My 84 has this irritating problem of not turning off when I want it to do so. I can turn the key and the engine cranks once, maybe twice and fires right up. When I turn the key off, it doesn't shut off the engine. The electrical stuff like the gas and temp gauge will quit indicating when the key is turned off, but the engine just keeps running. I have to stall it or pull the coil plug to turn off the truck.

The previous owner of the truck told me it was the ignition contacts. The fix was to purchase a new starter. I did this, and put the new starter in today (god what a pain, and I've heard the 3.0 is worse!). Well I wasted my money and time apparently, because that didn't fix anything. I also replaced the wiring harness inside of the steering column. Its the thick pack of wires with a harness on one end and a circular piece that connects to the ignition key's mechanism. This didn't solve my problem either.

so, if my rant/problem makes sense.. Does anyone have any experience with electrical problems like this? Any suggestions?

 

Oh Man I wish I could help. Troy and I are having an electrical or fuel issue that we are trying to diagnose by slowloy replacing parts (air filter, fuel filter, fuel pump, o2 sensor...) AGH it gets so nerve wracking!

Oh and yeah the 3.0 is THAT bad to change the starter on! *yeesh!!*

 

Is your 84 carburated? If so does it run really back when you try to shut it off. If so it's probably "dieseling". I'd check the ignition timing and see if the engine is running hot. Has it have any engine work done?

 

??? Are you saying your truck is dieseling and you changed the starter?

 

No. It is NOT dieseling. And no I did not replace the starter for any kind of dieseling problem. I might be retarded, but not that retarded.

This is the engine just running after turning the key off, I could drive like this all day long.