My car will not stop turning when I turn the key to shut down the engine. The only way to make it stop is by stalling it (releasing the clutch). But even then the accessory lights still stay on. I have to disconnect the battery terminals to keep the battery from draining. We have checked the ignition switch and it appears to be ok. Has anyone else come across something like this? All help appreciated. David

 

trying to think of what it could be, but don't you think it would be better to pull your fuel pump fuse or ignition fuse, i will ponder what could be wrong. someone on here will come up with something.

 

I have a neighbor who is a pretty good mechanic helping me on this and he is stumped. He said that he "thinks something is keeping a certain relay energized" and that perhaps "some type of module/solid state device is shorted out.".........Is there anywhere online where a wiring diagram for a 91 maxima se can be found? The Haynes manual does not have a whole lot of information. David

 

bump....does anyone know where I can get a 'charging circuit' wiring diagram or a 'starting circuit' wiring diagram?

 

I'm also thinking its a bad relay. Well there are a couple ignition realys under the hood that are labeled in those two locations. There are also two relays under the left drivers side kick panel, I'm pretty sure they're for the ignition system (blue relays).

So what you can do is either give them a few good hits with something wooden or plastic. do them one at a time when trying to turn off the car.

And if its not a relay, then it would have something to do with the ignition where you insert the key. You can spray some wd-40 in their (wont hurt anything) but its probably not the problem.

 

Try disconnecting your ignition switch. If this shuts everything down, you have located the short. remove the kick panel under the steering wheel. locate the harness that connects to ignition lock. The connector rectangular in shape. Give that a try. If that doesn't work then I have more questions. do you notice if anything shuts down when you turn off the key? Do you have any aftermarket electrical equipment in the car (alarm, remote start, radio). I hope this helps. If not I can give you mre info when I have my reference with me.

 

The ignition switch/housing was taken apart but evidently it was ok. Neighbor did the diagnostics on it and said it was ok. When I turn the key all the way off the accessories (radio, etc.) do go off and the idle bumps down a little bit.;...but the engine keeps running.

 

the only aftermarket electronics is a cheap am/fm cassette deck. David

 

What is the year and trim of you max

 

A transistor in the ECU may have blown (not easily fixed). I've repared one before, but a spare ecu is required since the transistors cannot be bought anymore.

 

Looking at the wiring diagrams for both engine types, power for the ignition system is supplied ultimately from terminal 3 or the white w/ green tracer wire on the ignition switch connector. If your buddy is correct in his diagnosis and disconnecting the ignition switch harness connector does not shut down your engine than that before mentioned wire is getting power from somewhere else. You can try pulling your fusable links one by one to see if you can get you car to shut down.

 

Its a 91se 5 speed. The only 2 things that have caused all electrical connections to cease is pulling the radiator fan fuse, and pulling the eccs(green) relay up by the battery. If there were a problem with a transistor in the ecu, would the ecu flash a code? Thanks, David.

 

Okay, looks like you've found something. Pulling the radiator Fuse Link should not have shut down your car. That circuit is independent of any engine component. Try this, with the car running and the key in the off positions. Pull each radiator relay on at a time. If your car shuts off with one of the relays, leave that one out and put the rest in. Now repeat; start the car and turn the key off. If this is the case what color is that relay?

 

pulled the radiator fan connectors and the car kept running. i dont have the diagram in front of me but if memory serves the radiator fan fuse also affects/covers several other electrical operations in the car. David

 

Not the fan connector but the relay. the should be in the relay box in front of the battery

 

I would like to also clarify. What color was the radiator fan fuse link?

 

.....I was referring to the radiator fan fuse itself, in the drivers side fuse box, its labeled radiator fan but the fuse controls several other functions. Hope this answers your question/clarifies things. David

 

This does clarify. This powers the low amp side of all the rad relays, the air conditioner relay and Climate control door controls and relay. Still these circuits should not affect engine running. I am at a loss. I know you cover this before, did you ever try to disconnect the ignition lock connector that is mounted on the streering wheel pivot point under the dash?

 

I cant answer this, my neighbor took apart the steering wheel assembly and I am not 100% sure what he disconnected but I am pretty confident that if he said it was ok, its ok...I am over my head on a lot of this so I have to rely on his diagnosis but he is pretty good at this stuff and is also at a loss. If we could get a charging circuit diagram and/wiring circuit diagram, it would help; but we havent been able to find these. David

 

My reference that I have been using is a chiltons manual. They seem to be the same diagrams that are used in the official service manual. Unfortunetly I will not get a copy of my service manual manual till next week.

Any way. You say that fuse inside the car shuts the engine down. Try the rad fan fuseable link next to the battery. Should be a red fuse(45a) next to your main fuseable link.

 

Neighbor is out of town but talked to him on the phone and he is following this thread. We will try to fix the darn car tomorrow but its tough without the diagrams. Thank you for your input/help. This is like looking for a needle in a haystack. David

 

Try to track down a chiltons book (book number 52450). It should give some help. otherwise I will have service manual in hand and I can fax you some copies of diagrams

 

Okay, first of all, do you know about Chilton's online manual?
It can be useful in your situation.
Second, I have Haynes manual for Nissan Maxima 1985-1991 and I can scan some diagrams from there. Do you need it?

 

Neighbor worked on the car some more today. Found a problem with the 'meter' fuse, 6th from the bottom on the left side. Pulled fuse and car will turn off properly with fuse pulled, and yet all functions tied into the fuse still work. Thinks that there is a short/ground/problem somewhere between the fuse and the ecu, probably within the ecu. At a loss because of no wiring diagrams. I have a Haynes manual but it does not have the diagrams needed. Tried Chiltons online but was unable to access their diagrams. If anyone has access to a diagram linking the ecu and the fuse box it would help alot. thanks, David.

 

Its very possible that a transistor in the ecu blew, $$$$$

 

you mentioned that the transistors were no longer available, so if it is a transistor basically that would mean replacing the entire ecu? Any idea what used ecu's go for? David

 

I dont know exactly, but its around $500. Buy it from www.courtesyparts.com ask for the internet discount (or maxima.org).

 

If I was to find one from a junk yark or on the classifieds board would it matter if it was a non se, and would a 1992 plus ecu work in a 91? Thanks, David.

 

Any ecu replacement would have to have: the same engine, same tranny, and emissions standard (federal/cali).

 

thanks for the feedback, chiltons is on its way, we are going to try to tackle it again tomorrow. David