Ignition permanently on - HELP!!!!-Update!!

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Treeman612
E30 Zone Newbie
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Joined: Thu Jan 20, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Newbury, Berks

Post Tue Oct 18, 2005 8:39 pm

Bit of a strange one - I have just retro-fitted a full OBC to my 320i - all works ok. Went to start car, battery was flat. Fitted jump starter, car started. noticed ignition light did not come on on the ignition switch, and did not (obviously!) go out when car started. turn off ignition, and car keeps running. remove key, engine keeps running. stall car to stop, no ignition light. Somehow, I've shorted out something so ignition circuit is permanently on. Had to waggle main fuse box a bit to thread OBC temp sensor and horn loom through bulkhead, but nothing removed, and nothing loose. I.m mystified - any ideas, please, URGENT!!!
Thank you, Brian- as always, you know your electrics! - i have sorted the problem, but the result may be helpful to other 'retro-fitters'. the problem is the two-wire connector from the OBC loom that plugs in to the big socket under the glovebox. when you fit the OBC loom, the loom from the temp sensor and OBC horn in the n/s wing is fed back through the bulkhead. there are 4 connections from this - 2 plug to the OBC loom from the OBC itself, the other two plug in to the big socket above. the single wire connectrion is ok, but the two-wire plug somehow causes the ignition circuit to be permanently on. By NOT plugging in this two-wire connector, the problem is solved. The temp sensor still works, as do all the other OBC functions. God (aka Brian Mooooore) knows why this should be, but all I can advise is if you have the same problem as me. unplug this connector, and it seems to work! - am going to trace the wiring diagram back 2morrow just to see what this connector is supposed 2 connect up. No-one probably gives a monkeys, but I'll post the results anyway!
Last edited by Treeman612 on Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Brianmoooore
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Post Tue Oct 18, 2005 9:13 pm

First thing to do is start the engine, turn off the key, and pull out and replace the fuses one by one untill, (hopefully) the engine stops. This should narrow things down a bit.
P.s. It will stall shortly after you pill fuse 11, as this is the fuel pump.