Car won't start 04 WRX

wrxeffex · 05-14-2012, 01:01 AM

Now car won't start. It won't crank. Makes a fast clicking noise though.
Changed battery and still the same thing. Cleaned off terminals and put dialectric grease on them too. I have power and everything still when I turn the ign. key. Also I have an auto. Alt? starter? connections? Never had a prob like this.

JRCrutc · 05-14-2012, 01:08 AM

Have you put a DMM on the battery terminals to verify that you have enough voltage? Also find a nice paint free section inside your engine compartment and put the negative probe of the DMM on that with the positive probe on the positive side of the battery. This will verify that you have a good ground in the system.

Any other issues that happened right before this symptom? Anything else go wrong recently? This sounds like an electrical issue. If it were mechanical usually you would hear the system try to crank over. The only mechanical (also technically electrical) issue that I can think that would cause this is a bad starter or bad section on your starter.

The clicking could be the starter trying to crank. I haven't tried this on your car but you might be able to rotate the starter motor to another spot on its rotation. Sometimes the contacts within the Starter go bad and you can get it to start by rotating it a 1/4 turn or so. Good luck.

wrxeffex · 05-14-2012, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRCrutc

Have you put a DMM on the battery terminals to verify that you have enough voltage? Also find a nice paint free section inside your engine compartment and put the negative probe of the DMM on that with the positive probe on the positive side of the battery. This will verify that you have a good ground in the system.

Any other issues that happened right before this symptom? Anything else go wrong recently? This sounds like an electrical issue. If it were mechanical usually you would hear the system try to crank over. The only mechanical (also technically electrical) issue that I can think that would cause this is a bad starter or bad section on your starter.

The clicking could be the starter trying to crank. I haven't tried this on your car but you might be able to rotate the starter motor to another spot on its rotation. Sometimes the contacts within the Starter go bad and you can get it to start by rotating it a 1/4 turn or so. Good luck.

Nope. No other issues that I know of. I just recently swapped my upper coolant reservoir to the new oem plastic tank since my was rusting and seeping coolant just under the cap. I spilled a little antifreeze but nothing substantial. My car was fine right after and started fine then when I took it for a test drive for leaks and to see if would overheat. Everything was fine.

wrxeffex · 05-14-2012, 01:52 AM

Not sure what a DMM is. Sorry.

JRCrutc · 05-14-2012, 02:11 AM

DMM is a digital multi meter, same thing as a Digital Volt Meter. Anything that will read voltage. Sounds like it might be time to take it (tow if necessary) to a repair shop. You might call AAA if you have them or get a friend with Jumper cables to try to jump the car (extra power might be what you need).

wrxeffex · 05-14-2012, 03:47 AM

Don't have a DMM but wasn't sure but I thought that's what you meant. Is it possible the contacts have worn out in the starter? I've always had the warm start problem with this car though that some seem to have. Where out of the blue once in awhile after I've driven awhile and parked the car somewhere and came back tried to start the car and it wouldn't start. Then it would on the next try. It would crank but not start. Then after switching it off an then starting again it would start. This happend for years.

OUScooby · 05-14-2012, 03:55 AM

The "click click click" and no crank makes me think this is an electrical problem. Have you had your battery and alternator tested? That would be the first place to start. Most auto parts stores like auto zone will test it for you for free.

Edit: Just read your last post about the warm start. I was having similar problems with my car before finally tracing it back to a bad MAF. My car would always crank though, just not turn over, I never had it just click and not crank.

JRCrutc · 05-14-2012, 04:20 AM

I'm not an expert on starter motors, but I have that they can have bad spots. That could help explain your warm start issue. If the spot was not too big it might not start at first but when you stop cranking it, maybe it came to rest in a position that would work the second time. Now that spot might be too big for you to actually get it to turn over. I would still try to get the car started with Jumper cables hooked up, if that doesn't work then someone with troubleshooting tools will have to take over.

By the way, I think you can get a cheap DMM from radio shack for about $20, might be worth it for the future.

wrxeffex · 05-14-2012, 05:51 AM

I feel stupid now. Since it's an auto all I had to do is jiggle the gear shifter a little and voila car starts right up. What does this mean in the long run? Is my solenoid going on me? Cause the stick was clearly in P but the neutral terminal on the solenoid was still engaging preventing the car from starting. It's actually a safety thing on the starter. So are the contacts sticking?

JRCrutc · 05-15-2012, 12:00 AM

How did you come to this conclusion?

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrxeffex

...Cause the stick was clearly in P but the neutral terminal on the solenoid was still engaging preventing the car from starting. It's actually a safety thing on the starter...

Usually the problem lies in the Neutral Safety Switch, but that doesn't usually let the ignition get to the point of trying the starter (thus no clicking, just dead silent).

