Ok so just for some background I have a 1996 Honda Civic EX, automatic, and it was stolen like 3 months ago. All they did was rip out my CD player and take everything that wasn't bolted down. It ran a little crappy after that, just a little rough, but it ran. So on Monday I went to start it and it was having a hard time turning over, like the battery was dying or dead. It finally started, but it was making a clicking sound and the light around the 'P' on my dash board would get brighter with every click. I went to turn it off, and the engine wouldn't stop. I pulled the key all the way out of the ignition and it kept running. It was running for about 15 minutes then sputtered out. I tried to start it and it sounded like the battery was dying again but wouldn't start. Now when I try to start it, my dashboard lights flicker and something in the car clicks. When I try to turn it off the lights on the dash stay on and I have to jiggle the key around until it turns off. I need serious help and you guys are my only hope. I am a broke college student, so any advice that would keep me out of the shop would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

One problem seems to be a bad ignition switch.

 

Yeah, that's what my buddy was saying he thought it might be. Is that hard to replace for a beginner?

 

The job is pretty easy:

 

Also sounds like you need a new battery. But hopefully the switch replacement will take care of it for you. Good luck!