Hi,

 

Recently had problems starting my Impreza. Tried absolutely everything.

 

Then at last it started when I put a truck 600CCA battery on it. Took that off and put my normal car 500CCA battery back on. It ran the car for about 2weeks. But still didn't start that well. It has now stopped working again.

 

I tried putting the 600CCA truck battery back on to see if it would work, but no!

 

 

What could be the problem? I've got gas in the car.

Edited June 9, 200916 yr by sub_dont_touch

Is it having trouble cranking, or actually catching and running?

Either way could be battery cables, they may look fine but could be corroded where the cable meets the clamp.

Trouble cranking. Checked cables they are fine.

 

Any ideas?

Most likely the starter contacts. Check the voltage drop at the starter and then down stream at the starter motor.

 

Corrosion or pitted contacts in the starter solinoid.

Thanks,

 

Where is the starter solenoid? How do I check for the voltage? (car on, while cranking?)

On the starter. Follow the + battery cable back.

 

Check the Battery voltage, terminal to terminal and note it.

Move the positive lead to the starter end of the terminal and check the voltage and record. Now have someone try to start the car, the voltage should not drop but .5 volts or so if the system/wiring is good.

 

If it checks good there, go to the output side of the starter solinoid to the starter motor and do the same.

 

If you are not comfortable checking the system, most autoparts places can check it for you or you can remove your starter and take it to a starter rebuild place and have them check it.

I took it to an auto electrician. He thinks the starter motor is fine.

if I had the money I would just pay to get it fixed. but i am a young student.

 

What else could it be?

If he thinks the starter motor is fine, then what does he think it is?

 

Get yourself a manual, most of even the cheap ones have the test procedures for your problem.

It still sounds like cables to me- Does it even click or do anything when you crank it?

i only took the starter motor in. not my car as i cant drive it obviously.

 

Have checked cables. there is power to the starter.

 

It sounds exactly as it should but doesn't have that last kick that starts the car.

It sounds exactly as it should but doesn't have that last kick that starts the car.

 

Not sure I understand what you mean by "that last kick."

 

What happens when you turn the key to start? Do you hear a click, but the engine doesn't turn over?

when I turn the key the engine turns over. But just won't start.

Is it doing the same thing as the last time it wouldn't start?(2 months ago) What fixed it then?

Ok, if it's turning over then it's not having trouble cranking. Check your fusible links in the underhood fusebox.

Is it doing the same thing as the last time it wouldn't start?(2 months ago) What fixed it then?

 

Yes. I tried putting a 600cca truck battery on it. It started. Then put my 520cca car battery back on, it worked for a week. Died again. Put truck battery back on, no go, my battery, no go.

 

 

Ok, if it's turning over then it's not having trouble cranking. Check your fusible links in the underhood fusebox.

 

I have check all the fuses

 

I have also tried jump starting from my dads truck, 600cca. No go.

Edited June 29, 200916 yr by sub_dont_touch

If it's spinning the engine over normally, then it doesn't need a jump start. If it's spinning over properly, then it's not a cranking issue. It's a running issue.

These can be one of four things:

fuel

air

spark

timing

If it ran, it obviously has compression. If it sounds funny turning over, it might have a broken timing belt. If it doesn't have fuel pressure, then it's probably the fuel pump. If it doesn't have spark, it could be several different things on that particular engine, including fuses, relays, and harness issues.

 

Most likely thing for a suddenly and intermittently non-running engine is fuel pump. Pop the gas cap open, and have someone turn the key to "on" while you listen at the gas cap opening. If you don't hear anything, your fuel pump isn't running.

4x4 Welder thanks for all your help.

 

the timing belt is all lined up and not broken.

There is spark.

have checked fuel pump before and I heard a click click or some sound when turning key to on postion.

Edited June 30, 200916 yr by sub_dont_touch

Have someone turn the key on while you listen at the fuel filler for the pump. The relay clicking (there are three or four that click when you turn it on anyways) doesn't mean the fuel pump is working.

I can't hear any sound from the fuel pump. What sound am I listening for?

 

I am checking to see if there is power to the pump but the multimeter is broken.

If there is no power then it must be the relay?

 

If there is power then it is the pump?

Basically, yes.

The sound you are listening for is a whir/whine noise.

 

Double check the pump before you replace it, though- Go to Autozone and rent a fuel pressure tester -not the pressure/vacuum gauge, you want a pressure tester for an efi car- You may have to tee in at the fuel filter on your car, not sure if it has the pressure test port. If you have no or very little pressure, then replace the pump. If you have ~45psi of pressure, then there's another problem.

I can't seem to hear anything apart from noises from the front off the car when turning the key to ON postion.

 

I've checked the power to the pump, 4volts at the connector plug.

 

I will try get the fuel pressure tester asap.

Spray some starter fluid into the intake and see well the engine starts then. If it fires right up you have a fuel delivery problem.

4volts sounds like a bad relay or you might have probed the gauge wire.

The fuel pump is only on for 3seconds when you first turn the key on, while cranking, and while running. With the key on and engine stopped, it's off. You need to probe that wire while turning the key to run, watch the meter while someone else turns it on, or as a last resort figure out which relay is the fuel pump one and jumper it.

I'm not sure if the ground connection to the fuel pump is tied to ground or if it has a controlled ground connection. At any rate, 4 volts across the pump isn't good. You need to have 12 volts across the pump leads. Try checking the voltage to the pump with the meter common lead tied to chassis ground. If you see 12 volts then the ground to the pump is controlled.

just tried the starter fluid idea. Sprayed some into the intake piping twice, didnt work but then sprayed into the end of the piping and a bit in the throttle body and it fired once then died.

 

so this is a fuel problem whether it be the pump or the electrical to do with the pump.

 

 

I will check the power again and post up results.

 

TO 4x4, I think you are correct. I must have probed the gauge wire. To be honest I don't know which wires are which and just tested all for power.

Edited July 7, 200916 yr by sub_dont_touch

Not getting power on any other wire sounds like a bad relay, -however- you only have 3seconds to probe the wire after you turn the key on. After that, nothing till you crank it. You really need an assistant for this.