The second problem, where the shifter won't move out of "P" usually denotes a brake sensor issue. The brakes need to be fully depressed to move from "P" into "R" and if you are pushing the brake and it won't budge usually that means that the brake position sensor is going out. Sometimes you can get lucky and pump the brakes and it will work, but usually this means a new brake position sensor.

wrxeffex · 05-15-2012, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRCrutc

How did you come to this conclusion?

Usually the problem lies in the Neutral Safety Switch, but that doesn't usually let the ignition get to the point of trying the starter (thus no clicking, just dead silent).

The second problem, where the shifter won't move out of "P" usually denotes a brake sensor issue. The brakes need to be fully depressed to move from "P" into "R" and if you are pushing the brake and it won't budge usually that means that the brake position sensor is going out. Sometimes you can get lucky and pump the brakes and it will work, but usually this means a new brake position sensor.

Could it be loose or dirty? neutral safety switch.
And thank god, with lockup issue, thought maybe my transmission was starting to go on me.

wrxeffex · 05-14-2012, 11:11 PM

It happend again. Car wouldn't start had to fiddle with automatic shifter in P position. Also every once in awhile when the car is P, I start it and the shifter locks up won't shift back to get in D. Is this the starter going on me?

lavid2002 · 05-15-2012, 12:55 AM

I have tons of parts for this car, if it turns out that you need a starter or a relay or anything just PM me and I will sell it to you cheapskies

Thanks!

-Dave

JRCrutc · 05-15-2012, 01:35 AM

At this point you need professional troubleshooting done on the car. Its Time to take it to a shop. The car can be driven and started, so drive it to a local shop or stealership.

Like I said, it doesn't sound like a Neutral Safety Switch to me because it clicks, and if the switch were bad, I don't think that it would even click. Sorry but this is all the help we can provide from a Forum point of view. If you had the ability to do actual electrical troubleshooting you could try to figure out what is actually wrong, but it doesn't seem like that is in you bag of tricks currently. Best to let a pro take care of this for you.

wrxeffex · 05-15-2012, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRCrutc

At this point you need professional troubleshooting done on the car. Its Time to take it to a shop. The car can be driven and started, so drive it to a local shop or stealership.

Like I said, it doesn't sound like a Neutral Safety Switch to me because it clicks, and if the switch were bad, I don't think that it would even click. Sorry but this is all the help we can provide from a Forum point of view. If you had the ability to do actual electrical troubleshooting you could try to figure out what is actually wrong, but it doesn't seem like that is in you bag of tricks currently. Best to let a pro take care of this for you.

What about a loose connection?

JRCrutc · 05-15-2012, 02:16 AM

not likely, but possible.

wrxeffex · 05-15-2012, 04:21 AM

ok been hearing a sound when I first start the car I don't think I've heard before. Just to let you know the car was cold. Listen to the sputtery type sound at the beginning when the car starts. What is that?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR54D...ature=youtu.be

wrxeffex · 05-15-2012, 03:11 PM

Anybody? Click on the video link. Does anybody know what sound that is?

wrxeffex · 05-15-2012, 10:42 PM

THe starting problem persists. I get the clicking and no crank. I saw a vid on YT with a mechanic saying the clicking is from the starter not getting enough power from the battery but if the battery is new or charged it's either a corroded wire to the starter solenoid. What about battery terminals? My last battery was pretty coroded with dry white acid around the terminals.

JRCrutc · 05-15-2012, 11:33 PM

You need electrical trouble shooting tools (DMM, $20 from radio shack Found HERE) and the ability to sit down and logically work through the electrical path from the battery to the starter to see where current is falling off (if at all).

If this is too difficult for you, then a professional will be required. There is no one that can tell you with %100 certainty what is wrong with your car until more troubleshooting is completed.

It looks like you have multiple issues as well (Can't start, can't shift out of P, unknown noise from engine when starting). Either you are trolling (in which case you have really gotten me good

) or you really need more help than a forum can provide someone at your technical level.

Onejamasubaru · 05-16-2012, 12:26 AM

Jump start the car then go from there? I don't know much about all these technical terms "DMM" etc but if it starts, then you know whats working and whats not? That maybe bad advice but just my .02. Good luck sir!!

wrxeffex · 05-16-2012, 01:07 AM

What about ignition coil?

wrxeffex · 05-18-2012, 01:52 AM

ok found out it seems to start ok in neutral. does anybody know what white tab is called to the right of automatic shifter that's in the center console? you can depress it and seems to unlock the shifter from P even when the car is off, which is how I can get the car in neutral to start it.

ineedasubaru · 05-18-2012, 01:59 AM

Exact ssame thing happend to me. I changed the battery and the starter and still had the same problem. As it turns out the ground on the bracket that attaches to my starter was lose and caused all me problems, so you might want to take a look at that.

wrxeffex · 05-18-2012, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ineedasubaru

Exact ssame thing happend to me. I changed the battery and the starter and still had the same problem. As it turns out the ground on the bracket that attaches to my starter was lose and caused all me problems, so you might want to take a look at that.

yours auto? what part of the starter is it attached to?

