Constant power to Sunfire starter

Tiny
ANOLA_GUY
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE
  • 180,000 MILES
2002 Sunfire. Starter won't quit cranking even with key off and removed. (Constant power to solenoid) Unplugged ignition switch (both plugs) and command start module and same result. Removed solenoid trigger wire and still have constant power to it. Replaced 2 relays (in fuse box), no change. Help please
Saturday, September 17th, 2011 AT 1:32 PM

10 Replies

Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,757 POSTS
What happens when you remove the purple wire from the starter?
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Saturday, September 17th, 2011 AT 1:59 PM
Tiny
ANOLA_GUY
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I already disconnected it and there still power going to it.
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Saturday, September 17th, 2011 AT 6:10 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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Power going to what?
Does the starter stop when the wire is disconnected?
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Saturday, September 17th, 2011 AT 7:25 PM
Tiny
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Yes it does. Actually. With the purple wire on I can't leave the battery (+) connected. That is why I had it off in the first place.
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Saturday, September 17th, 2011 AT 7:49 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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Now you have to determine where that wire is picking up voltage. It could the the ignition switch or the transmission range sensor or shorted wiring in between. I would probably try first shifting it into drive and see if it still cranks. If so, unplug the range sensor at the transmission and see if that stops it.
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Saturday, September 17th, 2011 AT 8:14 PM
Tiny
ANOLA_GUY
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I've already unplugged the ignition switches (both plugs). I will go try putting it in drive and see what it does. Where else can it pick up voltage?
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Saturday, September 17th, 2011 AT 8:55 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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You don't have to try it in gear now. That was to test the ignition switch. Unplug the transmission range sensor and see what that does.
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Saturday, September 17th, 2011 AT 9:09 PM
Tiny
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Ok, there are 2 plugs on there. I pulled the smaller plug first and still had power at the purple wire. Pulled the bigger second plug and now there's no power to the purple wire.
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Saturday, September 17th, 2011 AT 9:23 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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You'd better make sure nobody has modified any wiring or tapped into any of those wires anywhere. This appears to be pointing to a bad range sensor switch but that still isn't making a whole lot of sense because there shouldn't be any power there for anything with the key off. It should be examined more closely by an electrical specialist.
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Saturday, September 17th, 2011 AT 10:16 PM
Tiny
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This car was working fine and then this happened out of the blue.
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Sunday, September 18th, 2011 AT 2:29 AM

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