Hey guys, I have a really wierd starting issue with my car. Its really random, and I can't figure out what would cause it to be doing this.
The only way to explain this, is it randomly just wont start. Sometimes it won't start at home and I will get a jump from my step dad. Sometimes it will sit for days and start right up. Sometimes I will start it, drive it for 15 minutes, be inside the store or whatever for 20 minutes or so, come back out and it wont start, and then after 5 minutes of sitting and trying, it will randomly start.
These symptoms lead me to believe it wouldnt be the battery or I would always need a jumpstart... The starter or it just plain wouldnt start with a jump or not... The terminals have recently been cleaned.. So I am clueless... and I know you guys know something Any ideas?
starting to be a typical issue on the forum. My wife's '90 does the same thing, especially when it's COLD outside, but otherwise randomly. I've done some testing adn exploratory troubleshootong, and have come to the conclusion that it's a power supply problem from the ignition switch.
When her's is acting up I can take a screwdriver adn jumper from the !@+ terminal on the starter to the solinoid terminal, and it cranks fine, so since it clicks everytime the key is turned, but randomly won't crank I'm suspecting either a failing ign switch or a bad wire between the ign switch and the soleniod.
Proof of this theory is the old "HOLD the key in start until it cranks" test. Longest wait was 7 seconds until it cranked, then it works fine frfor a while, leading me to either corrosion on a connection or plastic melt in the switch.
My fix? A temp fix (so she doesn't get stranded away from the house) was to instal a wire from the battery to the soleniod terminal with a push button inline. If it doesn't crank she can pop the hood and push the overide,a dn away she goes. For a permanent fix I'm going to install a 30 amp relay in the start circuit, using the current starter soleniod wire to fire the relay and 12+ battery power thru the relay to the start terminal.
Power is there, just not enough amperage to fully fire the soleniod.
Had a similar problem on an old girlfriends Maxima. She'd had it in the shop, and had the starter and other parts changed repeatedly, only to have the problem come back. I installed the relay, and it was good to go until I lost contact with her 4 years later.
'90 Bermuda Blue L Wagon (Wife's),
Auto, AWD, Now with 275K + miles!
yea its a really wierd issue, I did forget to mention that it does click when trying to start it, as you mentioned. Do you have or could you take any pics of your set-up?
1991 Subaru Legacy SS 5MT: Revtronix Stage 2 Set-up with a few other "tasteful" mods :D
Aerotech, I plan on doing the starter solenoid contacts as Josh said, if that doesn't fix it I am guessing it is the ignition switch. Those seem to be the 2 main solutions to these types of problems from my reading/asking around. keep me updated and ill do the same!
1991 Subaru Legacy SS 5MT: Revtronix Stage 2 Set-up with a few other "tasteful" mods :D
Just trying to eliminate the possibilities so I can buy the right part hopefully.
1. Josh, where do you get just the solenoid contacts? Ive found the whole solenoid ~$40 and the whole starter ~$90
2. if the ignition switch or starter solenoid contacts were bad, why would it start with a jump?
1991 Subaru Legacy SS 5MT: Revtronix Stage 2 Set-up with a few other "tasteful" mods :D
At least for my ignition switch (thread posted with pictures on here somewhere), the contacts had melted plastic on them, which obviously acts like an insulator and doesn't conduct electricity very well. I'd guess that the extra juice from the jump helps overcome the poor ignition switch contacts...
I just put an ignition switch in my car today. Started fine after putting the switch in. Sometimes it would crank and start fine and other times it would just click. The radio also sometimes would not come on with the car running. Yesterday the car started dying while it was running. Finally quit cranking at all.
Jeff
91 Black SS 5spd. Edm lights, wrx gauges in dash, 45 degree airbox, cryoed drilled and slotted brakes. Invidia divorced downpipe with custom stainless exhaust. To be installed, aluminum a-arms, manual belts, awic.
hmmm... I will definately take a look at that. The main thing that sucks, is if I replace something, I dont know if it fixed it until it doesnt start again which sometimes could be several days.... But then again, this morning, it would not start, then later in the day went out there and started right up
1991 Subaru Legacy SS 5MT: Revtronix Stage 2 Set-up with a few other "tasteful" mods :D
After reading more I had the same problem where I thought my battery was dead and put a charger on it. Tried it right after turning the charger on and it cranked and started just like there was no problem. I have no explanation for it. My old switch had some play in it where the new one was tight. It's not too hard to get to the switch and check for in and out play.
