# Battery connected all idiot lights on **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** geo, metro, lights\ **Created:** [July 8, 2009, 2:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-connected-all-idiot-lights-on/33056 "2009-07-08T14:05:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Robert\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/90ced4/32.png) [@Robert\_P](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Robert_P)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2009, 2:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-connected-all-idiot-lights-on/33056/1 "2009-07-08T14:05:12Z")
When I connect the battery cables all of the idiot lights come on but the key is not even in the ignition. help ! ---
**Author:** ![orangevega](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9fc29f/32.png) [@orangevega](https://community.cartalk.com/u/orangevega)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2009, 2:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-connected-all-idiot-lights-on/33056/2 "2009-07-08T14:21:06Z")
Please provide year, make, model of car. ---
**Author:** ![Robert\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/90ced4/32.png) [@Robert\_P](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Robert_P)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2009, 2:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-connected-all-idiot-lights-on/33056/3 "2009-07-08T14:25:55Z")
93 Geo Metro 3 cyl 5sp ---
**Author:** ![vtcodger2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e68b1a/32.png) [@vtcodger2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/vtcodger2)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2009, 2:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-connected-all-idiot-lights-on/33056/4 "2009-07-08T14:32:15Z")
There’s a pretty good chance that the problem is related to the ignition switch in one way or another. Any chance that you managed to remove the key with the ignition in the run position? Some cars allow that. If not, try inserting the key and turning counterclockwise. ---
**Author:** ![Robert\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/90ced4/32.png) [@Robert\_P](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Robert_P)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2009, 3:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-connected-all-idiot-lights-on/33056/5 "2009-07-08T15:19:10Z")
I put in another ignition switch already without any change. ---
**Author:** ![Cougar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cougar/32/21348_2.png) [@Cougar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cougar)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2009, 5:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-connected-all-idiot-lights-on/33056/6 "2009-07-08T17:11:51Z")
Somehow power is bypassing the ignition switch. A faulty relay be be causing the trouble. By disconnecting connections you may be able to track the trouble down. Getting a wiring diagram for the car would be a big help to aid you in locating the trouble. A test light probe would be helpful also so you can verify where power is getting to. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2009, 5:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-connected-all-idiot-lights-on/33056/7 "2009-07-08T17:43:48Z")
You didn’t, by chance, reverse the polarity of the cables when you were messing with the battery did you?? Even for just a moment? ---
**Author:** ![Gary123](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c37758/32.png) [@Gary123](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Gary123)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2009, 10:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-connected-all-idiot-lights-on/33056/8 "2009-07-08T22:56:44Z")
Why did you disconnect the battery? ---
**Author:** ![Robert\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/90ced4/32.png) [@Robert\_P](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Robert_P)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 12:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-connected-all-idiot-lights-on/33056/9 "2009-07-09T12:02:23Z")
I just took off the negative (black) cable. ---
**Author:** ![Robert\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/90ced4/32.png) [@Robert\_P](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Robert_P)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 12:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-connected-all-idiot-lights-on/33056/10 "2009-07-09T12:08:47Z")
I have the factory service manual (FSM) , voltmeter, and a test light. ---
**Author:** ![vtcodger2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e68b1a/32.png) [@vtcodger2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/vtcodger2)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 4:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-connected-all-idiot-lights-on/33056/11 "2009-07-09T16:14:27Z")
**_I put in another ignition switch already without any change._** OK. Well then, electricity is apparently getting around the ignition switch somehow. You’ll have to look at a wiring diagram (Try a Haynes manual) to be sure, but I suspect you will find that about the only place that can happen if the headlights are off and the doors/trunk lid/etc are closed is at the fuse boxes or in the wiring harnesses. Maybe pulling and reinserting all the fuses you can find and seeing which turn the idiot lights off will provide some insight. If you have made any wiring modifications to install an after market radio or other device, you might want to check the wiring. ---
**Author:** ![Cougar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cougar/32/21348_2.png) [@Cougar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cougar)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-connected-all-idiot-lights-on/33056/12 "2009-07-09T18:58:12Z")
I just had another thought about this trouble. Since the warning lights are tested through the alternator circuit I suspect the trouble may be due to a problem within the alternator. By removing the connection to the back side of the alternator you should be able to turn out the lights. If the lights go out when you do that you should be able to solve the trouble by replacing the alternator. ---
**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 11:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-connected-all-idiot-lights-on/33056/13 "2009-07-09T23:51:46Z")
All, Disconnecting the power cable from the alternator must have worked since Robert hasn’t come back saying it didn’t work. Way to go Cougar! ---
**Author:** ![Cougar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cougar/32/21348_2.png) [@Cougar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cougar)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 2:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-connected-all-idiot-lights-on/33056/14 "2009-07-10T14:42:11Z")
Thanks for attaboy Hellokit. I suspect that will fix him up but we may never know for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Robert\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/90ced4/32.png) [@Robert\_P](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Robert_P)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 10:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-connected-all-idiot-lights-on/33056/15 "2009-07-31T22:22:12Z")
I have not tried the solution yet due to my illness. I will post immediately the results after I attempt them ! ---
**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 11:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-connected-all-idiot-lights-on/33056/16 "2009-07-31T23:55:51Z")
Sorry to hear about your illness, Robert. Get well soonest. And, let us know the results on the car.