Starter engages in Park and Neutral

[straylight]

I have an 1997 i30. It's exhibiting some weird symptoms recently:

• While driving, occasional bursts of clicking come from in the vicinity of the column/under-dash area
• Sometimes when starting the car, the starter will engage as soon as the key is turned to the "On" position (before reaching "Start").
• Sometimes when parking the car, when shifting through/into Neutral and into Park, the starter will engage. If I attempt to go forward and/or back a few times, the symptom may stop.

I've taken some steps to isolate the source of the problem:

1. Replacing the ignition switch (just the switch, not the column components) had no effect.
2. Moving the key during operation has no effect.
3. Moving the shifter without moving the vehicle has no effect.

Does anyone have an idea what the problem could be?

 

[straylight]

Epilogue (problem fixed)

I found 5 aftermarket relays (probably part of a low-budget remote-start system Dad had someone install) beneath the dash, taped together with electrical tape. Their wiring disappeared into the darkness below the dash. Perhaps, at one time they were taped to something but when I found them the whole thing was hanging by the wiring against the accelerator pedal. The relay mounting points were making contact with the metal of the accelerator. Once I isolated them with tape both the clicking noises and starter issues disappeared. It would appear that everything was caused by a relay or relays which were grounding out.
I proves the importance of keeping an open mind when troubleshooting. Just because you think you've got all the possible suspects in the lineup, doesn't mean you do.