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  #1  
Old 06-13-2002, 08:44 AM
EverclearAtMSU
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retarted starter

when i bought my svx, it just had a brand new starter and alternator installed. On rare occasion, it's happened probably 3 or 4 times since I bought the car, I'll turn the key and absolutly nothing will happen. I'll turn it about 12-15 more times and then it'll start up perfectly...

Anyone have any ideas on this?
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  #2  
Old 06-13-2002, 09:55 AM
UStifosi
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I have the EXACT same problem!

I bought my svx from someone else on this board about 2 months ago. Ocaisionally, I would turn the key and nothing. Turn it again and it would start right up. This continued off and on until last week when it was leaving me stranded some days for 15 minutes. I took it to the shop and they said the starter had a "dead spot". $400 later I pick it up yesterday. After several trips this morning I get in, turn it over, and nothing. I turn it over again and it starts.

I think it is related to the alarm or possibly a bad ground somewhere. I am beginning to think it is not the battery of the starter (or the alternator for that matter).

What does everyone else think?
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  #3  
Old 06-13-2002, 10:56 AM
Green1995SVX
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I remember someones car having the very same problem at the reading meet. Who's was it? I cant remember... No one could figure it out.

-Mike
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  #4  
Old 06-13-2002, 11:39 AM
dart
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Quote:
Originally posted by UStifosi
I have the EXACT same problem!

I bought my svx from someone else on this board about 2 months ago. Ocaisionally, I would turn the key and nothing. Turn it again and it would start right up. This continued off and on until last week when it was leaving me stranded some days for 15 minutes. I took it to the shop and they said the starter had a "dead spot". $400 later I pick it up yesterday. After several trips this morning I get in, turn it over, and nothing. I turn it over again and it starts.

I think it is related to the alarm or possibly a bad ground somewhere. I am beginning to think it is not the battery of the starter (or the alternator for that matter).

What does everyone else think?
Dirty contacts in the ignition switch?
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  #5  
Old 06-13-2002, 11:48 AM
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Aredubjay Aredubjay is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by Green1995SVX
I remember someones car having the very same problem at the reading meet. Who's was it? I cant remember... No one could figure it out.

-Mike
It was Ken (SSSVX) who was having the problem. His problem actually sounded like a bad solenoid. It sounded like the starter was engaging the flywheel but just wouldn't turn. After a few tries, it would just start. It was weird. When the problem began, he had the starter replaced. When the problem continued, he had the starter replaced a second time. The problem persists, as far as I know.
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  #6  
Old 06-13-2002, 01:21 PM
EverclearAtMSU
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i dont think it's the contacts. My starter was replaced a month before I got the car. And I dont see how the solonoid could quit so soon. Those things usually go forever, unless your trying to start the car once it's already started
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  #7  
Old 06-13-2002, 01:32 PM
UStifosi
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I am dropping it back off at the shop today. Over the phone, they think it may need a 2nd starter. The other immediate possibilities could be ignition relay module, ignition switch, starter interlock relay (which is no longer available through Subaru). I don't think it is starter related. What do you think?
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  #8  
Old 06-13-2002, 01:36 PM
EverclearAtMSU
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Quote:
Originally posted by UStifosi
I am dropping it back off at the shop today. Over the phone, they think it may need a 2nd starter. The other immediate possibilities could be ignition relay module, ignition switch, starter interlock relay (which is no longer available through Subaru). I don't think it is starter related. What do you think?
to me, it does seam like a relay. almost like the ground or constant isn't functioning quite right....you could by pass all that w/ a push button ignition
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  #9  
Old 06-13-2002, 06:31 PM
kuoh kuoh is offline
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Most likely the ignition switch is the culprit. There was a thread on the Yahoo club way back with several owners seeing the exact same symptoms. It seems the security bolts that hold the ignition switch in place has a tendency to loosen over time which somehow allows for imtermittent contact that generally affects the start position first. I don't have any firsthand experience with this problem, but this is what I recall of the old thread.

For those of you handy with electronics and wiring, it would be a simple matter to tap the starter wire in the ignition harness to an LED mounted on the dash, so whenever the key is in the start position, the LED would illuminate. Then it would be a very easy task to determine conclusively whether it's the starter or the ignition switch. The LED could also be wired after the starter kill relay to eliminate that as a possible culprit as well.

KuoH
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  #10  
Old 06-13-2002, 07:50 PM
Ron Mummert Ron Mummert is offline
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I had also read about a general trend for ignition switches to fail prematurely in a lot of cars recently, due to the "load" put on them by the typical key chain of today's user. Two sets of car keys with remote fobs, the house (& weekend house) keys, Swiss army knife, Mag light, all the supermarket member tags etc.,etc.; has become the equivalent of hanging a bowling ball off an ice pick & stuffing in the key slot.
Maybe Saab's goofy floor mounted ignition ain't so goofy after all.

Ron.
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  #11  
Old 06-13-2002, 08:35 PM
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Have you guys tried playing with the gear shifter? Mine was having starting problems for a little while, and after playing with the gear shifter to make sure it was in park it would start.. Hasn't acted up in quite some time..
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  #12  
Old 06-14-2002, 06:28 AM
EverclearAtMSU
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Quote:
Originally posted by Ron Mummert
I had also read about a general trend for ignition switches to fail prematurely in a lot of cars recently, due to the "load" put on them by the typical key chain of today's user. Two sets of car keys with remote fobs, the house (& weekend house) keys, Swiss army knife, Mag light, all the supermarket member tags etc.,etc.; has become the equivalent of hanging a bowling ball off an ice pick & stuffing in the key slot.
Maybe Saab's goofy floor mounted ignition ain't so goofy after all.

Ron.
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  #13  
Old 06-14-2002, 10:46 AM
UStifosi
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The security bolts did back out of the ignition switch and I had them replaced/resecurred. Come to think of it, and I will try it again, I could have sworn that I was able to start the car in Neutral one time. That's not supposed to happen. Right?
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  #14  
Old 06-14-2002, 11:11 AM
EverclearAtMSU
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Quote:
Originally posted by UStifosi
The security bolts did back out of the ignition switch and I had them replaced/resecurred. Come to think of it, and I will try it again, I could have sworn that I was able to start the car in Neutral one time. That's not supposed to happen. Right?
you can start the car in neutral. In every automatic car I've been in, you can start the car in neutral. They just make it so you cant start the car in drive, reverse, ect, so the car doesn't automatically start to go when it's turned on. My guess is it's like that so if your engine stalls or something, you can start it again with out having to come to a full stop.
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  #15  
Old 06-14-2002, 04:35 PM
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When I put my tranny in I didnt adjust the linkage exactly right. The shifter can be in park but if pulled back slightly while still in the park "notch" it will not start. I have to push it all the way forward and then the car will start. Still too lazy to fix it and it may someday prevent someone else from starting it anyway.
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