what would cause the iginition to NOT turn off when the key is turned to the OFF or LOCK position.

HELP!!!

Only one post on your problem is necessary. If one of us can help we will. :beard:

Someone updated the Alternator and didn't put a diode in the signal wire?

what does that mean to the lay person of electronics?

how is it corrected?

You had to ask the most electrically challenged that question!

Well, i don't know much but I do know how to work the search box.

Alternator Upgrade

I don't know if this has been done to your car, but I do know if you leave the diode out, The car will continue to run in the off possition. One wire to the alternator is the "signal" or "Sensor" wire that gets feedback from the load to operate the internal regulator. A diode is a one-way valve. Without the diode power backfeeds the ignition system, so it gets power despite the key switch.

How'd I do, Enrique? right? wrong? way off?

your right about the one way valve part

When you turn the key to the on position do you hear the ACC. relay on the passenger door wall click?It may be stuck on.Are your gauges still on when the car is off?Put a test light between the battery neg cable and bat.neg.It will glow bright when the battery is draining.Unplug relays and or pull fuses to find the one that turns the light off.

Geeeeez! You can tell that the board has been somewhat dead lately. I've not seen more serious work suggested on something that MAY be very minor.

First of all, check the SWITCH portion of the LOCK mechanism. That is a simple rotary switch scrwed onto the back side of the Lock Cylinder. The Z uses a small flat "key" to actuate the switch's rotary selector. The switch is held onto the Lock mechanism via two screws. I've seen these screws go loose, then the switch doesn't maintain the key inside the slot. (I hate when that happens.:cheeky: )

This may or may not be the solution.

A second thought might be one of the wires on the back of the ignition switch having lost the soldered contact to the switch.

And finally, a new switch.

All before determining voltage regulator directional polarity, phase or any thing even more complicated.

Remember Occam's Razor.

Victor: I will admit to not knowing definitively. The explanation of the diode is correct, however, I'm not sure you CAN wire the alternator without the diode. The other theory sounds plausible, but I don't know.

Enrique

Enrique,

The reason I came up with that is it got popular with the roadsters to install a GM "One Wire" Alt. But not everyone would read the whole instruction set. So we get these roadsters in that would run on run and run on off!

I will try these solutions....since I recently opened up the steering column to do something else.... perhaps I loosened something.

...I will check these screws that hold the switch.

will let you know

thanks