# Warning lights stay on when engine shut off and key out

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/warning-lights-stay-on-when-engine-shut-off-and-key-out/34857>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [August 10, 2009, 8:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/warning-lights-stay-on-when-engine-shut-off-and-key-out/34857 "2009-08-10T20:20:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![DMorris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@DMorris](https://community.cartalk.com/u/DMorris)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 8:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/warning-lights-stay-on-when-engine-shut-off-and-key-out/34857/1 "2009-08-10T20:20:06Z")

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My Sister has a 93 Tercel, on which many of warning lights are staying on after the engine is off and the key is out. They go out when the engine is running. What can cause this? I don’t want her to get ripped off when she takes it to a repair place.(She lives in another town.)

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**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:** [August 10, 2009, 8:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/warning-lights-stay-on-when-engine-shut-off-and-key-out/34857/2 "2009-08-10T20:25:02Z")

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The most likely problem is the ignition switch isn’t turning OFF. It may just require an adjustment.

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**Author:** ![DMorris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@DMorris](https://community.cartalk.com/u/DMorris)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 2:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/warning-lights-stay-on-when-engine-shut-off-and-key-out/34857/3 "2009-08-11T02:31:35Z")

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Thanks. That fits with another problem: she has been having to turn the key real hard to get it out. WD40 fixed that, but didn’t fix the light problem. Hopefully it won’t require a whole new ignition switch/lock.

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**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 6:28am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/warning-lights-stay-on-when-engine-shut-off-and-key-out/34857/4 "2009-08-11T06:28:53Z")

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WD-40 is not good for locks, contrary to popular belief. It will gum up over time. Next time, use graphite.