Odd Electrical Problem

[Pozzy]

I'd hoped after a fairly large bill for a 6k service and some other bits that needed doing last week that I'd have a few months of trouble-free motoring..clearly it wasn't to be!

I seem to be having a strange problem with my electrics somewhere - after turning off the engine and removing the key from the barrel, the lights on the dashboard stay illuminated as if the key was turned to position 2 and the alarm key fob now does nothing (won't lock the doors/prime the alarm). Is this more likely to be a problem with the ignition barrel or with the immobiliser (or something else!)?

[alchim]

try disconecting battery for a few minutes and see if it resets

[Pozzy]

Thanks, but I disconnected the battery overnight as I was worried about it going flat with all the instruments still on. I should mention that putting the key in the barrel and turning it does nothing i.e. it won't turn the engine over.

[big geoff]

are you saying the oil and ignition lights stay on or gague lights

[Pozzy]

The oil and ignition lights stay on, the fuel gauge reads above zero, plus the lights on the centre panel above the foglight/headlight buttons - I guess it's as if whatever switch is inside the ignition barrel is stuck on? Is that possible?

[peaktorque]

Crappy Vauxhall ignition switch

[Pozzy]

Hmm, so does that mean I have to replace the whole barrel or just the switch - which I guess is at the base of the barrel? Is there any way round it in the meantime, as the car won't start so I'm a bit stuck getting places (it's my daily)?

Just when I thought it was safe to rely on it!!!

[peaktorque]

Just the switch.

[Pozzy]

Great, thanks very much - I'll get one ordered post-haste!

[Pozzy]

Well, I've taken the switch off in preparation for the new one arriving, and all of the lights still stay on even with the ignition switch removed - is this consistent with a faulty switch, or could it be something else? Sorry for all the questions - electrics ain't my strong point!

[Simon says]

I would start pulling relays out the fuse board until the lights go out, but depending on what light's are up it may be a failed Diode in the alternator too Doctor without a patient this one I would say pull the Main Power relay but seeing as the fuse boards vary so much hence why i said start pulling relays

[Pozzy]

It appears that removing this relay results in the ignition turning off - do you reckon replacing this might help? Again, apologies if that's a stupid question!

[Simon says]

Swap it with the other relay marked 213 and see what occurs if it works then replace the faulty relay as that other circuit may power something even more important i see you have a decent batt fitted

[Pozzy]

Alas, no luck swapping the relays - the same problem persists. I'm beginning to lose hope that this can be sorted without too much expenditure

Yep, thanks to Str8six for the battery...hopefully it'll last me a few years!

[Ribol]

Pozzy said:

Well, I've taken the switch off in preparation for the new one arriving, and all of the lights still stay on even with the ignition switch removed - is this consistent with a faulty switch, or could it be something else? Sorry for all the questions - electrics ain't my strong point!

Sorry if this sounds a bit obvious, but, do you mean the round bit has been separated from the back of the lock and is now hanging down still connected to the wiring or do you mean you have unplugged it electrically from the wiring?

[Pozzy]

Ribol said:

Sorry if this sounds a bit obvious, but, do you mean the round bit has been separated from the back of the lock and is now hanging down still connected to the wiring or do you mean you have unplugged it electrically from the wiring?

I've separated the wired bit from the back of the barrel and then split that in two, so what I think is the switch unit (which looks like this but in black) is no longer attached the wired round thing. I amazed I haven't shocked myself yet to be honest!

[Ribol]

Were any of the lucar terminals going on to the back of the switch discoloured in any way?

Try following the wiring back down the loom away from the switch and make sure none of the cables have shorted/melted together in there. If that doesn't turn anything up I would be looking around the back of the fusebox for similar issues.

Disconnect the alternator too as suggested up above to get that one out of the way.

[Pozzy]

I guess I have good news in that the ignition now turns off when I turn the key off, but the not so good news is that I have no idea what the problem was! I dismantled my current ignition switch and cleaned the contacts more in desperation than hope, fiddled around with all the contacts I could find behind the fusebox to make sure they were in place and then swore at the bloody thing loudly - one of these things appears to have fixed it for now, so I just have to hope that it stays this way!

Thanks very much indeed for the help from everybody, I doubt I'd have persevered without it!