05-14-2012, 01:01 AM	#1
wrxeffex Scooby Newbie Member#: 287196 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: NY Vehicle: 2004 WRX 4eat silver	Car won't start 04 WRX Now car won't start. It won't crank. Makes a fast clicking noise though. Changed battery and still the same thing. Cleaned off terminals and put dialectric grease on them too. I have power and everything still when I turn the ign. key. Also I have an auto. Alt? starter? connections? Never had a prob like this.

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05-14-2012, 01:08 AM	#2
JRCrutc Scooby Newbie Member#: 309978 Join Date: Feb 2012 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Vancouver Wa/Portland, Or Vehicle: 2012 WRX hatch Ice Silver Metallic	Have you put a DMM on the battery terminals to verify that you have enough voltage? Also find a nice paint free section inside your engine compartment and put the negative probe of the DMM on that with the positive probe on the positive side of the battery. This will verify that you have a good ground in the system. Any other issues that happened right before this symptom? Anything else go wrong recently? This sounds like an electrical issue. If it were mechanical usually you would hear the system try to crank over. The only mechanical (also technically electrical) issue that I can think that would cause this is a bad starter or bad section on your starter. The clicking could be the starter trying to crank. I haven't tried this on your car but you might be able to rotate the starter motor to another spot on its rotation. Sometimes the contacts within the Starter go bad and you can get it to start by rotating it a 1/4 turn or so. Good luck.

05-14-2012, 01:52 AM	#4
wrxeffex Scooby Newbie Member#: 287196 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: NY Vehicle: 2004 WRX 4eat silver	Not sure what a DMM is. Sorry.

05-14-2012, 02:11 AM	#5
JRCrutc Scooby Newbie Member#: 309978 Join Date: Feb 2012 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Vancouver Wa/Portland, Or Vehicle: 2012 WRX hatch Ice Silver Metallic	DMM is a digital multi meter, same thing as a Digital Volt Meter. Anything that will read voltage. Sounds like it might be time to take it (tow if necessary) to a repair shop. You might call AAA if you have them or get a friend with Jumper cables to try to jump the car (extra power might be what you need).

05-14-2012, 03:47 AM	#6
wrxeffex Scooby Newbie Member#: 287196 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: NY Vehicle: 2004 WRX 4eat silver	Don't have a DMM but wasn't sure but I thought that's what you meant. Is it possible the contacts have worn out in the starter? I've always had the warm start problem with this car though that some seem to have. Where out of the blue once in awhile after I've driven awhile and parked the car somewhere and came back tried to start the car and it wouldn't start. Then it would on the next try. It would crank but not start. Then after switching it off an then starting again it would start. This happend for years.

05-14-2012, 03:55 AM	#7
OUScooby Scooby Specialist Member#: 100449 Join Date: Nov 2005 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: NoHo Vehicle: '04 WRX 0whp 0tq '99 Imp L, '72 MGB	The "click click click" and no crank makes me think this is an electrical problem. Have you had your battery and alternator tested? That would be the first place to start. Most auto parts stores like auto zone will test it for you for free. Edit: Just read your last post about the warm start. I was having similar problems with my car before finally tracing it back to a bad MAF. My car would always crank though, just not turn over, I never had it just click and not crank.

05-14-2012, 04:20 AM	#8
JRCrutc Scooby Newbie Member#: 309978 Join Date: Feb 2012 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Vancouver Wa/Portland, Or Vehicle: 2012 WRX hatch Ice Silver Metallic	I'm not an expert on starter motors, but I have that they can have bad spots. That could help explain your warm start issue. If the spot was not too big it might not start at first but when you stop cranking it, maybe it came to rest in a position that would work the second time. Now that spot might be too big for you to actually get it to turn over. I would still try to get the car started with Jumper cables hooked up, if that doesn't work then someone with troubleshooting tools will have to take over. By the way, I think you can get a cheap DMM from radio shack for about $20, might be worth it for the future.

05-14-2012, 05:51 AM	#9
wrxeffex Scooby Newbie Member#: 287196 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: NY Vehicle: 2004 WRX 4eat silver	I feel stupid now. Since it's an auto all I had to do is jiggle the gear shifter a little and voila car starts right up. What does this mean in the long run? Is my solenoid going on me? Cause the stick was clearly in P but the neutral terminal on the solenoid was still engaging preventing the car from starting. It's actually a safety thing on the starter. So are the contacts sticking?

