Dash Lights stuck "on" = Dead Battery

RepairmanJack · Post by **RepairmanJack** » 02 Jun 2013, 07:58

1994 850 NA
My 850 just developed an extremely frustrating problem. About the middle of last week for no particular reason, the dash lights (all the warning lights) seem to have come on all by themselves. It was parked at home and had not been driven for a few days.

Wednesday, I went to take it for a trip and found a dead battery. After an extended charging, the car started up. However, I noticed that the dash lights were on during the charging, but went out, once I got the car started.

I drove it the next day (Thursday), and it was driven on Friday as well with no problems (no lights). However, on Saturday, the problem re-appeared and the battery was discharged with the dash lights on.

I charged the battery again and found the same problem this AM. Dash lights are stuck on (with no key) until the engine is started. I opened up the column and checked to see if I could find the issue.

I can't "cause" the problem by messing with the key. I tried removing the ignition switch as well and this made no difference. Lights say on. I'm at a loss to get this issue sorted.

Does this sound like an ignition switch issue, an ignition tumbler issue, or something else?

Some sources suggest that the problem could be the alternator, does that makes sense if the lights go off after the engine is running...?

Any advice is appreciated.

Post by **jimmy57** » 02 Jun 2013, 09:04

If you find the lights on raise the hood and pull the red/white small gauge out of the back of alternator.
The magnetizing diode set inside alternator can cause this. There should be no backflow to dash circuit but they fail it happens.

RepairmanJack · Post by **RepairmanJack** » 02 Jun 2013, 09:52

I pulled the red/white wire from the alternator and this switches off most of the lights - not all, but most.

Perhaps the alternator is causing the problem? That I still have several lights on (ABS, SRS, OIL, CEL) makes me think this is not the total problem... or perhaps the alternator is feeding back into through other circuits...?

RepairmanJack · Post by **RepairmanJack** » 02 Jun 2013, 10:23

*Might* have it figured out. I was rocking the fuse panel checking the relays and fuses, when I managed to cycle something. I checked the dash and the lights were out. The fuse that feeds the ABS pump seems to be focal point. Might also explain why my ABS light seems to linger when the engine it started. I'm going to lift the fuses and take a look.

Post by **abscate** » 02 Jun 2013, 10:29

Bad grounds are often a cause of phantom lights...especially if the phantoms are weakly lit compared to normal.

Check battery grounds, dash panel grounds, engine to frame grounds

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 02 Jun 2013, 16:42

This one is easy. Take the car to whatever your local chain auto parts store is and have them check the alternator. They will do it, with the alternator in the car, for free.

...Lee

RepairmanJack · Post by **RepairmanJack** » 06 Jun 2013, 15:42

weird bit is that I unplugged the red/white wire from the alternator.. but half the dash lights still stayed on.

Somehow I managed to click it off (as noted above). I'll see if I can get the alternator tested, but until the problem comes back, I'm not sure what to think about this weird incident.

The only other bit o' weirdness is that I get some sort of short/feedback in when the reverse lights come on. My bulb-out light sorta lights up.

I figure something is crossed somewhere.

RepairmanJack · Post by **RepairmanJack** » 26 Jun 2013, 09:57

Problem went away for a while, but now it's back and the lights won't go off.

However this time, I followed some good advice and discovered that the drain is on the #3 Fused Circuit. Pulling #3 stops the problem. Putting it back, brings the problem back. 'Course my courtesy lights and oil light are also on that circuit, so it can't stay that way forever.

Any thoughts on where to look first? I'm going to check the courtesy lamps themselves, but after that, I'm not sure where to look next.

Note - the other electrical problems were traced to corrosion on the rear tail light pins, and poor contacts up at the engine grounds.

Post by **cn90** » 26 Jun 2013, 10:45

- Pull the relay box and fuse box, the fuse box probably has a lot of corrosion underneath.
- Clean it up.
- It was just arcing through the corrosion inside the fuse panel causing all your dash lights to be on even with key out of ignition.

RepairmanJack · Post by **RepairmanJack** » 26 Jun 2013, 10:52

is that consistent with the lights going off as soon as the engine has been started?

I did pull the whole box assembly up and checked for loose connections, however, I did not go hunting for corrosion on the terminals. #3 probably needs a closer inspection.

I also just recalled. When I got this car home, a couple of the fuses were missing. I think #3 was one of them.