4age 16v car keeps trying to start without key

[sageren]

So I'm dealing with an issue where I fire the car on then it keeps trying to turn over after i've let go of the key.
It will sometimes fire up but be really weak like its running on only a few cylinders. If i remove the key it will stay on in that firing sequence. The only way to get it to stop is to cut off the fuel or disconnect the battery. I assumed it was possibly the ignition switch and ignition cylinder being old and weak. Though, after replacing those, the issue remains. Any ideas boys?

[morgan]

I've seen this when the timing is off. Verify the leads all go to the correct cylinders and see where its set at.

[sageren]

I've seen this when the timing is off. Verify the leads all go to the correct cylinders and see where its set at.

hmmm interesting. I'll check if it somehow got out of time. Thank you.

[jondee86]

So I'm dealing with an issue where I fire the car on then it keeps trying to turn over after
i've let go of the key.

Just to be completely clear, you are saying that when you crank the engine, the
engine starts but runs very weakly. And when the key returns to the ACC or OFF
position, the starter stops cranking but the engine continues to run weakly until
you remove the battery terminal ??

As suggested above, running very weakly can be caused by severely retarded
ignition timing, for example when the timing belt jumps a couple of teeth.

Continuing to run with the key out of the ignition is a different problem. Probably
a short between a permanently live wire and a key switched wire in the back of
the ignition switch.

Cheers... jondee86

[totta crolla]

It sounds like it might be 'pre-ignition' this is a situation where the engine continues to run after being switched off and is due to extreme cylinder temperatures. As stated above retarded ignition timing can cause this. To advance the ignition timing turn the distributor anti-clockwise.

[jinx]

did you connect any electric fan ? Power source from ?

[allencr]

The starter is staying engaged/on.
I imagine that the poor running is from the 5th injector dumping too much or maybe being the sole source of fuel. Clueless as to the ignition source.
First happened to me about 30 years ago, cold mornings in the 35F range and just stalled the engine in gear to stop it. Started & did it again. Third, maybe fourth time was OK.
Thought it was spot welded solenoid contacts or its armature hanging up on something. It wasn't it.
Next, cleaned the ign. switch contacts. It wasn't it.
Next, put in a starter push button, fixed it.
IIRC, there's a cold start relay sensor or something like that name, a sensor for that 5th injector for cold starts and it's wired up with the starting circuit & causing the problem. I replaced mine but never got rid of the push button, so don't know if it was the cure.
IIRC, there was a post or two about this somewhere way back when.
Good Luck.