Electric Short Circuit

[Gaston Siri]

Hi there, my R4 (1100 cc - GTL - from 1990) is giving me some electrical problem and it's becoming difficult to diagnose.

In a nutshell, the car is in 'contact' as if the key was placed in the ignition and switched to the on position.

Any ideas are welcome. Thanks
in advance for your help.

Gaston

 

[André4Renaults]

When you say the car is in "contact" which warning lights are staying on when the key is removed? If it's both the oil and ignition then it sounds like there might be a fault in the ignition switch. Does the key start the car normally and does the car run as it should? If this is the case how are you switching the engine off? If the ignition is staying connected even when the key is removed then it is possible that the coil may be damaged, as it continuously connected to the battery. If the key IS switching the engine off then I would suspect the fault in the alternator, which might make the ignition warning light stay on when the engine is off.

Hope this helps!

 

[Gaston Siri]

Hi Andrew, thanks for your answer.

When the ignition is switched off the engine stays running (I thought it was inside the engine block, something sparking instead of the spark plugs). However I had turned off the engine by choking the air flow. Then, removed the battery, removed the key and re-connect the battery, and what I saw is that without the key the warning lights were on, both the oil and ignition; which I think may be in line with the coil failure as you mentioned.

The ignition switch turns on the engine once I engage the starter motor. So, do you think this is the ignition switch?

I'll try and see if I can replace the coil. I've tried replacing the alternator, but didn't make any difference. Let me know if you have a chance.

Thanks again for your help!

Best, Gaston

 

[mr-reno-139]

If you acess rear of ignition switch you should be able to unplug connector if lights stay on then it's not switch related possibly wiring related have you fitted anything to car before problem occurred ?

 

[retrospecparts]

The coil won't be the cause but could overheat as a result.
It sounds like a circuit that is normally only fed via the ignition switch has been connected to anothet permanent positive supply, which is therefore also feeding other circuits on the switched side of the ignition switch.
What electrical work or changes to anything electrical had been done just before this happened?

 

[André4Renaults]

If you acess rear of ignition switch you should be able to unplug connector if lights stay on then it's not switch related possibly wiring related have you fitted anything to car before problem occurred ?

As he says, it sounds like the fault lies in the ignition switch. Disconnect the ignitions switch & see if the lights are still illuminated on the dashboard. If they ARE then the fault lies somewhere else, but my instincts are that the fault will be in the ignition key switch assembly. Again, as mentioned, an overheating coil won't help the car's general health!

 

[Gaston Siri]

hi guys, you were totally right. ignition switch had a short circuit. removed it, fixed it and now is back to normal. thanks so much! best, gaston