Car is on as soon as battery is connected, with the key out

[ElectricEnergy]

Hey guys, LONG time no see. I've got another mx-3 project to work on. Vanished's old car actually. A 93 SE, with ZE swap.

Anywho, pretty weird problem. I thought I must know everything about these cars by now, but I guess not.

All the dash lights come on, and lots of relays under the hood click as soon as the battery is connected. The radiator fan comes on sometimes as well, but not every time for whatever reason. The key is OUT of the ignition. When I try to start the car, everything just goes dead as if the battery is drained.

I don't have any really good ideas, I spent a little while searching around on here and didn't see anyone with a similar problem. I'm hoping one of you has run into something like this before and might have an idea what to look at. While I wait for a response I'll verify the grounds, and take the plugs out. I had a problem with another car where one of the injectors stuck open and filled a cylinder with fuel, hydro-locking the engine, it felt like a dead battery when you tried to start it, so I'd like to rule that out.

David

[SuperK]

I don't know what's going on when the key is in the off position... that seems strange.

I know that with the key in the on position, I had a battery that had the side terminals slightly touching the frame of the car and would do that when they connected, turn the key and it would all go dead..

i wonder if there is something in the harness shorted out, causing a connection? I'm not familiar with this issue unfortunately so I may not be the best to help you.

[MrMazda92]

Have you messed with the ignition at all? It doesn't really say anything about the rad. fan, but a fault in the ignition could cause the sudden lack of power only after turning the key.

Without knowing more, the best I can suggest is backtrack. Has the car run properly during the time you've owned it? Is this issue popping up for the first time? Do you mean literally NO power to anything when attempting to start the engine?

With electrical... it could be damn near anything. The more detail you can give, the better. Some of the members with 4+ cars will probably be the best to suggest on this one... Everyone who's owned that many has come into contact with most the common electrical issues at one point or another. Fortunately, I've only had an undercharging alternator, and a cigarette lighter that blows my radio fuse upon use.

Maybe one of our car audio types could pop into the thread... I've seen a lot of electrical advice come from those guys, and it usually helps from what I've seen. They certainly do more with the electrical than most of us...

[Daninski]

Remove your steer wheel shroud and unplug the ignition switch just to rule out a bad switch. Takes like 5mins.

[ElectricEnergy]

Thanks for the advice guys, I'll try that stuff out later tonight.

A little more info, this was Vanished's car, I talked to him last night and apparently, the acc. position on the ignition doesn't even work anyway. It's starting to sound a bit like a bad ignition switch to me.

I've been somewhat aware of this cars progress over the years and its been a heap of trouble, so I'm not really surprised that I keep finding more problems. I'm going to have to start buying carburated cars, I'm sick of all these electrical problems. Haha

PS: It's really cool that I can come back here after a few years and still find all the regulars! Thanks for sticking around.

[MrMazda92]

Well hey, if it wasn't problematic, you probably wouldn't be posting right now would ya? It's a sign, that's for sure. Welcome back man.

[Daninski]

A little more info, this was Vanished's car, I talked to him last night and apparently, the acc. position on the ignition doesn't even work anyway. It's starting to sound a bit like a bad ignition switch to me.

And that's 10 points for daninski,

[MrMazda92]

Hey now Dan, I beat you to it on this one.

[Daninski]

Hey now Dan, I beat you to it on this one.

Oh man what horse crap, you said ignition,,,that's a whole system, I said ignition switch. I narrowed it down where as you just threw out an idea with no particulars and now your claiming credit??? Fine, go ahead, bask in the glow that you know is rightfully mine. The word Putz comes to mind but I'm too polite to use it.

[MrMazda92]

Pffft, you know I meant ignition switch I referenced the key and everything!

Putz huh, why does that remind me of Caddieshack?

[Daninski]

[quote="MrMazda92"] but a fault in the ignition could cause the sudden lack of power only after turning the key. /quote]

See no reference to ignition switch, Putz Putz Putz Putz. You said ignition and only that. Where as I said Switch, quote. Remove your steer wheel shroud and unplug the ignition switch just to rule out a bad switch. Takes like 5mins. unquote. You owe me a free window switch for trying to embezzel my credit. I can't believe you would stoop so low. After this you'll have to reach up to tie your shoe laces your so low.

[MrMazda92]

I said ignition and key though.

Pfffft, at that rate you may as well give me your address, so I can ship the switch to you. I may or may not include a heartfelt letter, describing how hurt that shoe remark made me feel. ;(

[Daninski]

Feel bad for the poor SOB who started this thread and we did nothing but hijack it,,or at least you did. So ElectricEnergy did you get the problem fixed?

[ElectricEnergy]

Holy cow, calm down guys!

I haven't had a chance to look at it yet. We'll see if I muster the energy to do it tonight.

David

[Daninski]

Those were free bumps, appreciate.