NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START! starter relay
 

Well it finally happened to me..click click click yadda yadda yadda why wont this ****ing car start!.....after tracing the wiring diagram and drawing out the circuit I began to do a simple voltage drop test in the most conspicuous area....THE INHIBITOR RELAY!!! GUESS WHAT!!! BAD INTERNAL CONTACTS...VOLTAGE DROP!!!

Ok sorry I got a little CAPS happy

replace relay...start start start start start

US models only, so our non us members with non us spec SVXii could not assist....we suck..before adding relays do yourself a favor and replace the bad one first.

Inhibitor relay + inhibits starting = fail.

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

How about a little help for the lazy amongst us??

Where abouts?
Pics of the bastard?

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

Mine was hanging under the dash... it may be attached to your steering colum..its a black box relay attached to a harness with 4 pins (connecting to a 5 pin relay as young buck Tom found out the hard way).

wiring diagram calls it starter inturupt relay adapter

I will can take pics tommorrow I need to fix the mess I made...sorry its late

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

do show and tell!!

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

Its the only black relay under the driver's side dash... I will give it a go sometime as my car had serious starting issues before the relay mod. Will be a good test bed to confirm

Tom

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

Cool find! Relay mod be gun?

Can it start cars that ran out of gas too? :o

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

Good one Eric.

Hoooooray, at long long last someone has had the brains to trace the problem. :)

I have always suspected the inhibit relay because it is a normally closed device. This means that the contacts are closed by only spring pressure and also have limited over travel. As a result they are more prone to give trouble, than normally open contacts.

As I keep pointing out, a fault of this sort left existing, could in future result in a completely open circuit. In which case a slave relay will not overcome the problem. Be very sure it will happen on a wet dark night, a long way from assistance. :eek:

Cheers , Trevor.

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

One question:

is it a standardized part, or is it a subaru or SVX specific module.

Part number or specification, as well as location would be helpful. I need to replace my steering column shroud covers anyway...

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

Ill do my best to do a quick write up by lunch time, with pics and part #.

And hopfully by this weekend, Ill write up a how-to no start diagnositic flow chart.

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

Good one Eric.

The complete start initiate circuit is not on record and this will be of real value. The inhibitor switch, security system and starter interrupt relay are also niggers in the wood pile. :eek:

How about breaking open the faulty relay and advising what you find. Return spring pressure weak, obstruction in the armature return, or whatever. You are the first to properly diagnose the fault, so might as well go the full distance. :D

Cheers, Trevor.

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

Already planned to :D, im pulling it apart as soon as i get to work...i suspect ill find the contacts melted, corroded, and deformed on the secondary half as ive seen before on other bad relays.

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

got to work..opened it up..sure enough...the spring was slightly deformed causing it to only make contact in one small area...after years of being abused in one spot it began to develope craters

Its just a plain relay the same one used for the band-aid fix 12v 20/30 amps
the #s read 0332204150

the location,
Attachment 12853
Attachment 12854

the relay,
Attachment 12855

and the contacts inside the relay...
Attachment 12856

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

Looks like I know what Ill be doing to the Ebony this weekend! :D

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

running 15 or so starts strong:) took it out to lunch and ran some errands..

I even stalled my car on purpose a couple times just to hear the sweet goodness of starter solenoid engaugement on the first try:lol:

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

Question, did it act as if it had a bad starter solenoid? click, no starter turn?

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

yup. you can hear it click under the hood at the solenoid. There isnt enough juice at the end of the circuit.

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

Sounds exactly like mine...

new relay and steering column shroud install... here I come. :D

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

Just as I had predicted. :(

However I did not expect such a piece of badly designed junk, even though automotive electrics tend to be cheap and crude. My company would not have rated that relay, as capable of switching more than 5 amps of inductive load. It would have been out of the question to use same in any industrial situation.

It is up to the Subaru designers to explain why a diode is not included across the solenoid winding, so as to shunt a nasty inductive opening spike. A normally closed relay opening such an unprotected circuit, is exceptionally vulnerable. :confused:

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

You phail.... The relay is a 5 pin w/ 87a... Gonna need the right relay to do the proper test....

Tom

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

Who, what phail Tom?:confused: Right relay? :confused: What relay?:confused: Proper test?:confused: What test?:confused:

Trevor ;)

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

Trevor you are the one person here I would expect never to take anything as an absolute.

The 4 pin generic relay is not able to work in place a of the 5pin relay fitted stock. I will get a new bosch 5 pin relay tomorrow at work and try again tomorrow night.

Eric phails because he is good at it. You phail because its getting annoying

Tom

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

Im not a very articulate person..there are only 4 pins connecting to the 5 pin relay man i gotta quit drinking...as much :o

I gave you a part # what more do you want? U want me to come install it too!:mad::rolleyes:

The band-aid relay gsodonis had installed was a 5 pin...guess he was thinking ahead

It still seems too easy to be true...all this mess we made with the "relay mod" and the repair was so dam simple....

