My camaro wont turn off after its started....????

[darthvegagt]

I am nearly 3 years into my camaro build and have converted the car from the original six cylinder/powerglide to a 454/TH400 as well as many other upgrades. Im finally ready to put the car back on the road and am finishing up a couple things in order to make it a decent driver as I finish the build.
Anyways, the car starts fine and runs good but won't shut off when you turn the key off. I had a Nova years ago that did this and I had to run a diode in the alternator wire because I guess it was backfeeding power and keeping it running or something.

Anyone know what I need to do in order to get the car to shut off normally?:idea:

I finally figured out why the lights weren't working ...it was a bad headlight switch...go figure!
I'm sure I'll have other things to fix and questions to ask once I get the car driving. :hammer:

[hotrdblder]

sounds like the ignition is still getting power when key is off, find out why

[darthvegagt]

I'm not that good with electrical or troubleshooting it. I do have a new ignition switch though that I have yet to install.

I also just checked the lights since I just put in the new headlight switch and they work.... but only with the key in the ON position. If the key is OFF I get no brake lights, headlights, taillights, dash lights or anything.:confused:

Electrical just confuses me and frustrates me honestly. Not sure how to troubleshoot these issues. Any advice?

[class67]

If you are running an MSD, this is very common....install a diode at the alternator and this will take care of your issue.

[darthvegagt]

No MSD here...just stock BBC HEI setup.

[darthvegagt]

Here's a picture of my baby!

[HILROD]

It sounds to me like two or more power feeds are switched. The headlights and tails get full time power in to the swithed. The ignition gets power only when the key is on. Sounds like they are backwards.

[darthvegagt]

I'm not running the stock external regulator, I have an internal regualted alternator.

I will try what you all advised as far as pulling fuses til it dies, finding out if the HEI wire is getting power and when in relation to the ignition position,.. etc.

The wire I had connected to the HEI was coming from the engine wiring harness to the distributor......I just went out and ran a wire straight from the IGNITION on the fuse panel to the HEI and nothing changed. The car still starts and runs and won't shut off.

I have a new ignition tumbler that I plan on installing this weekend. (Work has me busy til then)

Somehow the fuse panel is getting power to the HEI and ignition despite the position the ignition is in. Think this could be related to the wires that are going to the starter powering up the fuse box?

I'm confused. The engine wiring harness is brand new stock version. Im pretty sure if I removed the wires from the starter then it won't have any power to the fuse block at all. But somehow I have the wires mixed up or something is backwards. I dunno what else it could be.

I cut the cloth resistor wire short next to the firewall, butt-connected a regular wire to it and ran it to the HEI.

Also the Im running a mini-starter on the BBC and it only has one terminal (vs two terminals on the stock silenoid) besides the battery cable connection.

[gonein67bird]

my car did this once the pos. power line on the starter was touching more than just the terminal. it started fine ran fine just would not shut off. give that look.

[CarPlayLB]

Put in the diode! I had the same problem, diode fixed it. It probably has something to do with the new alternator with internal regulator. That is where I would start. You can test this by turning off the key, then disconnect the wires going into the alternator...unless of course you have a one wire alternator! Doh!

[MickMc]

Put in the diode! I had the same problem, diode fixed it. It probably has something to do with the new alternator with internal regulator. That is where I would start. You can test this by turning off the key, then disconnect the wires going into the alternator...unless of course you have a one wire alternator! Doh!


This is the answer.
I had this same problem

External to internal alternator must have diode.

Mark at Mad Enterprises...


Mick

[falconwagon62]

Yes, it's back feeding the feed to the distributor....

[usa1camaro1969]

I had a '69 396 car that did this after I put on the mini-starter. I ran a kill switch because when you went from the single to dual posts on the solenoid it's letting there be a constant hot problem. I'm thinking it's what you're running into because my car was shutting off fine until that upgrade also.
Paul