Ignition problem

shermandez

I have a 2012 gas club car, parked it and would not shut off with key etc.
Disconnected battery cable to shut it off. Now when i connect the battery cable it starts running. Regardless of the key being off or on. With key off it will not go anywhere when I turn the key on it runs accelerates as it should. To turn it off I have to disconnect the cable.
Have replaced the solenoid checked all wires and connections, and made no changes prior to this problem starting. No loose wires at starter, ignition, or solenoid.
Any ideas? Thanks in advance.
I have read the other threads on similar problems but none seem to apply.

BGW

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Fairtax4me

Whats your carts serial number?

Did you run anything over? Anything hit the bottom of the cart?

Does it still try to turn over with the shifter in neutral?

shermandez

Its a 2012 precedent, I will have to get the serial number not handy right now. It has hit a couple things i'm sure with grandkids on it. I have been underneath and found no wiring or other damage. It turns over and runs wether in neutral forward or reverse.

Fairtax4me

The solenoid is being activated, giving power to the starter generator, so its turning the engine over. It runs with the key ON because the ignition (spark) kill circuit is open (not grounded). With key Off the kill circuit is grounded, so you get no spark, the engine doesn't actually run, but the solenoid is still powering the starter generator, thus still turning the engine.
Normally I would blame this on a bad solenoid, you've already replaced that, assuming the new solenoid is not faulty, that should be ruled out.

I would have to guess the wiring for the solenoid activation circuit is damaged or one of the microswitches failed.

On the small posts of the solenoid there should be a blue wire and an orange wire. Blue is supposed to be power in from the key switch. Orange goes out to the GCOR (pedal switch box) and the FNR Limit switch. The combination of the GCOR limit switch and FNR switch is supposed to ground the orange wire to allow the solenoid to close.

I don't have a great diagram of these circuits but I THINK, the blue wire should NOT have power when the key switch is Off. Hopefully someone else here can confirm that.

If you disconnect either the orange or blue wire from the solenoid, it should open, and the starter/gen should stop turning.

There should also be a diode somewhere on or near the solenoid. If that diode failed, it could cause one of the limit switches to arc its contacts and fail. Remove the diode if possible and test it with a multi-meter diode tester.

shermandez

FairTax thanks much the explanation of the solenoid open circuit answered a lot of questions. I will return to investigate the micro switch and diode you referenced and proceed from there. Seems to be something simple, but I can tear down the cart and engine. When it comes to electrical I am way behind the power curve. Will keep you posted. Thanks again.

shermandez

Re-visited the solenoid question, seems it is an intermittent or bad solenoid after all.