I have a problem with my 05 rx8 when I step on the brake the passenger reverse light turns on and the other one won't turn on even on reverse also when the car is on and I put it on reverse and step on the brake I can turn the key on the off position and the car wont shut off but only on reverse and stepping on the brake does any one knows what the problem would be?

 

Sounds like you have some wiring swapped in the neutral/reverse switch area. The ECU thinks you are in one when you are actually in the other. In a manual transmission the wires are right next to each other, so it may be the same for the automatic (I assume you have an automatic)

 

I have a manual but could that be the same problem for why is not turning off when is on reverse while I step on the brake? Because it just start doing that last week and I have this car for about 2years now

 

Um, ok. Same diagnosis, neutral / reverse switch connectors may be reversed. Have any transmission work done recently? Clutch?


Though I have no idea why you wouldn't be able to turn off the car, regardless of what you are doing with the pedals. You can be doing 140mph at full throttle and the key will freely rotate and disengage from the lock cylinder. (you will crash and die if you did that because the steering would lock up, but it's possible)

I assumed you had an automatic because automatics have a key lock that prevents the key from being removed unless you have the shift selector in Park. That is the only thing I can think of that is even remotely close to "can't turn it off" where gear would matter.

 

I just change the transmission fluid but that's it and when my car is off without the key in If I put it in reverse and step on the brake all the dash lights turn on just like when I'm about to turn in on and I have a manual transmission

 

Could you repeat that with commas and periods? I'm not trying to be an ***, I am just having trouble figuring out what you are trying to tell me. Having it one big run-on sentence is making it harder.

 

Oh I'm sorry. I have a manual rx8. when is off, with no key, on reverse, if step on the brake , all the dash lights turn on. When the car is on, and I put it on reverse, without moving, if I keep my foot on the the clutch , and brake , I can get the key out , and the car won't shut off, unless, I put it on neutral, or take my foot off the brake

 

Do you have any aftermarket electronics installed anywhere? Alarms, audio, etc...?

Nothing of what you described is normal (as I expect you are aware). And there is no way that I can think of that would produce that series of effects if all electronics are original OEM.

With the key out, the engine should shut off completely, every time (as you would expect). The behavior you describe with the engine remaining on sounds like the effect produced by a turbo timer, however it doesn't make sense why putting it in neutral or releasing the brake would then let it die.

You either have some aftermarket electronics that is messing with everything or a major short somewhere.

 

It's maybe a shot then , because I have nothing aftermarket . My uncle was telling me , that it could be the neutral safety switch. any ideas?

 

Well, there are pieces of what you are describing that are related to the neutral switch and reverse switch. It's a pair of basic on/off position sensors that detect if you are in neutral or in reverse. The ECU uses this for a variety of things like which idle map to be on and if to light up your reverse lights.

However, at no time will the prevent an engine from turning off, and at no time will they light up anything on the dash. I can't think of any reason your engine would remain ON with the key not inserted other than aftermarket electronics.


Did this suddenly occur? Anything else you can tell us about what happened between when it worked fine and when this happened?

 

Well, there was a crack behind the tail light, and it rain for a couple days, so I got a little bit of water in the trunk, but I didn't see any wires wet.