78 Bus electrical problem

[shiningstar76]

I have a new to me 78 Transporter, 2.0 GE with stock fuel injection. I took it to work and back yesterday. It ran great. I got home late last night and turned the key to the off position and the bus did not shut off. I turned the key back to run and then off again, and it still did not shut off. To clarify, it was running, not dieseling. With the key in the off position I shut the headlights off and the motor shut off.
Possibly related-The brake warning light comes on with the headlight switch in the parking light or on positions, and goes out when the brake pedal is applied. It will, however, come right back on upon releasing the brake pedal.
I tried a different headlight switch but no change in the brake warning light coming on with the headlights.
Any thoughts?
_________________
KK4NTP
96 Tacoma
86 4Runner
My bus caught on fire and is now on the other coast with someone who gave me money for it.

[sjbartnik]

Short answer: Someone has monkeyed with your wiring!

Get over to the Technical section of this web site and scope out the wiring diagram for your Bus.

Part of the job of the ignition switch is to switch power to the coil. Turn key on, 12V goes to + side of coil. Turn key off, 12V no longer supplied to coil, this shuts down the ignition and the engine stops of its own accord.

It sounds like the coil is being fed from a source other than the ignition switch and given what you said about the headlight switch, I'm gonna guess that's it.

Almost sounds like someone has run power to the coil off the headlight switch so that when the switch is turned on, the coil is powered.

Anyway, you gotta get in there with the wiring diagram and a meter and find out what's up.