need help fast!!! car wont shut off

[Platanos]

i went to my mom's to drop off my kids on the way to class. i put it in park and turned the key like always. the key came out and the car is still running. WTF. i never heard of this happening. i reinserted the key and played with it but it wont do anything. the key comes out and the car keeps running. what do i do?? i called my professor. i dont think he'll believe me. i had a test today. AHHHH i need help. should i disconnect the battery? right now i just wanna turn it off, later i will figure what went wrong. tia

fernando

edit: i'm gonna go play with the key a bit more. i'll check back every 5 mins to see if anyone has any input...thanks

[weezer]

That happens so often with older domestic cars, the lock cylinder is all worn out. Perhaps in this case the transponder inside the key got fried or something. Any ideas anyone?
Even if you take the battery off, the car will continue to run.

[Platanos]

i called the dealership...noone picked up!!! my wife is on her way home from work, i'll try her key. if that doesn't work then i guess it will eventually run out of gas. what if i take a fuse out. maybe the fuel pump fuse. will that hurt anything? will it turn of the car?

thanks weezer!!!

[weezer]

Try the fuse, i think it will cut off power to the pump and the engine will cut-off. It won't hurt anything. After that try the key again, and see what happens.

[Platanos]

wife's key doesn't do anything. i think i'm gonna pull the fuel pump fuse.

ok will do weezer..

[aceyx]

Pull the fuse for central locking / driveaway protection. Should interrupt the computer to think it's being stolen and shut down.

If you have the radio code, easiest thing is to pull the negative wire from the battery.

[Platanos]

ok here is what i did. i pulled fuse number 18 (fuel pump). the car shut off right away. i could here the relays or something was still powered. i check inside the car and my interior dash lights were still on (as if you turn you key halfway to get the milage to show).i tried to start the car but the key just kept spinning. i just disconnected the ground wire from the battery. so now it sits here at my parents house.

so i need a lock acuator? what else? new keys? i need to get this fixed asap. if i take it to the dealership, they'll have to tow it and forget that. it's almost 50miles away. i need to do this myself....well with the help of the forums that is.....

[thekinwc]

I'm going to help.... hold on 5min. I need to take some pictures and come back.

[Tyler]

Is the key turning counter clockwisea and spinning? Put the key back in and turn to on position then quicky turn it back and pull out the key,while pulling out the key kind of put a little pressure on it while you do it. By meaning pressure push down on it like you were holding your key halfway on a table kind of like bending it. On occasion my key continously spins and doesn't lock it place,but when i do what i stated above it locks in place as you pull out they key.

Hope this makes some sense...

Kepp us posted.

[Platanos]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Is the key turning counter clockwisea and spinning? Put the key back in and turn to on position then quicky turn it back and pull out the key,while pulling out the key kind of put a little pressure on it while you do it. By meaning pressure push down on it like you were holding your key halfway on a table kind of like bending it. On occasion my key continously spins and doesn't lock it place,but when i do what i stated above it locks in place as you pull out they key.

Hope this makes some sense...

Kepp us posted.

i tried that. my key used to do the same thing every now and then. i have a feeling that the key may be worn out, but i tried my wife's key which is in better condition than mine but it still didnt do anything. i have to go home, so i'll have to check it out tomarrrow. i'll log back on when i get home. this really sucks!!!

thanks for the help fellas!!

[thekinwc]

To dark oustide to take pictures with my phone. Found some pics online that will have to do. Remove the cover from under the steering wheel. Take off the orange looking round thing. Use a flat head screw driver in the center of the round orange looking thing to turn the car to the off position. You can start and shut it off this way but the key needs to be in the ignition in order to start because of the watch dog system. It happened to me twice and I refuse to buy another key barrel so I figured out and use this mehtod now.

By the way don't mess with the key in the barrel. If you manage to turn it, the key will get stuck in it and the wheel will lock. Then your in some serious business!!!

The problem is that the magnets in the barrel get worn out. The magnets are one of the bimmers security features. when you put in the wrong key it is supposed to just spin I guess.

I think our key got stuck in the perfect position to do the start botton mod. I've decided that I'm going to do it next week so I can show you how to do it. This will be much cheaper than replacing that dead key barrel and looks very cool.

Just charged my camcorder long enough to snap this shot of my orange thingy. I'll add it to this message.

[Platanos]

i think the start button would be cool but does that mean the key must always stay in the ignition? i found the diagram for the lock barrel. but what do i actually need to fix this. i figured number 5, but what else? do i need a new set of keys also?

has anyone ever switched their key/lock barrel out? any insight would be helpful...

i forgot to post the link... http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...09&hg=32&fg=30

[thekinwc]

Yes its that part. Every BMW has its own unique key code that only bmw knows I think. You would use the same key. I wonder were realoem.com would get the key code from. Anyway, did you remove the orange thing (ignition harness) from the column?

With the start botton thing. Some people find the start button stupid because you have to turn the key two the on position anyway..... why not take the extra turn and start it. We only have to place the key in ignition flip the two switches and then start it. Way cooler!!! It would take 2 on/off switches and one start botton because your barrel is stuck. First switch turns on accessories...second switch turns it to the on position and the start button obviously starts it. The key you have to put in the ignition or you can't start because of the watch dog system, but I wouldn't leave it in the car for security reasons .
Bellow are examples of two types of switches and a start button from radioshack:

[Platanos]

i ordered #2, 5, 11. http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...09&hg=32&fg=30
hopefully i'll get them by monday so i can get the ti running again. anyone know anything about the fracture bolts?

[thekinwc]

Since my car key barrel is also stuck in the on position, I Installed the start button my way.
blue switch= turns on accessories
red switch = turns the car to the on position
red button = starts the car.
Note: I still need to put the key in the key hole but I don't need to turn it.