2006 X5 3.0i keeps running with key off
 

2006 3.0 with 156,000 miles on it. Saw some odd behavior about a year or so ago. Alarm would go off at night time, but only after driving it for a couple of hours. Thought it was the battery going low so I replaced the battery and all seemed well for a little bit. Then it would go off, I'd go outside, all the lights would be on, the AC fan blower motor would be on, blowing air out the vents, all the lights lit up, engine failsafe warning. No matter what I tried, I couldn't make the lights go off. I'd start it up, drive it to work, drop it off, and it would shut off fine. I don't think it happened again during the night because it always started the next day.

Finally replaced the ignition switch about 6 months ago. Seemed to solve the problem. Didn't have any more quirky behavior.

Now, it's back. Drive it for 1 hour, and that night, the alarm will go off and everything will be on. Some times when you take the key out and get out, the outside cooling fan will run for about 20 seconds and then cut off, even if it's cold outside. A couple days ago, I got in it, turned the key and all the locks cycled to unlock all at the same time and the car didn't start. I turned it off and back on again and it started.

Put another ignition switch in it tonight, buttoned it back up, started it, it started right up. Turned the key off and it kept running. Pulled the key out and it kept running. Clearly I'm missing something here.

It's a good, newer battery (less than a year old), new alternator, 2 new ignition switches.

Defective replacement.

There is no way the computer will get power to run the car with a properly functioning ignition switch

It’s my 3rd one, all from different sources. Nothing else it could be?

Shorted wire in the loom or connector where the power from the switch goes.

How'd you get the car to turn off if didn't shit off with taking the key out

Basically the conceot of "hotwire" is in play: If the "run" line is hot due to a short to live you will have the symptom you describe.


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Very well could be your starter is sticking. With the over-running clutch, with the engine idling you sometimes won't hear the starter has still been engaged. Go to switch off the engine and the starter will still be cranking over the engine, the only way to get it to stop is to disconnect the battery negative.
Once the battery is reconnected, the spring pushes back the pull-in solenoid and the starter will no longer engage until given power to start the engine again. I had these exact symptoms and it was caused by a meltdown internal to the starter so I replaced it and that fixed the issue. I'm not sure if any of your symptoms described above are relevant to the engine dieseling.

Perform the test as described in previous post. Check for power on the crank signal or small wire to the starter. If NO, and cranking, replace starter.

It only runs for a few seconds and then it shuts off. I've experienced the same issue during one of it's "episodes" in the past. After the alarm went off and all the lights were on, not being able to clear anything, I start it (it starts fine) and drive it. I get a block away and realize all my lights are on in the daytime (dash lights). I stop at a stop sign and put it in park and turn the car off. It keeps running. I take the key out, it keeps running. I put the key back in, turn it to the normal position, and drive away. I drive about 2 miles, park it, turn the key off, it cuts off, I lock it and leave it and everything is fine.

Makes me wonder if it's something other than the ignition switch since this is switch #3. Normally the problems go away for a while, but with this last switch, it happened immediately.

My gut is telling me that I'm missing something and it's not the switch, but my gut could be wrong. The bad wire theory sounds like a path I need to explore.

Do you know which wire is hot in that switch (the 9 pin switch)?

When this happens do all other things stay on like you even hadn't turned ignition off, or only engine stays running, but everything else is turned off?

Everything is on, like you never turned the key off. I don't think the steering wheel is locked either. I think you could drive it.

Part of the episode that made me switch out the ignition switch was an issue I had last week, I suppose, where the headlights would go off when you stop at stop lights. Put your foot on the gas, the lights come back on. That, in conjunction with all the other issues mentioned, made me think it was the ignition switch.

I wonder if it's the plug that the switch plugs into?

Sounds really strange. At this point I can't think of anything else besides ignition switch itself causing this scenario.

Is the lever/arm between the key barrel and the electrical switch failing? Not rotating the switch correctly...? :dunno: