Hello,

 

I have been having starting problems for months with my 2000 Legacy Gt.  I have taken it to a certified Subaru Mechanic every time and have had the starter changed, new battery, wiring checked .  All as of recent , then this Saturday I drove it all day, went to go to the store in the evening, and nope.  All the dash lights will come on, radio too, but no crank, no clicking sound at all.  In the past Ive been able to mess around with the key so much that it seemed to just "catch" and fire up.  But not as of lately.  It started the next morning ( today).  Drove my boy to hockey this morning then went to a pumpkin farm , went to leave and , nope.  My boys and I sat for about an hour.  Then it finally started.  

It will not start in neutral. 

It is unpredictable as to how long I have to wait before it will start again.  :/

The car is sitting at the shop right now and I'm sure tomorrow morning the mechanic will see it and want to pull his hair out.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Jessica

Do you have a Security system installed?

Aftermarket ones can cause problems!

 

You could have the Mechanic install some lead wires off the starter contacts that would go to a meter to check the voltage at the starter!

 

 

The next time it happened you could check voltage:

1) going to the starter

2)  to the starter control contacts

3) at the starter motor

hmmm...starter was changed (probably cables inspected but...?) so, yeah, some security 'feature' is suspect. maybe the switch on the brake pedal?

i have a similar issue on a bmw i own witch i believe is the ignition switch failing. when it wont start from the key will it start if you take a piece of wire and jump power from the batter to the starter solenoid?

 

will it start if you take a piece of wire and jump power from the batter to the starter solenoid?

Bingo!

No aftermarket security system, just what came with the car.  

Is there a relay of some sort in the ignition that would do this?  that once it heated up it stops working?  Someone with a honda told me they had this problem...?

I'm not that knowledgable in mechanics to be jumping power from the battery to the starter solenoid...lol

 

Switch on the brake pedal?

 

I'm not that knowledgable in mechanics to be jumping power from the battery to the starter solenoid

So, it would be a good time to learn to do the easy things on your car.  The problem is that when you take it to the mechanic, the car often won't duplicate a problem. You are the only one with the time, interest and opportunity to do this obvious check which will isolate the problem.  People spend a lot of money at shops trying to correct a problem that is not evident to the mechanic.  

Edited October 26, 201510 yr by mikec03