Jeff
91 Black SS 5spd. Edm lights, wrx gauges in dash, 45 degree airbox, cryoed drilled and slotted brakes. Invidia divorced downpipe with custom stainless exhaust. To be installed, aluminum a-arms, manual belts, awic.
go to your local Subaru dealership and ask for the starter contacts. 90 times out of a hundred, that is the problem.
1. Starter
Trouble Probable cause
Starter does not start.
Magnet switch does not operate.
(no clicks are heard.)
Magnet switch poor contact or discontinuity
of pull-in coil circuit
Improper sliding of magnet switch plunger
Magnet switch operates.
(clicks are issued.)
Poor contact of magnet switch’s main contact
point
Layer short of armature
Contaminants on armature commutator
High armature mica
Improper grounding of yoke field coil
Insufficient carbon brush length
Insufficient brush spring pressure
Starter starts but does not crank engine.
Failure of pinion gear to engage ring gear
Worn pinion teeth
Improper sliding of overrunning clutch
Improper adjustment of stud bolt
Clutch slippage Faulty clutch roller spring
Starter starts but engine cranks too slowly.
Poor contact of magnet switch’s main contact
point
Layer short of armature
Discontinuity, burning or wear of armature
commutator
Poor grounding of yoke field coil
Insufficient brush length
Insufficient brush spring pressure
Abnormal brush wear
As for why the car starts when putting a battery on it. The contacts wear and pit. The surface area to conduct the voltage across degrades to a point where the full voltage won't travel across the solenoid. When you put a charger on it, voltage is typically higher, and can cross that degraded contact point, and energize the solenoid.
The contacts are cheap, replacing them is relatively easy, and that's 9 out of 10 times that's the problem. That's why I suggest starting there.
ahhh i see. sorry Josh I usually search but I wasn't sure exactly what to search for. Starter solenoid contacts, ignition switch, terminals being "relocated" or rotated, all sounded quite possible. Going to pick up some contacts today or tomorrow, and Ill keep everyone updated!
Matt
1991 Subaru Legacy SS 5MT: Revtronix Stage 2 Set-up with a few other "tasteful" mods :D
Thanks alot Josh! just waiting on a part I ordered from the dealership to make a trip down there and get the contacts. Sorry for not searching as much as I should have. Most of everything is buried in here, some of it is quite interesting to read from like 02 and stuff. Good stuff...
1991 Subaru Legacy SS 5MT: Revtronix Stage 2 Set-up with a few other "tasteful" mods :D
OK, so I replaced the starter solenoid contacts last night. The ones the dealership gave me were shaped differently than the ones in my solenoid. I decided to use them anyways, and it started right up, since it is still getting a good amount of contact. I will keep this updated if the problem keep happening, but it hasn't come back so far.
Matt
1991 Subaru Legacy SS 5MT: Revtronix Stage 2 Set-up with a few other "tasteful" mods :D
I have a similar problem to the one described in the beginning of this thread. After sitting for a couple/few days my wagon fires right up, after a quick trip and back in the car, it will fire up. But let it sit for 1 to 24 hours or so and it wants to sit and crank for 5-10 seconds before it starts.
In the past I would get the click and no starter engagement, and hit and miss startup. I finally overcame that with the work around mentioned in the 3rd post, installed a Ford starter relay, +12 from the ignition goes to the relay, then +12 straight from battery to the starter solenoid.
Now I have no problems cranking, and it cranks strong. But any guesses on why it doesn't want to fire up right away after sitting for a bit?
Mileage is pretty average I think, low to mid 20's in town, flirts with 30 on long trips. It's an AWD w/4EAT.
I thought coolant temp sensor as well, so I replaced it less than 1k ago. No change in behavior. I guess I could check its connection back to the ECU. Is that something that tends to go bad like the knock sensor?
Any ideas?
