Engine still running with key out of the ignition

[99ToyoRunner]

This morning I started my car and it sounded like the starter was continously engaged...So I shut the truck off and took the key out of the ignition and the engine was still running. So I tried shutting the truck off several times and it would still run. There wasn't a cel light thrown at all and after several minutes of letting the truck idle I could hear what I believe sounded like the starter motor stopped engaging so I was able to shut the engine off normally and I restarted the car and shut it off several times and it was fine. I know these starters don't last forever...has anyone experienced this? My 4Runner has 165k and it's a V65speed. Thanks

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

This morning I started my car and it sounded like the starter was continously engaged...So I shut the truck off and took the key out of the ignition and the engine was still running. So I tried shutting the truck off several times and it would still run. There wasn't a cel light thrown at all and after several minutes of letting the truck idle I could hear what I believe sounded like the starter motor stopped engaging so I was able to shut the engine off normally and I restarted the car and shut it off several times and it was fine. I know these starters don't last forever...has anyone experienced this? My 4Runner has 165k and it's a V65speed. Thanks

Sounds like you answered your own question. It sounds like the starter stayed engaged. The motor running and firing when you removed the key? If so, it sounds like a flaky ignition switch. If that starter stayed engaged while it was running that can't be good for the starter itself. May end up having to rebuild the starter and replace the ignition switch.

 

[99ToyoRunner]

Yeah I was just making sure..I was looking up starter replacements and on these cars they seem like a bit of a pain but I'm sure it's nothing I can't handle...These starters don't last forever..Yeah the starter doesn't sound too healthy now when I haven't had any problems all morning and I've been driving all over. I'm going to see if the problem happens again with the starter staying engaged after my truck sits for 9 hours at work.

 

[TheDurk]

It could also be the starter contacts. They usually fail open giving no crank condition but they also fail closed giving what you have. Key diag here is to see if there is 12V+ at the small terminal on the starter when this happens. If there is, issue is NOT the starter, but key switch, relay or elsewhere. If there is not, change the contacts for $15 and see if that resolves it. They are worn out anyway. A total rebuild is not likely to be needed unless there has been flooding or other violence done to it. These Denso's are near bullet-proof.

Do NOT swap your factory Denso for a cheap reman or Chinese clone. I consider that a sin against humanity. Rebuild it, but only if it needs it.

 

[amalik]

It could also be the starter contacts. They usually fail open giving no crank condition but they also fail closed giving what you have. Key diag here is to see if there is 12V+ at the small terminal on the starter when this happens. If there is, issue is NOT the starter, but key switch, relay or elsewhere. If there is not, change the contacts for $15 and see if that resolves it. They are worn out anyway. A total rebuild is not likely to be needed unless there has been flooding or other violence done to it. These Denso's are near bullet-proof.

Do NOT swap your factory Denso for a cheap reman or Chinese clone. I consider that a sin against humanity. Rebuild it, but only if it needs it.

How to test 12V on the starter terminal? Sounds like a tough spot to run a Voltmeter to

 

[99ToyoRunner]

Yeah I know a lot of the starters you can buy from advanced auto or auto zone aren't really that great...Granted these starters don't last forever and mine is 15 years old...However I don't off road with my truck...I wouldn't dare drive it through any standing water...personally the location of the starter is pretty stupid in my opinion. I let my truck sit at work for over 10 hours today and she started up no problem...So I'm going to monitor this for a while and hopefully this doesn't happen again. Luckily I'm in a position where I can walk to work if I need too so if anything does happen I won't be screwed out of a car. Thanks for the input everyone! -Karl

 

[99ToyoRunner]

Yeah I'm sure the starter contacts are pretty dirty...It could be as simple as that...I remember my first car was a 98 Subaru Outback and I cleaned the battery cables and for some reason when I came to a stop light the car would just die and I kept getting a check engine light. It was really annoying and then the starter finally crapped out. So I replaced the starter from one I found at a junk yard and replaced positive battery cable to the starter and cleaned all the contacts and boom no more check engine light and the car ran perfect...until the water pump failed.

 

[threadlessclimber]

Had a similar problem but the engine wasn't going when I pulled the key but the starter was still engaged and I couldn't get it to stop--pretty much cooked the thing. Only had the truck for a month, if I had knew what I know now I would have just replaced the contacts but the starter got burnt out because of this episode. Starter replacement is a lot easier with a 5spd-- remove the passenger side wheel--unclip the splash guard--(I read that I would need an extension for my socket wrench but....)--used a normal double sided wrench and didn't need to remove the exhaust manifold like a Toyota tech told me to do.

 

[mattman]

it sounds to me like the issue is the ignition switch rather than starter ... I guess it could be a coincidence where both have failed, but the engine running with key out shouldn't have anything to do with the starter.

A faulty ignition switch could - by itself - produce all the symptoms you are describing.

 

[twitchee2]

I vote this is not a starter motor issue.

No a 4runner but related. My buddy had a boat that had old faulty wires from the ignition switch to the starter solenoid. The wires would get holt while starting the engine and short themselves together somewhere between the key and solenoid. Basically, the boat hot wired itself and we had to pull the batter to get it shut off. I think you have something similar going on.

 

[mattman]

right - even if a starter motor could keep the engine turning, removing the key would remove fuel and spark delivery.