Then take the car out on the highway and drive at speed for a while, also doing some hard accelerations. Eventually, you may grow weary of the extra expense of filling your car up with premium. Replace the Ignition Cylinder. Locate the electrical connector to the ignition switch. Contacting a mobile mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, to come to your home or office to inspect your car help you figure out what to do next is easy and convenient. The ultimate solution to your dieseling problem may involve some major engine repair. $88 - $111 Learn More. Check your workshop manual and adjust the idle speed according to the specifications. Carbon buildup can raise compression in the engine and can cause hot spots in the combustion chamber that can lead to dieseling. It’s a treatment, not a cure. Try shifting the shifter: With your foot on the brake, move the shift lever to the neutral position and try starting the engine.If that doesn’t work, move it back to “Park” and try it again. Touch the connectors together and release them. In this case, you'll want to turn off your engine, remove the key, leave the vehicle, and shut the door. Remove the bottom half of the plastic shroud surrounding the steering column. If adjustment is necessary, that is done by loosening the distributor with the distributor wrench and turning the distributor slightly in one direction or the other depending on which way you want to move the timing. There are a number of fuel additives on the market that are intended to help clean the carbon out of an engine while it is running. It can vary widely from car to car. Key stuck, Can't turn car off. Issues with the fuel and engine management systems can often produce these symptoms. Does your car have fuel injection or does it have a carburetor? often times in the morning i wonder why i can't turn my fog lights on, always turns out to be that i … Some car radios are on a timer, so they are designed to not shut off immediately. YourMechanic’s technicians bring the dealership to you by performing this job at your home or office 7-days a week between 7AM-9PM. Step 2: Check the idle speed. The cleaning formula may help to break up carbon deposits and send them down the tailpipe. Some cars set the timing at idle, others set it at a high engine speed. It can be very frustrating when it doesn't. Disconnect the wire and turn on the key. We get it. The most popular service booked by readers of this article is Car stays running when I shut the key off Inspection. If the onboard computer can't communicate with your scan-tool it could be a few different problems, it could be that the on-board computer isn't getting the proper power or grounds, this would also explain the no-start. Replace them if you find anything wrong. If, however, the engine fails to stop, but instead seems to go into leaping convulsions accompanied by knocking and pinging sounds, what you are experiencing is known as "dieseling.". Check the workshop manual for the timing procedure. YourMechanic All rights reserved. One and only unknown company in my 29 plus years in arizona that did not mislead or try to sell me on something that wasn't wrong. If you're near your car when the alarm goes off — or if remote starting is one of … Most four and six cylinder engines should idle around 850 to 900 RPM. In some cars the relay may be called an ECM relay, a Digifant or a DME relay. Key is stuck in the "on" position, so not only can I not get key out, but I also can't turn the car off. If you have gone through all these steps and have not solved your problem, you probably have a serious buildup of carbon in the engine. Tried just about everything I can think of or find to solve this with no luck so far. The most common problem when it comes to a car that shuts off while driving is a defective crankshaft position sensor. You still haven't turned off your adblocker or allowed our site. It can vary widely from car to car. After a few minutes have passed, check if the radio has turned off. Unplug the switch at the connector and everything should immediately go dead. Step 2: Change your fuel. Get service at your home or office 7 days a week with fair and transparent pricing. Chevrolet K1500 Suburban - Car Radiator Replacement - Anaheim, California, Appreciate his diligence to insure no leaks, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 - Water Pump - Santa Ana, California, Buick LaCrosse - Car stays running when I shut the key off - San Antonio, Texas. It is either the ignition switch electrical or the ignition lock cylinder. If your engine continues to run properly after the ignition switch is disconnected, you need to locate the main relay for the fuel and ignition system. It only takes a few seconds. If this is the case, solving this problem will require replacing the ignition switch element. This would mean the... leaking fuel injector in the system that has to be replaced. Enjoyed meeting him and appreciate his evaluation of my car. 04 Chevy Aveo I can't turn my car off . If adjustment is necessary, that is done by loosening the distributor with the distributor wrench and turning the distributor slightly in one direction or the other depending on which way you want to move the timing. Does the engine run smoothly as though you could just put it in gear and dive away? Dieseling is rarely a problem with fuel injection because the fuel delivery is shut down as soon as the switch is off. The exact text will differ depending on the actual application you have running. First time car owner and I feel like a complete potato after turning off my engine with the car still in drive. Using an incorrect spark plug can also cause dieseling. When I turn my car off, it continues to run and will not shut off. This article originally appeared on YourMechanic.com as How to Troubleshoot a Car That Won't Turn Off. If the red warning lights do light up, turn the key to the start position. If you have a fuel injected car that is dieseling, there is a leaking fuel injector in the system that has to be replaced. The vehicle won't start at all, or will crank slowly. In some cars the relay may be called an ECM relay, a Digifant or a DME relay. Autoblog is partnering with YourMechanic to bring many of the repair and maintenance services you need right to you. Does your car have fuel injection or does it have a carburetor? And free is good, right? How to Turn off a Car Engine when the Key is Turned Off. Using higher octane fuel may help to alleviate a dieseling problem that you have not been able to remedy through other means. Does the engine run smoothly as though you could just put it in gear and dive away? Then take the car out on the highway and drive at speed for a while, also doing some hard accelerations. So if either of them break, they will both be affected. That wire is hot when the key is on and opens the valve, allowing it to close when the key is off. If the engine continues to run just as before you turned it off - as if you hadn’t turned it off at all - your ignition and fuel system are not shutting down. I tried turning it off, and the ignition wouldn't budge, I had to turn all the way forward, (making the scratching noise) then I was able to shut it off. There is no one procedure that applies to all engines. These two components mate together and essentially become one. It is called dieseling because diesel engines ignite the fuel in the same way, without using electrically operated spark plugs. Posted by Anonymous on Jul 02, 2010. Step 5: Check the spark plugs. My key is stuck in the on position. Forgetting to turn off a car's headlights after shutting down the vehicle is fairly common, but this kind of forgetfulness can prove troublesome. Disconnect the wire and turn on the key. Eight cylinder engines may idle around 600. 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