I've been having this crazy overheating problem, which I'm trying to fix (radiator, fans, hoses on the way). I'm not sure if this new problem is related or not, but here it is.

I park, pull up the parking brake, turn off the ignition and remove the key and.. the car stays running. Put the key back in, turn it to acc, turn it off, doesn't turn the car off. I have the push the brake, drop the clutch, and stall it out in first gear to turn the engine off.

What the hell is this?

Hahahah :p Sorry bro I know it sucks but imagining seeing a guy do that would crack me up.

But on to the problem: Sounds like your key switch in the column is not doing its job. One way to test if it is: Pull the shroud off your column while the key is out and the car is running. Pull the white harness off the back of the key switch. Should kill your motor.

I agree with CODE4, the switch in the column is probably borked. I had a similar issue with a jeep I used to have. Changed the switch and that fixed the issue.

Doesn't this mean I need a new key? Or can new ignition switches be keyed for the one I have?

I know that older model domestics can be rekeyed - not sure about Chrysler/Mitsubishis however. Only one way to find out!

Turbo timer......:P

Originally posted by bullettdsm
Turbo timer......:P

heh yea mine does that too for 30 seconds, so weird :P

Ronin thx for the heads up on the parts.. if I only need the actual switch and not the whole cylinder it'll save me the trouble of re-keying stuff.

Update on the situation.. still doing its thing, not shutting off, gotta stall it out. But now the factory keyless entry + alarm is being a pain. A few days ago I came out after work, unlocked the car with the remote, opened the door, and the alarm went off. Popped the hood, took off the negative battery cable, put it back on, car started and ran fine. The car wouldn't lock with the remote when I got home so I locked it with the key and called it a day.

The remote still wouldn't work the next day, but when I got home from work I tried it again and surprise! It locked up the car and set the alarm. The next morning it unlocked it and disabled the alarm, but when I got to work it wouldn't work again.. so basically it can't make up its mind whether it wants to work or not.

Could this be related to the ignition switch or is this an unrelated issue? Ugh, starting to get a shopping list of things to do with this damn car.. and this is just one more of them.

Also, just wanted to add that the part # for the actual switch pictured in that diagram is MR194695 for cars w/o keyless entry, but MR194696 for cars that do have it which is what lead me to believe the two issues may be related. Not sure what the difference is, but if Mitsu has two part #'s there must be one.

Originally posted by Mike431635
Doesn't this mean I need a new key? Or can new ignition switches be keyed for the one I have?

New ignition switches come with new keys. If you get it from the dealer, they can code it to your VIN so you can use your exhisting key if its a factory switch/key still.

You may only need the part under #82040, I think that's the actual switch, not the whole lock cylinder #82612

I had a honda in high school that did that. In the mornings my friends and I would get out and watch it until it stopped, then go to class. Funny things like that happen when you are running a distributor and a carb :P