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Car won't start after running recently
Bear with me here. I'll include a bunch of details which are probably unrelated, but just in case they are...
The Problem The problem is real simple. I start the car up, I drive somewhere. I turn it off. A few minutes later I try to start it again, nothing happens. Leave it there until next day and it works fine. Definition of "nothing"? All the idiot lights come on as normal. But when I turn the key to the final notch, nothing happens. Not even a click from the starter. It just sits there as though I hadn't done anything. Power is just fine. Power windows, windshield wipers, everybody is perfectly hunky dory, but the car makes no attempt to start at all. What have I tried? Pushing every button on the dash. Spraying compressed frozen air on anything in the engine that looked like a sensor. Unplugging and plugging in fuses. Jump starting. Nothing has worked other than waiting. How long have I waited? I know that it has worked after 7 hours, and it hasn't worked after 2. Other items of possible interest.
When has it happened? It has happened four times in the last 2-3 weeks (I don't drive it every day).
Now for the probably unrelated part. Three or four years ago I had to leave the car outside for the winter. That spring, during a really, really heavy downpour, I was driving somewhere when all of a sudden the alarm system went off. The car was honking, the lights were flashing and (oddly) the left door open indicator was flashing as well. This is a very embarrassing way to drive! I made it home, and it didn't repeat. The garage found nothing wrong. It happened again a few weeks later, again, heavy rain. That time I took it to the garage so they could see it in action. Again, nothing. And as before, turning the car off and on made the problem go away. It happened again a few times over the next year or so, and the garage did try replacing some of the left door wiring, which may have had an impact. A bit more recently, I was having starting problems, and in rapid succession went through a new battery and two alternators before the problem was traced to the center console door lock, which had a short. I haven't seen the alarm problem since then, but that's why I initially thought this problem might also be rain related. I need to get it out of the gas station parking lot by 10 tonight. Hopefully it will just start, otherwise I'll have to call for a tow. If someone has a quick bright idea, I'll take it to my local garage. Otherwise I'll probably take it to a local Subaru dealer, because the garageman is drawing a blank on this, and electrical problems really aren't his forte. Thoughts? |
#2
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Re: Car won't start after running recently
My guess is that the starter solenoid contacts are shot. Odds are you'll have to replace the entire starter.
__________________
-Jason (8/23/07-Present) 1995 Subaru SVX LSi (197k) Polo Green (#1102) 03/95 Mods: DDM Tuning 4500k 35w Low Beam HID, 100w H3 Bulbs, Extra Ground Cables, 15 minute $12.96 mod, svxfiles designed transmission mount (), sporting a "new" tail light bar, silver BBS rims, custom power steering cooler (one that doesn't dump ATF constantly), new negative lead cable, no more third or fourth gear (1977-Present) 1977 Chevrolet Corvette (81k) Silver (12/01/2011-Present) 2005 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 5MT (97k) I have a bad feeling about this. -Obi Wan Kenobi |
#3
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Re: Car won't start after running recently
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Disclaimer: The above post is on the internet. |
#4
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Re: Car won't start after running recently
Clock comes on and works fine when I turn the key. I didn't write down what idiot lights were on since I assumed it was all of them. I'll check if I get a chance.
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#5
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Re: Car won't start after running recently
It happened to my 92svx several times 3 years ago,light turn on ok,sometimes it starts,sometimes it wont....my problem was the tiny bridge wire (in or out of the fused box,dont remember),replaced that with a bigger one,or good one,,...it starts perfectly for the last 3 years,.....dont know if ur problem the same or not...try....this is a wired fuse,not an actual fuse,not look like one,without it,car wont start,it is in the fuse box in side the engine hood....hope it help'''(may be this wire is called starter solenoid)
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1992 SVX whitepearl 129,000km 2005 MAZDA3 red 38,000km 2001 HYUNDAI XG V6.3000 2003 TOYOTA PREVIA Last edited by tigersvx; 08-29-2008 at 10:35 PM. Reason: add info |
#6
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Re: Car won't start after running recently
I had the same problem a year or so ago, but the car usually started if I just continued to turn the ignition ON/OFF until it decided to start(usually within the first 10-20 tries). Again, never so much as a click when failing to start. Meantime the shop replaced the starter and ignition switch. As the problem continued to plague me, I was told the safety interlock (combination of foot on brake and shifter in Park, sensed by the Inhibitor switch) might be failing, and to try starting the car in "N". Sometimes it would, and sometimes not. The shop finally tried bypassing the inhibitor, and though the car now ran the risk of starting in gear if not paying attention, it would start, every time, first try.
