Engine won't die after turning off ignition

[Nomad127]

Before deciding to rebuild and rewire my '73 CJ5 , the engine, which is actually a '84 AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l , ran strong. I'm 90% completed with the wiring and got it running again but when I turn off the ignition switch, it doesn't shut off the engine. What did I miss? I can't find any help using my manual or on the web and everything else is working properly.

 

[mylittlecj5]

Do you have a diode installed between the ALT and the battery/solenoid? (I'm not sure exactly where it goes)
What can happen is the ALT will backfeed power to the ignition and keep the engine running when the key is off.
I know there are a few other ways to prevent this, but this is a good place to start looking for the cause.


Edit: I looked it up for you and I was wrong. You need a resistor wire if you have a stock style ignition, not a diode.
Here is where I got that info...

Look over a few of these posts and see if it helps

 

[IOPort51]

this is a very real possibility but there is also the possibility that you have a hot wire going to the coil/distributor that is not being controlled by the switch. check the red wire on the coil and see if you have 12 volts to ground with the key off.

 

[Old Dog]

^^^one of these gentlemen has to be right.^^^

 

[IOPort51]

I'm hopeful you are!!

^^^one of these gentlemen has to be right.^^^

 

[Nomad127]

this is a very real possibility but there is also the possibility that you have a hot wire going to the coil/distributor that is not being controlled by the switch. check the red wire on the coil and see if you have 12 volts to ground with the key off.

It's got an aftermarket distributor (I was told DUI by the PO but not 100% sure) and an alternator with an internal voltage regulator if that helps/changes anything. The red wire going from the starter relay to the distributor has 12v with the key on AND off. There's another red wire connected to the same place that goes to the ignition switch which is constantly hot. The white wire to the alternator is connected to the ignition but is not hot when the key is off. Do I have the red and white mixed-up on the ignition switch? Here's a couple pic...

 

[Old Dog]

distributor has 12v with the key on AND off. There's another red wire connected to the same place that goes to the ignition switch which is constantly hot.

The distributor (where you have the red wire) should only have 12v with the key on, there should not be any power going to it with the key off.

 

[IOPort51]

do you have a wiring diagram??
if so what manual is it in??


I would guess it's an HEI distributer.

 

[Nomad127]

The distributor (where you have the red wire) should only have 12v with the key on, there should not be any power going to it with the key off.

Thanks. So what about the wire going to the alternator? Should it be hot all the time? If so, I should just swap the location of the wires on the ignition switch.

do you have a wiring diagram??
if so what manual is it in??


I would guess it's an HEI distributor.

I'm using the wiring diagram from my Hayes manual combined with a more simplified diagram from a street rodder. It's slightly different in this area due to the Jeep not having a separate voltage regulator. Everything else electrically is working fine with this exception.

 

[Nomad127]

I think I've got it figured out. I had the hot wire coming off the starter relay going to the "ing" side of the the ignition switch instead of the "bat" connector. That kept everything attached to "ing" hot all the time which was causing the battery to slowly loose volts. I had the wire leading to the alternator connected to the "bat" connector. I switched 'em and now nothing has power unless the the ignition switch is on.

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.