97 Accord DX, manual transmission, non-Vtec.

This evening I get in my car, drive it to the local Sonic and I turn the key off and pull it out. Engine is still running, however, the radio shutoff, but the engine and airconditioning was running. I stuck the key back in and turned it forward, then back to the off. I hear the key make the popping sound when you pull it out the keyhole, but still the engine won't shut off.

I finally had to pop the clutch to turn it off, but here is something strange too. The engine of course quits, but on the instrument cluster, the batter and oil light stay on along with the clock when the key is turned to the off position and removed. I have to disconnect the neg batt cable to get all the power off. When I connect it back you can hear the beeping on the door and stuff.


Any ideas because I've looked in me Chilton's manual and cannot find a thing that remotely comes close to this.

 

maybe your ignition is bad or shorted or something?..thats my only guess

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by lowered94accord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">maybe your ignition is bad or shorted or something?..thats my only guess</TD></TR></TABLE>

not to sound daft, but along with the starter turning the engine on, it turns it off with some type of interlock?

 

well I mean maybe it got shorted out somehow...and isnt working correctly..I dont know anything about ignition im just taking a guess that its shorted out and isnt working correctly therefore when you take your key out nothing shuts down..just a guess? sorry if im not helping

 

I think you are helping just fine. I looked up some recalls and I found one on the ignition switch on the Accord for my year that due to electrical current may overheat and cause a malfunction. they say that it might turn off causing the engine to shut off but mine is the opposite. I think the problem is that the starter is fine, but the ignition switch behind the wheel is jacked. But I'm still open on other thoughts.

 

Try replacing your ignition switch? Get it from like an autozone, it that doesnt fix your problem you could always return it. Or while doing the work you might find another problem that you wouldn't have noticed other wise.

And make sure you get the ignition switch, not the cylinder and key part.

 

the electrical portion of the ignition switch comes as a seperate part. Then you don't need a new or different key.
If you remove the steering column shroud you can look at the solder joints of the ignition switch leads. If they have been over heated or are shorting the solder joints will have a 'frosty' look instead of smooth silver look.
I've never seen this problem but from your description of the problem I'd suspect the electrical part of the ignition switch.

 

Found out that the recall on the ignition switch, my car is in that lot. I explained the issue to the Honda Service guy and he said that like you and I suspected it might be the ignition switch. He thought so too since the circuit is still completed, most likely it's shorted. Taking it in Monday.

 

Deffo was the ignition switch. Dealership fixed it for free under the terms of the recall...