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

Thats why I want to confirm because it is overly simple.

Thanks for keeping the eye out

Tom

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

The fault always was simple. The logical approach is simply, simple. Simple Simons, never simply trace a simple fault. ;) :lol:

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

This no workie for me.. Took the relay off the ebony SVX I just bought which has no click, click trouble.. Put that relay on pearly and put the one on pearly on the ebony one.. Well, result.. Pearly still goes click , click and ebony goes vroom.. lol.. Anyhow.. I think I know what the problem on the pearly is.. I had the cover off the steering column off one time to tighten the bolts for the ingnition switch.. I noticed that the back of the ignition cylinder was/is lose.. I have a feeling that is where my problem lies. Maybe i'll look into that this weekend.

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

Faulty ignition switches do cause the same symptoms, in my case the switch had already been replaced.

when I write the no start diag I will explain how to diagnose the starter circuit using a volt meter and doing voltage drop tests.

If you dont have a voltmeter and you want to throw parts at the car immediatly, the relay is the cheapest and easiest place to start.

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

Hey Eric.. I was kind of crossing my fingers that it was the relay.. I really do not want to get at that ignition switch.. Plus.. I really don't want to replace it. Cause I don't want a different key just for the ignition.. I'm going to do some search on here.. However, I don't think anyone has actually tackled fixing the switch. Anyhow.. I'm sure your info will help others. :)

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

you dont replace the whole tumbler assy. its just the electrical part at the end. Im trying to find it at subaruparts.com but am having a hard time.

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

83131pa000 is the ignition switch part number, I think I paid like $35 from Liberty Subaru.

... but it's still clicking, so big thanks to Eric for my next project.

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

my car starts every time.

heres linky to the part at autozone. they call it the power window relay but its the same p/n. http://www.autozone.com/autozone/cat...-+Power+Window

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

I just bought a relay and installed it. Took about 15 minutes. My car starts every time now :D

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

Ok... I just spent an hour under the dash of my SVX looking for this daggum thing... and I didn't even see it.

I saw an orange relay and plug, that I put back on it's mounting tab, as it was hanging...

I saw a rubber covered sort of relay screwed to a point under the steering column. But only three leads... didn't look like the right thing.

Lots of plugs, lots of wiring under there, but I didn't see a bosch-style relay.

I just went back and looked at Eric's posted pictures.... and it looks like it is near a white sliding linkage assembly... just to confirm, that is around the top of the brake pedal, and the white linkage is the hood release, right?

Or is it on the gas-pedal, and HVAC side?

I suppose tomorrow, I should take back the 4-pin relay, and get the 5 pin relay, anyway.

It all gives me an excuse to put on the new ignition light ring, and a better-condition steering wheel shroud, anyway. :D

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

mine was on the gas pedal hvac side...Thunder Tom said its supposed to be mounted to the steering colum.

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

ok...

I'll have to take another look.

The bit that was screwed to the steering column looks like a relay, with three pins, not four or five... although it had a metal mounting tab, which could have served as a ground, instead of a fourth pin for ground.

The odd thing is that it was covered in a rubber square sleeve, with a slot at the top for the mounting tab to come through, and just the electrical plug coming out of the other end. It almost looked weather-proofed or something.

It had a Mitsubishi/Subaru part number on the rubber sleeve, but I didn't jot it down. It is fairly easy to get to, so maybe I'll take it off, and snap some pics tomorrow.

I did take it down, and disconnected it to investigate... then put it right back. The car did start a bit easier, afterward...

BTW... what is the little footwell light bulb supposed to attach to down there? it was just hanging on it's wire, and I didn't see a place to fasten it to...

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

Mine was mounted to the steering column. Its on the left side of the steering column if you are looking at it from the outside of the car.

It's on the right side of the steering column if you are underneath the dash lying down. :)

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

the three pin is for your blinkers/hazards. Don't mess with that one they are fragile.

There is a 4 wire harness going to a 5pin relay connector. Yes it still uses 4 wires but the relay must be the 5 pin style

Tom

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

Ah - so that is what I destroyed when I did the heater core last weekend.

I was wondering what it did. It did not like to still be connected when I dropped the steering column. A little super glue and solder and I patched her up. Must have done a decent job, my signals all work.

Well, that doesn't explain why my airbag light is on now. I was hoping that little gadget was what did it.

Gotta love this site!
 

This thread just saved me a whole pile of heartache and expense. I had this same problem and, with the information in this thread, I fixed it an 15 minutes. Before I found this thread I had planned to replace my starter when it wasn't the problem at all.

Thanks to all who contributed.

Re: Gotta love this site!
 

Eric helped me out with this back at the Pumpkin Carve Meet in October at OT's and I haven't had a click since then :)

Over the summer I replaced the ignition switch which helped to reduce the clicking to an occasional problem, but this has eliminated it completely...

Re: NO MORE CLICK click CLICK START..ONLY START!
 

Maybe this thread should be made a sticky for all to easily find in the future...