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Why does the car stay started after I turn the ignition off?

Tiny
KELLON B.
  • MEMBER
  • 2008 NISSAN ALMERA
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 1,000,000 MILES
The lights, radio, A/C and everything stay on even after I turn my ignition off. I thought it was my ignition switch, but I disconnected my ignition switch after starting the car and it still stays on. Replaced the ignition relay also and it still stays on. The only way to get the car off is to unplug the ignition relay or disconnect the battery. I have also disconnected the radio, A/C, ignition cluster and lost every other electronic part that has ignition power, but it still stays on. Any help would be highly appreciated.
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Friday, August 5th, 2022 AT 9:47 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
Hi,

The Almera isn't offered in the US, but I believe the Sentra is basically the same vehicle.

Here is what I can tell you. If you have to remove the ignition relay, that means power is constantly present for it in two ways. For the primary and secondary sides of the relay.

If you have disconnected the ignition switch and it still won't turn off, that tells me there is a short between the ignition switch and the relay. Plus, since other things stay on, that is indicating it is before the relay. I attached a schematic below. It is of a Sentra which I believe is similar.

Here is what I need you to do. Start the engine. Turn the key off. While the engine continues to run, remove one fuse at a time from the fuse box under the hood to see if there is one that turns the engine off. When the key is off, all connections are open, so it should be the same as when it's disconnected.

Let me know what you find or if you have other questions. Also, bear with me. It would be much easier if I had schematics that were specific to your vehicle.

Take care,

Joe

See pic below.
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Friday, August 5th, 2022 AT 7:29 PM
Tiny
KELLON B.
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
So, I did as you said and none of the fuses under the hood turns the car off. The fuse for the coil shuts the engine down, but the light on the dashboard stays on. I went to do the same thing on the inside fuse box, and they are two fuses that turn the car off completely. The first one is the injector fuse and the second one is the fuel pump fuse. Once I leave om of those fuse out then the car works normally, which is very strange to me. I have also disconnected the injectors and the fuel pump to have an idea if either one of those things are shorting, but the dash lights still stay powered with my key in the off position. Currently the only how the car works fine is with either the fuel pump or the injector fuse disconnected. A have also attached a picture of the fuse layout.
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Monday, August 8th, 2022 AT 4:29 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
Hi,

Do I understand correctly? When either the injector or the fuel pump fuse is removed, everything works normally. Is that correct?

If that is the case, you have a short from one or both of the fuses to the ignition switch at some point. I really need a wiring schematic to figure this out. I looked at the pic you attached and noticed several of the components indicate the ignition.

Without a wiring schematic to follow, the first thing that comes to mind is the ignition switch itself has failed.

Is there anyone you trust to check the switch or read through a schematic to see if what I'm thinking makes sense?

Let me know.

Joe
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Monday, August 8th, 2022 AT 11:00 PM

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