I have a 2004 Chevy Optra. Today I turned the key to shut the car off and it just kept running. I had to switch the key back and forth a few times to get it to turn off. After it turned off and I got out of the car, I noticed there was a whining noise coming from inside and all the lights on the dashboard where faintly lit up. I can't seem to get rid of this. The fuses where checked and they are fine. Could it possibly be my remote on my key as the battery is dead? Please advise

I know exactly what you mean, i've had my optra for two years and the same problems happen to me all the time. I've notice though that they are more consistant whenever i wash my car or the weather is really warm. However, when the weather is very cold my alarm seems to have a mind of its own. Best way i've found to shut it off is to turn the key while you have the drivers door open. Plug your car in and let it sit for a few hours and it will reset itself. Disconnecting the battery does nothing been there tried it. I've notice all those lights do is kill the battery so disconnecting it will just save you power, on the other hand plugging it in will maintain energy. Also within six months of having it i needed to put a new battery in. I took it back to my dealer and because they are not GM they had no idea what was up with it. Two years and over sixty trips to them and no give they dont know. Took it twice to a GM dealer and was told nothing was wrong with it that it is prefectly fine and im just overly paranoid. Once i got the dealer involved with them they told me the engine switch needed to be replaced. Which was fine by me and since i purchased it from Ford as a used vehicle they paid for the part. Got the car back and same thing occured. Then they tell me i need a new battery i told the guy he need to go back to school and relearn whatever it is that he calls his carreer because i had just had the battery replaced. Its been three months since that and took my car in to the place i got the battery done and they tell me my battery is holding less than 80% charge, where as when they put it in it was holding 98% charge. Funny, the car is actually killing itself.

My advise get rid of it when you get a chance. When the maker cant even diagnose the issue and they were the ones who created the vehicle its not worth the headaches. Getting rid of mine in two months and that time cant seem to come fast enough. I know exactly what you mean, i've had my optra for two years and the same problems happen to me all the time. I've notice though that they are more consistant whenever i wash my car or the weather is really warm. However, when the weather is very cold my alarm seems to have a mind of its own. Best way i've found to shut it off is to turn the key while you have the drivers door open. Plug your car in and let it sit for a few hours and it will reset itself. Disconnecting the battery does nothing been there tried it. I've notice all those lights do is kill the battery so disconnecting it will just save you power, on the other hand plugging it in will maintain energy. Also within six months of having it i needed to put a new battery in. I took it back to my dealer and because they are not GM they had no idea what was up with it. Two years and over sixty trips to them and no give they dont know. Took it twice to a GM dealer and was told nothing was wrong with it that it is prefectly fine and im just overly paranoid. Once i got the dealer involved with them they told me the engine switch needed to be replaced. Which was fine by me and since i purchased it from Ford as a used vehicle they paid for the part. Got the car back and same thing occured. Then they tell me i need a new battery i told the guy he need to go back to school and relearn whatever it is that he calls his carreer because i had just had the battery replaced. Its been three months since that and took my car in to the place i got the battery done and they tell me my battery is holding less than 80% charge, where as when they put it in it was holding 98% charge. Funny, the car is actually killing itself. My advise get rid of it when you get a chance. When the maker cant even diagnose the issue and they were the ones who created the vehicle its not worth the headaches. Getting rid of mine in two months and that time cant seem to come fast enough.

Take the dome light fixture out. Take the dome light fixture out.