Chevy Silverado Stays Running With Key Off: What Can Cause This?

Silverado is one of the most versatile and durable vehicles on the market. There is no doubt about that. The wide base of fan following that the brand has speaks loads for its quality.

But, like all of the top-quality products in the world, the Chevy Silverado too sometimes faces some malfunctions. Luckily, none of these malfunctions are too severe and can often be fixed very easily.

A common problem that you might face with your Chevy Silverado is the engine still running after you take the key off. Now, what might be causing this?

If your Chevy Silverado stays running with key off, the first thing that you need to do is get it checked by the mechanic. Your technician will likely look for any fuses that have been installed into the F31UA and the F26UA.

I will be discussing why the issue occurs in-depth down below.

Why Is My Chevy Silverado Still Running With The Key Off?

Wondering how your Chevy Silverado is still turned on even though the key is off? Usually, the root cause is in the fuse or the ignition. But not to worry, these issues can be fixed quite easily.

While these issues might not show up early on in the vehicle, vehicles that have been used for quite some time now can have the problem. It is nothing serious, and won’t cause you too much trouble. The issue can be fixed at home if you know your car well.

Even if you take the vehicle to the mechanic, it won’t cost you too much money if they get the issue fixed.

Fuse Causing Issue In Ignition

One of the main reasons why the Chevy Silverado faces this kind of issue with the engine is because of an issue with the fuse.

When you install a fuse in the f26UA or the f31UA there is a possibility that it causes some malfunction in the performance of the vehicle and causes the Chevy Silverado to stay on even when the key is taken out.

You will notice that the two fuse locations are kept empty when the vehicle arrives at you first from the factory. This is like that for a reason. It is better to keep it empty. So if you have installed fuses, taking them out will make sure that the ignition turns off properly.

Sometimes, you can program the Chevy Silverado key fob to turn your car on. The key fob can also be used to open the door. But, sometimes Chevy Silverado key fobs do not perform well.

If the key fob that you have right now isn’t working, you can easily get a replacement such as the GM Genuine Parts 22936098 4 Button Keyless Entry Remote Key Fob.

You can also use a screwdriver such as the Amazon Basics 51-Piece Precision Screwdriver Bit Set to open the doors if the key fob is not working properly.

Ignition Switch And Power Relay Problems

Another reason why the engine might continue to run as it did before can be because of an electrical issue. There might be some malfunction in the ignition switch or even in the power relay.

The right thing to do at a moment as such is to take the vehicle to a mechanic. They will be able to identify the issue properly. Depending on the severity of the issue you might have to either get it fixed or get the electrical ignition switch or the power relay replaced.

Dieseling Issue

Sometimes, the engine can still keep on running even when the key is out due to dieseling. This is something that occurs when there is residue in the engine combustion chamber. The residue can sometimes get hot enough to light up any of the remaining fuel that resides in the engine.

The process is quite similar to how diesel engines ignite fuel. But, since the Chevy Silverado has modern fuel-injected parts, there is a very low possibility of this occurring.

Even then, if you are sure that this is the reason why your Chevy Silverado remains turned on even when the key is off, you should take the vehicle to the mechanic and they will fix it with a few minor adjustments.

If you want to know more about the issue, you can check out this simple YouTube video on the Chevy Silverado staying on even without the key.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Models Of The Chevy Silverado Seem To Have This Key Issue?

Which model of the Chevy Silverado will display this issue is hard to tell. But, a lot of people have complained that the 2015 model of the Chevy Silverado has shown the engine running even with the key issue.

But still, it cannot be generalized on one specific model.

Can You Program The Key Fob To Turn The Car Off?

Yes, you can program the key fob to turn the car on and off, and even open the doors. The process is pretty simple.

If you want to know more about this you can take a look at my writings on programming the Chevy Silverado key fob.

Can You Turn Off The Chevy Silverado Without A Key?

While the Chevy Silverado can be turned on without a key, turning it off without one might be a bit difficult. There are many ways in which you can turn the Chevy Silverado on even without having access to the keys. But not many ways are known for turning it off.

If you want to know more about this, you can check out my writing on starting a 2001 Chevy Silverado without a key.

What Can Cause Dieseling?

If you have done some research on the Chevy Silverado staying on even without the key issue, you might have come across the term dieseling.

When your car is not rust-free, a phenomenon called dieseling can occur. This is where the engine might run without the key in the ignition caused by an auto-ignition of the fuel in the engine.

Sometimes, this issue can cause engines to run without the key as well.

Final Words

Is Chevy Silverado stay running with key off? Not to worry, this is a very common issue with a lot of solutions available.

The main reason why this might be happening to the Chevy Silverado is that there have been fuses installed. When you first get the service Silverado from the factory, the fuse locations f26UA and F31UA are kept empty. So when you install fuses in there, the vehicle faces some malfunction. Taking the fuses out will solve this issue in no time.

There might be other reasons for this issue as well such as dieseling or an issue with the power relay. If this is the cause, a simple replacement will fix the issue.

So, don’t worry about the Chevy Silverado staying on even after the key has been taken out of the ignition. There are a lot of solutions to the problem!

Hi, this is Johnny Norris grew up in a car-oriented family. I love helping people by solving different problems they face in their Chevy car. Following my suggestions, how-to guides, you can save up on a lot of money that would have been spent on paying a professional.