[S double-a B]

Alright, this is a bit complicated so here are my symptoms. They all started at once

1. If my car is running and I turn the key to the off position, the car keeps running. (I can even take the key out and it stays on)

2. Car has been idling between 1500 and 2000rpm's

3. I finally found out that if I take my foot off of the brake pedal, the car will turn off. Its not a smooth turn off, but rather more of it dying.

4. With the car off and the key out, pressing the brake pedal engages the front headlights.

5. Car is running on base boost only.

Again, all of these symptoms appeared at the same time. I had the alternator and front brakes done a few weeks before the symptoms started by my long time saab mechanic.


So what could it be???:lol: I hope that somebody has encountered this problem in the past. Thanks for the replies in advance

 

[ludichris001]

has anything whatsoever been done to the car (anything fitted, repairs etc..) leading up to these problems?

 

[S double-a B]

Yeah, about 2 weeks ago my mechanic put in a new alternator and ground wire. (there wasn't one before).

It ran normally for about a week after I picked it up from the mechanic, and now I am seeing these issues.

 

[ludichris001]

oh crap :lol: i didnt see the end bit of your first post - "I had the alternator and front brakes done a few weeks before the symptoms started by my long time saab mechanic." ..sorry ;oops:

now there is a brake signal wire going into the APC, which is near the LH headlight.. as for the way the engine stops, it sounds like the only thing turning off with the key is the fuel pump, so your ignition system may still be on, and the ignition module is also next to the APC.
i would suggest checking all of the wiring around the APC, headlight etc for any damage, and also check the wiring around the inlet manifold, there is a slight chance that a wire could have been crushed/pinched between something when the alternator was fitted.
this sounds like more of a wiring issue rather than component failure..

 

[900t]

You have some wiring problems and the current is going backwards and feeding everything :lol:

 

[DurocShark]

Has your Saab spent any time in an old barn in Maine lately? Magically repairing any body damage?

 

[S double-a B]

there is a brake signal wire going into the APC, which is near the LH headlight.. as for the way the engine stops, it sounds like the only thing turning off with the key is the fuel pump, so your ignition system may still be on, and the ignition module is also next to the APC.
i would suggest checking all of the wiring around the APC, headlight etc for any damage, and also check the wiring around the inlet manifold, there is a slight chance that a wire could have been crushed/pinched between something when the alternator was fitted.
this sounds like more of a wiring issue rather than component failure..
13-02-10 11:21 PM/QUOTE]

I checked around and everything LOOKS ok. Is there a specific area that can easily become disconnected? I do have a modded APC so perhaps that is causing the problem.

Has your Saab spent any time in an old barn in Maine lately? Magically repairing any body damage?/QUOTE] I wish! I was rear ended and my car is technically totaled.

 

[ludichris001]

if the back of the car was damaged the first thing i would do is strip the boot and go over all of the wiring. that may be the cause of the headlights coming on with brakes, and possibly some of the other weird things that are happening.

 

[philjohnhb]

I would have thought that this has to be an earthing problem. Perhaps your mechanic has wired the alternator incorrectly and it has taken a week for the wiring to burn/short/melt before your symptoms surfaced.

If there was nothing wrong with your car before he worked on it..........

 

[Jim Mesthene]

An overheated Catalytic Converter, combined with a rusted out Heat Shield, can melt the Wiring Harness under the Center console.

 

[S double-a B]

Thanks for all of the replies guys.

Today I will go through the wiring. It also just dawned on me that I replaced a few brake lights that have been out since the accident just before the problems started... Perhaps they are the cause of the problem.

I will also swap back to the stock apc and check all of the wiring around the alternator.

Fun day


A pic of the damage just for kicks

 

[S double-a B]

PROBLEM SOLVED:cheesy:


It turns out that I used the wrong sized bulb when i replaced my right brake light, so I swapped it out for the right one. Im not sure if that normally causes such weird problems, or if its because of the accident. I guess I dont really care


Thanks for everyone who contributed