Updated(4/28): Won't start

J-MoNeY · Post by **J-MoNeY** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 4:36 am

Well, I got my new hardpipes for my WRX IC on today and I went over to the car wash. Usally, I spray everything all over and don't care what it is. Bad idea. I get back in my car and, *click click click click*. Aww shit, the car doesn't start, so I had to roll it forward and pop the clutch.

My question to you is, is the ticking sound the starter not engauging or the coil pack being wet? I'm going to let it dry tonight and see if it could be that. Any ideas would help

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 5:06 am

Did the engine actually turn over?

J-MoNeY · Post by **J-MoNeY** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 5:28 am

No, it doesn't. You turn it past the on setting to where the starter should engauge and it just clicks.

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 5:43 am

Well, that wouldn't be the coil then, right? It's gotta be the starter, starter solenoid, or battery cables, right?

Does it click over and over, or just once every time you try to start?

I'm thinking it's probably the starter solenoid. Probably the contacts.

J-MoNeY · Post by **J-MoNeY** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 10:40 am

It clicks over and over.

I really wasn't leaning twoard the coil, but you never know. It sounded like arching for a bit. The starter worked fine before I got it wet today, so I'd say it's the contacts. I'll check the soleniod tomorrow.

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 5:21 pm

Clean all contacts and check the battery. Sounds like the starter isn't getting enough power.

Steve

J-MoNeY · Post by **J-MoNeY** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 3:26 am

As time has gone by, I'm starting to think it's not the starter. I think it's the ignitor. The ignitor is just dangeling there near the engine and gets extremely hot. I have found that when the engine is hot, it doesn't want to start. However when it's cold it does. Any ideas on keeping my ignitor cool? I was thinking tin foil.

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 3:29 am

Yeah, that does sound like it could be it.

The ignitor is designed to last as long as the engine if mounted on its steel bracket. So mount it to its steel bracket (the bracket doesn't have to be bolted to the middle of the firewall). Put some heat sink compound between the two to help improve thermal contact.

legacycontinues · Post by **legacycontinues** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 5:49 am

Maybe pull the starter and take it to your nearest parts store to have them check it for free.

I would start there.

snowjob · Post by **snowjob** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 2:08 pm

I had this problem, if your car is standard, check the one wire coming from the back of the starter to the wiring harness, mine was attached, but not connected, once I pluged in on properly it started right up. I guess putting my intercooler on must have unplugged it.

Hope this helps
Frazer

J-MoNeY · Post by **J-MoNeY** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 1:40 am

Well, I just changed my starter and low and behold it did nothing. I turned it over to only hear it click. I clicked it for a while when saw a whisp of SMOKE! It came out of the top of my gauge cluster. That was kinda scary. Is there a relay or something that is for the starter?

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 3:40 am

Usually the relay is in the engine compartment, but I'm actually not sure on our cars. I'd check the plastic box behind the battery for that.

Steve

J-MoNeY · Post by **J-MoNeY** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 4:12 am

I'm reading the Haynes manual and it just doesn't give a discription of where it is, but it sounds like this is it. I get the smell of burnt electronics when I try to start the car. Only in the cabin though. Never in the engine bay. All the contacts for the starter are clean and clear, and the battery cables are connected and clear.

Post by **Legacy777** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 3:12 pm

There is no separate relay for the starter. There is a starter solenoid which essentially is a relay, however it's mounted on the starter.

J-MoNeY · Post by **J-MoNeY** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 1:41 am

The manual says other wise.

legacycontinues · Post by **legacycontinues** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 2:14 am

I imagine there is a wire going from your ignition switch to the starter selenoid.

Constant 12V+ Black/Yellow Ignition Switch Harness
Starter Blue/Red Ignition Switch Harness
Ignition Red Ignition Switch Harness
Accessory Red/Yellow Ignition Switch Harness
Tach Red/Green Or Blue (-) At Coil
Brake Switch White/Black Brake Switch
Trunk Pin Yellow/Blue (-) Trunk Light
Parking Lights Red Steering Column
Head Lamp Blue/Black (-) Light Switch
Hood Pin n/a
Factory Disarm n/a
Door Trigger Red/White (-) Or Black (-) at Passenger's Pillar
Door Lock n/a Add Actuator in Driver's Door
Door Unlock n/a Add Actuator in Driver's Door
Horn Wire Red/Blue Horn Relay in Driver's Kick

J-MoNeY · Post by **J-MoNeY** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 7:52 am

You know when you have to push the clutch pedal all the way down to start? Well, could this be the problem? A malfunction in that thing.

J-MoNeY · Post by **J-MoNeY** » Sun May 01, 2005 4:47 am

Update: I'm a moron. We ran a jump wire from the battery to the starter to see if the bendex(?) was actually comming out and engauging the flywheel. It wasn't. This is all after we had taken off my intercooler. I happened to notice that the little ground that ran from the tranny to the perch for the ignitor was way loose. Sanded that down and connected it tightly and wala. Works like a charm. So, as a note to those doing IC installs. This could be a potential problem.

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Updated(4/28): Won't start

Updated(4/28): Won't start