ignition problems* key in, everything turns on

spikedbat2 · Sep 6, 2007

Hopefully somebody can help me out with this one.

I'm not new to mustangs and know alot about 12v electronics. But here's my problem, i'm sorta stuck, dont know where to go next.

I have a 90 lx 5.0L. I took it off the road about 4 months ago. I have always had the battery located in the rear (hatch). big 0 gauge wire going upto front. and grounds aswell. So here's whats happening.

I stopped driving the car, and didnt touch it for about 2 months. I went to start it, and the battery was dead. Charged it up, or swapped it, probably both, but everytime i connect the battery now everything turns on.
like the dash lights, (all my accesories) the power truck starts to click, all the buzzers are going, like i have the key in it and the ignition on. When I turn to start, nothing happens. no start and doesnt react like the ignition is on. I didnt change anything, the car was just sitting. Could this be a damaged computer? Anybody ever have this problem before.

My first thoughts were battery issues, but i've tried a few different ones, and always the same results. The second thing i tried was changing the ignition switch (key part) cuz i had a spare one. Still same results.

any help would be greatly appreciated!

thanks!

chris

HISSIN50 · Sep 6, 2007

Check the ignition switch (the electrical connector) under the column. They are a Recall Item POS and fail.

If it's that, 20 bucks at the dealer and 20 mins will have the old one out and new one in.

Good luck.

Fox8950 · Sep 6, 2007

Any chance it was stored some place that had mice?, just wanted to rule that out I know they have made a couple of my earlier projects alot of fun

spikedbat2 · Sep 7, 2007

Hi,

okay I will try to replace the part you mentioned. Wheres the best place to get one, from ford, or do aftermarket parts stores carry it.

And to answer your second question, I do know that mice are around, have a frequent visitor to my garage, but my car is stored outside. What exactly did they damage on your car? What should I be looking for?

thanks guys!

HISSIN50 · Sep 7, 2007

HISSIN50 said:
If it's that, 20 bucks at the dealer and 20 mins will have the old one out and new one in.

Good luck.

spikedbat2 said:
Hi,

Wheres the best place to get one, from ford, or do aftermarket parts stores carry it.

I'd go for the Ford part. Even though they aren't great, I havent found an aftermarket piece I like any better. That said, parts stores do carry the switch. They also carry the electrical connector if yours has started to burn or melt (which generally happens after the switches go south).

2002BLGT · Sep 7, 2007

have you tried jumping the Solenoid under the hood yet , be a pain to tear the steering column apart to find out its the 8 dollar solenoid under the hood , try tapping on it with a screwdrive handle then hit the switch again ...

HISSIN50 · Sep 7, 2007

The solenoid has nothing to do with all of his accessories coming on when he connects his battery. If his car was cranking as soon as he connected the battery, I'd agree.

FWIW, few things are easier than replacing the ignition switch.

bretamo · Sep 7, 2007

There is some good advice in the threads above.

I would first try to start the car with by jumping the solenoid by putting the car in neutral with parking brake on, and with key ignition in the "on" position; just use a screwdriver to make contact with both sides of the solenoid. If you can start it that way, then you know you probably have a problem with either a) the Solenoid or b) the neutral clutch safety switch.

You could also try to push start it.

If it doesn't start, then you may have the dreaded ignition switch failure. Bad starter? dunno after that, as you may have to consult JRICHKER

spikedbat2 · Sep 10, 2007

put a switch on order, should be in today.

i have a feeling this is my problem, i dont think the selonoid would cause all the accesories to be on, like even my power truck is clicking away, immediately, which might be a reason to fear its not even the switch, but something to do with my alarm or computer. but tearing my dash out to access the alarm isnt a simple task!

thanks again

mustangmike6996 · Sep 10, 2007

sometimes if a battery dies you need to manually reset the alarm or it will not allow you to start the vehicle... worth looking into.....

spikedbat2 · Sep 20, 2007

okay, latest updates.

