Electrics remaining on when ignition is turned off...

[tvr_fiend]

Hi all, interesting one this. I have a problem in that the electrics seem to remain on when I remove the ignition key. It has just happened and I have no idea why - can anyone help?

I have noticed that whilst the engine was running in the past, a relay seemed to click in every few seconds, perhaps from under the steering wheel. This now doesn't seem to happen and so I wonder if that is anything to do with this problem? Also, with the ignition key removed, if you switch the wipers on or the heater fan, this seems to have an effect on the interior electrics too - for instance the speedo dial and rev counter move about and the battery light flickers as well as the heater lights.

Can anyone help as this is driving me mad!!! In the interim, I have removed the main battery switch in the passenger footwell so that I don't end up with a flat battery - is this ok?

Many thanks all.

[Cider Andy]

It's a long time since I've seen something like this; it was a missing earth in the rear lights on a Vauxhall. If the engine was switched off while the tail lights and brake lights were on, the engine kept running. On releasing the brake pedal the engine stopped.

Your symptoms are slightly different, but the basis is the same: by switching various circuits on and off it has an effect on other equipment as the voltage in the backfed supply fluctuates.

Look for a faulty earth. It's not necessarily the cause but it's a likely culprit and a good place to start.

[wixer]

I had this happen whilst at Le Mans. It didn't drain the battery fortunately, so I didn't fiddle until I got home. I checked various bits of wiring that I thought might be giving me the problem but without success. Then I pushed all fuses and relays into the fusebox to make sure they were all fitted correctly and when one of the fuses was pushed, the ignition lights and gauges all went off.

[tvr_fiend]

Many thanks for both replies. Will be getting on hands and knees tonight to try out both options and see if I get lucky! Someone also mentioned to me that the feedback wiring on the alternator might be to blame - will let you know. Hopefully a new alternator (if required) won't cost the earth..!

[V8 Archie]

Which electrics are you thinking of?

[tvr_fiend]

The electrics I refer to are the ignition lights, the heater lights, the stereo and even the rev counter and speedo going haywire. The LEDs flicker a lot depending on the level of voltage getting to them - which is why someone suggested the alternator feed back wire that is bolted just below the 12V live feed. I assume the feedback should be 0 volts when the ignition is turned off but mine appears to vary between 0.3 and 1.8 volts - maybe a poor earth??