then it would just require some basic troubleshooting to test the wiring.

[ogrethemage]

This happened to my 1992 LX on a trip from K-Falls, OR to Grants Pass, OR. Got to Grants Pass, pulled into Wal-Mart and turned key off and car was still running. On trip home, car died while going down highway. Checked the connections on the back of ignition switch, one of them was blazing hot. After replacing the electrical portion of the ignition switch, all was fine. But now new problem, it won't start at all....LOL