replaced the ignition switch on the column. same problem. This time i noticed something new, when i pull the ebrake the gauges all move like they are being affected by the ignition being on. The car started, once i pushed the clutch in it just cranked right away. Here's the latest issue, i took the key out, and the car wouldnt shut off. My power trunk keeps clicking locked, and i even disconnected the battery and the car still wouldnt shut off. I was about to disconnect the solenoid and power, but then realized it might be easier to just let the car stall to get it to stop, but then when i pressed the clutch to put it in gear doing that (pushing in the clutch) caused the car to shut off. (the key was alreaedy out of the ignition.

so now i have no idea?? I'm thinking, replace the solenoid, but i dont think it has control of the ignition does it? which obviously is live when the key is not in the car.
i might take my dash out and get to the alarm (compustar 2way) and uninstall it to see if it fixes my problem.

any help/ideas would be greatly appreciated.

thx

Mustang5oh88 · Sep 20, 2007

if the car shut off when u depressed the clutch, i would take a look at the neutral safty switch....try bypassing it and see what happens, its going to be a process of elimination till u have an idea what is causing the problem

spikedbat2 · Sep 27, 2007

any other ideas guys?

what causes the ignition to stay on it the car, does the computer control the ignition on a 90?

jrichker · Sep 27, 2007

Did you replace the electrical switch for the ignition or just the keylock mechanism?

Diagram courtesy of Tmoss & Stang&2birds

See the following website for some help from Tmoss (diagram designer) & Stang&2Birds (website host) for help on 88-95 wiring http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/engine/

Ignition switch wiring
http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/engine/images/IgnitionSwitchWiring.gif

Fuel pump, alternator, ignition & A/C wiring
http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/engine/images/fuel-alt-links-ign-ac.gif

Computer, actuator & sensor wiring
http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/engine/images/88-91_5.0_EEC_Wiring_Diagram.gif

Fuse panel layout
http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/engine/images/MustangFuseBox.gif

Vacuum routing
http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/engine/images/mustangFoxFordVacuumDiagram.jpg

praugue · Sep 27, 2007

spikedbat2 said:
okay, latest updates.

replaced the ignition switch on the column. same problem. This time i noticed something new, when i pull the ebrake the gauges all move like they are being affected by the ignition being on. The car started, once i pushed the clutch in it just cranked right away. Here's the latest issue, i took the key out, and the car wouldnt shut off. My power trunk keeps clicking locked, and i even disconnected the battery and the car still wouldnt shut off. I was about to disconnect the solenoid and power, but then realized it might be easier to just let the car stall to get it to stop, but then when i pressed the clutch to put it in gear doing that (pushing in the clutch) caused the car to shut off. (the key was alreaedy out of the ignition.

so now i have no idea?? I'm thinking, replace the solenoid, but i dont think it has control of the ignition does it? which obviously is live when the key is not in the car.
i might take my dash out and get to the alarm (compustar 2way) and uninstall it to see if it fixes my problem.

any help/ideas would be greatly appreciated.

thx

This whole thing sounds next to "impossible".

I'm thinking I would remove all fuses to get to the root of the matter.

I also don't understand why no one has mentioned the actual ignition switch as being a fault..

jrichker · Sep 27, 2007

praugue said:
This whole thing sounds next to "impossible".

I'm thinking I would remove all fuses to get to the root of the matter.

I also don't understand why no one has mentioned the actual ignition switch as being a fault..

Actually, several people have suggested the ignition switch as a problem cause.

spikedbat2 · Jun 11, 2008

Hey guys,

Okay I finally figured it the problem.

LOL and kicking myself, I should have really just done this before, but my alarm is in a very hard
to access place, hence cuz its an alarm.
Pulled my dash, got to the brain, unplugged it, and presto! Everything is fine. So there you go, my alarm must have a short somewhere and is turning on my ignition and starter whenever i getting 12v to the system.

Thanks for all the help guys!

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