August 30, 201510 yr 2005 OB Automatic New Battery Parked car after 10 minutes car wouldn't start. In the past I occasionally had issues where I would have to jiggle the gear shifter to get it started but it always then started. I don't know if this is the same issue or unrelated. Am going back with a wire to jump from the battery to the starter solenoid to see if anything happens. Would that work if the safety switch is shot or is there a relay I need to check (and how do I do that?) Please don't let me misdirect with misinformation so any thoughts appreciated.
August 30, 201510 yr try starting in N, also try 'popping' the brake pedal. (depress a little and quickly release) Edited August 30, 201510 yr by 1 Lucky Texan
August 30, 201510 yr Author tried in neutral. no difference. i will try the brake back in a few minutes
August 30, 201510 yr Author Thanks! Popped the brakes as suggested and it started. Not sure if causal or temporal related but what is the logic behind the brake "pop"?
August 30, 201510 yr Security system? Tried locking and unlocking the doors with the key fob? Move the shifter from park all the way through the range a dozen times or so to wipe the contacts in the Nuetral switch.
August 30, 201510 yr Author Thanks FT, the prize went to the Lucky Texan. Security system but hadn't locked the car. Had run the shifter up and down but nada. So, I am curious why the "pop the brake" worked AND if it recurs, what to track down. Edited August 30, 201510 yr by brus brother
August 31, 201510 yr FT will know but there's a switch, or part of a switch that is supposed to signal a foot on the brake during starting I think.
August 31, 201510 yr Same reason why kicking a mule works... sometimes... Just coincidence I'm guessing. As far as I know the same switch is used for brake lamps, shift lock, and signaling the ECM to allow starting. I assume the 05 requires the brake pedal to be pressed to start, but don't know for sure. Maybe the shock jarred a relay into submission?
August 31, 201510 yr It really sucks when you can't start a car or have mechanical problems many miles from home. AAA I guess is one option with high mileage vehicles like mine, but they are only limited to running out of gas, jump starting, and towing to your mechanic.
August 31, 201510 yr Author stuck again after 15 min drive no restart but lights on. ran auto shifter through gears. tapped brake. wire from pos to starter. banged on starter solenoid. what else to check?
August 31, 201510 yr loose or corroded ground wire? jiggle keys slap steering column slam doors? I dunno, the brake pedal thing is looking like a coincidence now but, it may mean there is an intermittent connection in the dash/console/ignition switch area....? do you have 12V+ at the battery? Edited August 31, 201510 yr by 1 Lucky Texan
August 31, 201510 yr Author car in commuter lot for next few hours. just a thouight but if the car restarts later after cooling down would that point to anything?
August 31, 201510 yr car in commuter lot for next few hours. just a thouight but if the car restarts later after cooling down would that point to anything? flooding or a sensor failing at temp - not sure either of those fit with prior symptoms, especially if it isn't cranking at all. Possible crank or cam position sensor - often though, those would set a code......? OH - one thing!, try whacking the starter - light/medium taps with a hammer or a decent whack with a chunk of 2x4. But, if you don't hear any clicking when trying to start - can't be the solenoid contacts. push-pull various battery cables and wire harnesses and re-try ? just throwing out wild ideas here. Edited August 31, 201510 yr by 1 Lucky Texan
August 31, 201510 yr do you hear a click? If you don't hear a click - then likely it's the safety start feature or an ignition switch or similar. if you DO hear a click, could be the contacts in the solenoid on the starter. That's why whacking the starter sometimes works - the plunger shifts to a non-corroded bit of the contacts and you get enough current to spin the starter. No need to get a new starter - rebuild kits are common for the inside of the solenoid. but an 05 is a little early - ...?, I guess it could depend on if it was regular driven lots of short trips ...maybe just weak parts... who knows?
August 31, 201510 yr If you think there's a chance that the brake button/solenoid/switch was the culprit before - then maybe that switch has finally failed? What's the thing called so he can google it for symptoms, diagnosis, and work arounds? Battery voltage is good? Other possibilities - the first two here are extremely common, I have no idea how many times i've seen these: 1. Battery terminals dirty 2. Battery terminals loose 3. Starter cable is corroded internally - I've cut the sheathing back and found incredible amounts of corrosion running all up the cable even when nothing was visible externally - on vehicles where there was previous build up around the terminals - left too long I guess it also gets up into the cabling? Subaru starter failure is rare but I'm sure it can happen.
August 31, 201510 yr Author about 3 hours later friend tried and car started right up. soa parts csr says starters fail so rarely that they don't even stock them. so... what expands and fails when heated but revives after cool down?
August 31, 201510 yr Author wanted to add: new battery I had sprayed lithium grease on terminals and that crap had melted and seeped down between the connectors and post but i had cleaned that off yesterday when this all started. I still think something is heating/expanding and malfunctions until cooled. just my opionion from the rowdy cheap seats!
August 31, 201510 yr very frustrating - fingers crossed found code points to a good possibility. some older soobs have had crank position sensors flake out when warm. But they would still crank. i read one STI owner that found some 'black stuff' on his crank sensor, cleaned it off, and the car started and ran better. one guy found the small wire at the starter loose - just needed tightening. lots of things to check. Do you hear a click when trying to start?
August 31, 201510 yr Author I can't hear anything from inside car BUT fellow that stopped to help yesterday said he heard something when I tried to start the car
August 31, 201510 yr Kinda sounding like starter contacts. Need to listen for a click from under the hood next time. Maybe drive it around the block a few dozen times to heat it up and park it in the driveway and see if the problem recurrs immediately after parking, then again after 15-20 minutes sitting for a "heat soak".
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