Ok, my Fiance's car won't shut off. The ignition won’t shut it off. She had an aftermarket remote starter installed a few years back, and she started it with that. Would it harm her or the car if she removed one of the battery cables to shut it off? Let it run out of gas? I have no clue what to tell her. Car has no warranty, so none of that. Also, I'm not there to look at it, I'm at work. Thanks!
Pull the negative battery cable, then fix the ignition switch.
Pulling a cable won't hurt, but it might not stop it either because the alternator is still working. Is there a fuel pump or ECU fuse you can pull?
Will that harm the computer or alternator? Also, I think it's the stupid remote start that did this. The alarm went off twice on its own before this happened.
In reply to SilverFleet: Remove the remote starter; until you can diagnose the problem don' start pulling battery cables. With the electronics, there's the strong chance of a surge, and fried relays, or GFB, the main ECU. Install an inlline switch in the fuel pump power line. That or simply "gag" the air intake with large towel--so it doesnt get sucked into the engine. Crude, but effective.
She pulled the fuel pump fuse, and the car shut off. Thanks guys!
Now, I need to figure out how to fix this. The alarm/remote start is aftermarket, and I'm pretty sure they cut up the ignition wiring when they install it. I SUCK at wiring, so this is WAY beyond me. There are no reputable garages around here that I trust either, so I have no clue what I'm gonna do. 
In reply to SilverFleet:
Any chance of bringing it back to the shop that installed the remote? If not, ask around, neighbors, local parts stores for shops.
Is it an alarm and remote starter, or just a starter? If just starter, find the box and unplug it, because the wiring will just be piggybacked on the factory wires. If alarm that disables the starter, it will be cut into the factory wires. They will have to be reconnected with the remote unit disconnected. It will be fairly obvious if you can get to the wires by the ignition switch.
Thats assuming the remote starter is the problem, which is a fairly high probability.
triumph5 wrote: In reply to SilverFleet: Any chance of bringing it back to the shop that installed the remote? If not, ask around, neighbors, local parts stores for shops.
Yeah, I used to be the guy to ask at the local parts store! I've been to many of the local garages while working there, NONE of them have a clue what they are doing. 
I think I'm going to have her call the guy who installed this monstrosity. 
Streetwiseguy wrote: Is it an alarm and remote starter, or just a starter? If just starter, find the box and unplug it, because the wiring will just be piggybacked on the factory wires. If alarm that disables the starter, it will be cut into the factory wires. They will have to be reconnected with the remote unit disconnected. It will be fairly obvious if you can get to the wires by the ignition switch. Thats assuming the remote starter is the problem, which is a fairly high probability.
It's an alarm and starter all in one. Wish me luck guys, I'm going to look at it now.
Alright, so I checked it out. When I got there, she had pulled the fuel pump fuse, but the car was still in "Key on, ignition on" mode, and all the dash lights were lit up like she stalled it. There was no key in the ignition, and the lock cylinder was on off!!! So, I pulled the negative terminal off and "bled" the electrical system by holding the brake pedal down for about 20 seconds. I then crawled under the dash to see what was going on under there. There's a ton of wires down there, but nothing was loose and it was tidy. So I said to myself, WTF, let's throw it all back together!
I started it with the key a bunch of times, and it worked fine. Then we started it with the remote starter a few times, since we know how to shut it down (thanks again guys!). It worked fine. So, I have no clue, but I guess I'll blame it on the Super Heat Wave Death Extravaganza 2010:Zombie Car Edition. If it happens again, we'll call the guy who installed it.
This just reminded me that my car has an aftermarket alarm (with remote starter... on a car with a manual) that was installed before I purchased it. It's just splendid, especially when AAA battery dies, and the alarm goes off as the key is used to unlock the car. The ignition is then immobilized, the alarm is blaring, and I am shuffling through the glove box praying that there's a spare battery in there so that I can call a little less attention to the situation.
My remedy was remove the fob's battery, unlock the doors only with the key, and treat the alarm system like the sleeping beast that it is.
Silverfleet, if it happens again, find the wire from the remote/alarm that goes to a thick-ish blue wire coming out of the ignition switch, and pull it. That is the ignition wire. Sounds like the remote/alarm was continuing to send power when it shouldn't have. Or you can pull the wire going to the large black wire coming off the ignition switch. Either way, the ignition wire will stop seeing power, and the car will turn off.
For your referance: 12v-black, Starter-white, Ign-blue, and the two accessories are orange and yellow.
Oh, and check the ground for the remote start/alarm unit. A sketchy ground could be the culprit to your problems.
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