Ignition light staying on.

[Cock Womble 7]

Earlier this week I was accosted on the way back from the shop by three local kids asking if I owned "that little car round the back".

They badgered me into letting them have a closer look and I let them take turns sitting in the driver's seat, flicking switches and making "brrrrm brrrm" noises. Thing is, once they had found the starter button they insisted on pressing it. Repeatedly. Now, the key wasn't in the ignition (the steering wheel wasn't even on) so the car wouldn't start, but obviously it did turn over every time they pressed the starter.

Ever since, I've noticed that the ignition light stays on after I've started the engine - if only for 30 seconds or so - which is not something I've seen it do before.

So, have they broken something by pressing the starter with no ignition on?

Or

Would it be something to do with the fact that I've recently changed the ignition light from a normal bulb to an LED unit?

[Classic Grad 98]

After starting, does the light extinguish faster if you rev the engine? It's usually the first sign of a tired alternator...

[chris_speed]

Yep, when this happened on my 1600K, the alternator played up, and it needed a rebuild.

[Steve-B]

Time for a new Alternator have to say. You can check belt tension but highly likely it's on its way out....

[mickrick]

Spinning it over with the ignition off will kill it.
Same thing happens with the older diesel engines with a pull stop, turn the ignition off before stopping them buggers the alternator.

Kids eh... I prefer to dink them on the forehead with a stick with a nail in the end....
Sorry, my Paternal instincts coming out again

[Cock Womble 7]

Oh bugger, pretty much what I thought then.

I knew I should have fitted that battery cut-off switch...

[2slo]

Cock Womble 7 said:

Oh bugger, pretty much what I thought then.

I knew I should have fitted that battery cut-off switch...

Surprised you haven't if yours stays outside. My ins co gave agreed that a BCS is an additional security device and factored that into their quote.

[CharlesElliott]

Or wire your starter button correctly so that it doesn't turn over the engine without the ignition on?

[willmac]

Sorry to go a bit OT, but how easy is it to wire in a starter button ?

[Cock Womble 7]

mickrick said:

Kids eh... I prefer to dink them on the forehead with a stick with a nail in the end....
Sorry, my Paternal instincts coming out again

They were decent enough kids, just curious and inquisitive. If I've helped create some future petrolheads, I'm happy.

CharlesElliott said:

Or wire your starter button correctly so that it doesn't turn over the engine without the ignition on?

Go on then, tell me more.

[Purespeed]

CharlesElliott said:

Or wire your starter button correctly so that it doesn't turn over the engine without the ignition on?

Cock Womble 7 said:

Go on then, tell me more.

Wire it so relay's coil gets power from a white (ignition switched live) wire and not the brown (permanant live) it's probably using currently.

Jason