Engine does not stop running

[CreamBeam]

Tried searching but couldn't find exactly what i was looking for.

Anyways car has been sitting for about a year while i have been working on it, at the beginning the ignition worked properly, now when i connect the battery the dash lights come on without the key even in it. The car starts and runs normally, but i can take the key out and the engine stays running.

When i first started work on the car i removed an old alarm system and im guessing my issue has something to do with that. My problem is i took the alarm system out so long ago i don't remember what all i did with it and what i removed/changed.

So..... if anybody has any input of where to start looking i would appreciate it or if anybody else has had this kind of problem please let me know.

thanks 8)

[Gregs///M]

Sounds like an ignition cylinder problem. Check to make sure the voltage states are working correctly from the ignition harness. I would start there.

[rcsoundn1]

Also try and get detailed pics of the wires under the column. Check there to be sure they are all matched up correctly. My car had an alarm which I removed. I install alarms often, and used to do it full time. You may have crossed wires, from a constant power to a switched power wire

[CreamBeam]

i am going to check the ignition switch on friday when i get back to the garage, i dont think its the problem only b/c it worked fine then i removed the alarm and now i have this problem.

i will double check the column wires too

[CreamBeam]

ok so i got down to the garage today and of course my test light and multimeter are MIA, so i figured i would try some other ways to diagnose this.

All the wires looked good everywhere, grounded properly not frayed, connected etc

First i removed all the fuses pertaining to the cluster, igniton, and everything else----still was getting power.

then i removed the 3 main relays under the black shroud in the engine bay as well as the k7 relay------still had power.

Finally i removed the main power wire from the connecter under the dash that supplies the ignition switch with power, (the larger red one).

After all that the car still has power every time i connect the battery, i'm no electrical genius but this is ridiculous.

my guess is the DME is getting constant power every time i connect the battery therefore sending power to everything?

[CreamBeam]

welp i was able to figure out the problem after i found a better wiring diagram for the ignition switch.

http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=115286

if you look at the 3rd wiring diagram down in that link, it shows a small auxillary fuse box, somehow those wires came into contact with each other and were constantly supplying my ignition switch with power reguardless of key position.

Hopefully this may help others someday, thanks for those who tried to help.