Starting issues

[Legacy777]

I've been having starting issues over the past few months. I suspected the battery because my car sits for a bit, and if I put the charger on, the car starts right away.

However in the past few weeks I've had it where the battery was charged, I had been driving the car, go into a store, come back out to start it, and it won't start. I replaced the battery with a new Optima yellow top. It has been acting better, however I went up to the airport last Saturday to drop my girlfriend off, and when I come back out, the car won't start.

I can hear the starter clicking. I ended up getting a ratchet out of the trunk and hit the starter a few times. After doing this 3 times, the car started.

So....I'm thinking it's the starter....what I'm not sure is if it's the solenoid contacts, which I put the newer ones in when I did my AWD swap, or if it's the starter itself....something in the windings, etc.
http://www.surrealmirage.com/subaru/images/swap/13

I suspect the starter because of the no start hot condition......but I wanted to get some other opinions.....

Either way....changing the starter is going to be a bitch since I installed the AWIC....grrr

[Matt Monson]

Should I move this thread to Electrical, just for fun?

I would suspect the starter itself...

[Legacy777]

I'll just move it back..

Yeah....that's what my gut is thinking...and if I have to pull the starter....might as well put a good one in.

[evolutionmovement]

The solenoid is probably freezing up or you could have a dead spot. I don't think it really matters since you have to replace the whole unit. If they have rebuild kits, they're probably twice as much as a new starter (like with the alternators).

[SubaruNation]

I've been having starting issues over the past few months. I suspected the battery because my car sits for a bit, and if I put the charger on, the car starts right away.

However in the past few weeks I've had it where the battery was charged, I had been driving the car, go into a store, come back out to start it, and it won't start. I replaced the battery with a new Optima yellow top. It has been acting better, however I went up to the airport last Saturday to drop my girlfriend off, and when I come back out, the car won't start.

I can hear the starter clicking. I ended up getting a ratchet out of the trunk and hit the starter a few times. After doing this 3 times, the car started.

So....I'm thinking it's the starter....what I'm not sure is if it's the solenoid contacts, which I put the newer ones in when I did my AWD swap, or if it's the starter itself....something in the windings, etc.
http://www.surrealmirage.com/subaru/images/swap/13

I suspect the starter because of the no start hot condition......but I wanted to get some other opinions.....

Either way....changing the starter is going to be a bitch since I installed the AWIC....grrr

you mentioned a no start hot condition... what is that?

[Legacy777]

As I mentioned in my pm

Basically it's when your car won't start when it's hot, ie after it's been driven around and has reached normal operating temp.

Does your car turn over and not start, or does it not even turn over?

[SubaruNation]

this happens randomly when it does, i would just like it to not happen at all.
it just clicks even though its a new starter/solenoid and the battery is at around 85%

[entirelyturbo]

I know you all don't like to hear it, especially coming from me, but you do get what you pay for with stuff like this.

I bought my car, with the original starter that was bad at 90k, and I had a rebuilt one from who-knows-where put in right at that mileage, and it was done at 160k, roughly.

I've since bit the bullet, and just put a OEM rebuilt Subaru starter in. Of course, that was only 12k miles ago roughly and of course, I haven't had any problems. But I do genuinely believe I'll get more mileage out of this one.

After all the crap I've put up with, I sincerely doubt I will ever buy ANY starter, alternator, or CV axle that isn't OEM ever again. Yeah, it's cheaper, but it's just not worth the aggravation that comes with the continual replacement of inferior aftermarket rebuilt stuff.

[Legacy777]

Here's a little more detail that subarunation sent me in a pm

yeah, what happens is after i have driven it around for awhile and it gets hot i guess, the starts seem to get weaker and weaker then in wont start. the starter/solenoid will just click and not turn over.

i deliver pizzzas in my car and intermittently it does this and it ruins my night.
i put in a new starter & solenoid combo, and it seems to be working better but it still wont start sometimes. and the battery is at 85% tested.
what can i do about this?

Assuming the starter is good.....I'd suggest checking/replacing the wiring going from the battery to the starter. Also check to make sure all your engine ground points are good.

As michael mentioned. Maybe you have a reman'd starter that isn't good.

[SubaruNation]

[n2x4]

hmmmm...this tells more also i think

http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/51016 ... ption.html

Subaru's don't have gas turbine engines...

I vote for electrical issue. Bad contacts?

[SubaruNation]

[SubaruNation]

[douglas vincent]

Replace (if you havent) both the positive and negative cables to get rid of any whacky bad conductivity spots.

I have had this problem on 2-3 of my subarus and 1 Ford

[SubaruNation]