Maybe I haven't so much answered your question, as made some suggestions on how you can move toward solving the problem by trial and error. Best of luck! Glenn
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"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing" Aaron Burke 1993 25th Anniversary Edition #63 of 301. R.I.P. Rojo 7/24/2008 She saved my life! 1997 Ebony Mica Pearl LSI. BLACKBERRY 1998 5-Spd Legacy GT Wagon in Glacier White: NUBURU 2005 Cadillac STS in Sandstorm Metallic: STORMY Veteran and farthest traveler of 1st SoCal2MuseumsMeet2010. http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/user.php?RojoRocket |
#7
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Re: Car won't start after running recently
Just makin' sure: The clock doesn't dim when you turn the key to START?
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Disclaimer: The above post is on the internet. |
#8
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Re: Car won't start after running recently
I just remember that when my old Legacy's starter crapped out, it just clicked at start. The clock dimmed and everything; the starter just wouldn't bump over.
__________________
-Jason (8/23/07-Present) 1995 Subaru SVX LSi (197k) Polo Green (#1102) 03/95 Mods: DDM Tuning 4500k 35w Low Beam HID, 100w H3 Bulbs, Extra Ground Cables, 15 minute $12.96 mod, svxfiles designed transmission mount (), sporting a "new" tail light bar, silver BBS rims, custom power steering cooler (one that doesn't dump ATF constantly), new negative lead cable, no more third or fourth gear (1977-Present) 1977 Chevrolet Corvette (81k) Silver (12/01/2011-Present) 2005 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 5MT (97k) I have a bad feeling about this. -Obi Wan Kenobi |
#9
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Re: Car won't start after running recently
How in depth can you diagnose your own car? By the sound of it your security system could be malfunctioning causing the start disable to activate randomly... does your security system still work? You should try to start the car in neutral to see it if is possibly the NSS or neutral safety switch. do you know how to use a test light?
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- John ASE certified Master Tech W/ X1 Twin City Fleet repair, St. Paul, MN need work done? Have tools will travel
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#10
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Re: Car won't start after running recently
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You're thinking if it dims, then the problem is in the starter, as opposed to before then? |
#11
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Re: Car won't start after running recently
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And it still doesn't start, so I'd say this has gone from being intermittent to permanent. |
#12
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Re: Car won't start after running recently
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#13
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Re: Car won't start after running recently
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I'd try tapping the starter itself with a hammer or screwdriver a few times while trying to start it. If the car turns over, you know it's something inside the starter itself. Probably the contacts.
__________________
-Jason (8/23/07-Present) 1995 Subaru SVX LSi (197k) Polo Green (#1102) 03/95 Mods: DDM Tuning 4500k 35w Low Beam HID, 100w H3 Bulbs, Extra Ground Cables, 15 minute $12.96 mod, svxfiles designed transmission mount (), sporting a "new" tail light bar, silver BBS rims, custom power steering cooler (one that doesn't dump ATF constantly), new negative lead cable, no more third or fourth gear (1977-Present) 1977 Chevrolet Corvette (81k) Silver (12/01/2011-Present) 2005 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 5MT (97k) I have a bad feeling about this. -Obi Wan Kenobi |
#14
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Re: Car won't start after running recently
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So kudos to you, and kudos to Holton Street Garage in Woburn, MA! |
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Re: Car won't start after running recently
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More info can be read here. http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/show...oid#post332532 Harvey.
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One Arm Bloke. Tell it like it is! 95 Lsi. Bordeaux Pearl, Aust. RHD.149,000Kls Subaru BBS wheels. 97 Liberty GX Auto sedan. 320,000Kls. 04 Liberty 30R Auto Premium. 92.000kls. |
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