05-14-2012, 11:11 PM	#12
wrxeffex Scooby Newbie Member#: 287196 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: NY Vehicle: 2004 WRX 4eat silver	It happend again. Car wouldn't start had to fiddle with automatic shifter in P position. Also every once in awhile when the car is P, I start it and the shifter locks up won't shift back to get in D. Is this the starter going on me?

05-15-2012, 12:55 AM	#13
lavid2002 Scooby Specialist Member#: 226864 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: southern NJ Vehicle: 2005 PSM WRX 18.5lb. 93 oct, DP, UP	I have tons of parts for this car, if it turns out that you need a starter or a relay or anything just PM me and I will sell it to you cheapskies Thanks! -Dave

05-15-2012, 01:35 AM	#14
JRCrutc Scooby Newbie Member#: 309978 Join Date: Feb 2012 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Vancouver Wa/Portland, Or Vehicle: 2012 WRX hatch Ice Silver Metallic	At this point you need professional troubleshooting done on the car. Its Time to take it to a shop. The car can be driven and started, so drive it to a local shop or stealership. Like I said, it doesn't sound like a Neutral Safety Switch to me because it clicks, and if the switch were bad, I don't think that it would even click. Sorry but this is all the help we can provide from a Forum point of view. If you had the ability to do actual electrical troubleshooting you could try to figure out what is actually wrong, but it doesn't seem like that is in you bag of tricks currently. Best to let a pro take care of this for you.

05-15-2012, 02:16 AM	#16
JRCrutc Scooby Newbie Member#: 309978 Join Date: Feb 2012 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Vancouver Wa/Portland, Or Vehicle: 2012 WRX hatch Ice Silver Metallic	not likely, but possible.

05-15-2012, 04:21 AM	#17
wrxeffex Scooby Newbie Member#: 287196 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: NY Vehicle: 2004 WRX 4eat silver	ok been hearing a sound when I first start the car I don't think I've heard before. Just to let you know the car was cold. Listen to the sputtery type sound at the beginning when the car starts. What is that? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR54D...ature=youtu.be

05-15-2012, 03:11 PM	#18
wrxeffex Scooby Newbie Member#: 287196 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: NY Vehicle: 2004 WRX 4eat silver	Anybody? Click on the video link. Does anybody know what sound that is?

05-15-2012, 10:42 PM	#19
wrxeffex Scooby Newbie Member#: 287196 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: NY Vehicle: 2004 WRX 4eat silver	THe starting problem persists. I get the clicking and no crank. I saw a vid on YT with a mechanic saying the clicking is from the starter not getting enough power from the battery but if the battery is new or charged it's either a corroded wire to the starter solenoid. What about battery terminals? My last battery was pretty coroded with dry white acid around the terminals.

05-15-2012, 11:33 PM	#20
JRCrutc Scooby Newbie Member#: 309978 Join Date: Feb 2012 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Vancouver Wa/Portland, Or Vehicle: 2012 WRX hatch Ice Silver Metallic	You need electrical trouble shooting tools (DMM, $20 from radio shack Found HERE) and the ability to sit down and logically work through the electrical path from the battery to the starter to see where current is falling off (if at all). If this is too difficult for you, then a professional will be required. There is no one that can tell you with %100 certainty what is wrong with your car until more troubleshooting is completed. It looks like you have multiple issues as well (Can't start, can't shift out of P, unknown noise from engine when starting). Either you are trolling (in which case you have really gotten me good ) or you really need more help than a forum can provide someone at your technical level.

05-16-2012, 12:26 AM	#21
Onejamasubaru Scooby Newbie Member#: 312346 Join Date: Mar 2012 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Florida Vehicle: 2012 WRX Satin White Pearl Sedan	Jump start the car then go from there? I don't know much about all these technical terms "DMM" etc but if it starts, then you know whats working and whats not? That maybe bad advice but just my .02. Good luck sir!!

05-16-2012, 01:07 AM	#22
wrxeffex Scooby Newbie Member#: 287196 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: NY Vehicle: 2004 WRX 4eat silver	What about ignition coil?

05-18-2012, 01:52 AM	#23
wrxeffex Scooby Newbie Member#: 287196 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: NY Vehicle: 2004 WRX 4eat silver	ok found out it seems to start ok in neutral. does anybody know what white tab is called to the right of automatic shifter that's in the center console? you can depress it and seems to unlock the shifter from P even when the car is off, which is how I can get the car in neutral to start it.

05-18-2012, 01:59 AM	#24
ineedasubaru Scooby Newbie Member#: 215509 Join Date: Jun 2009 Chapter/Region: TXIC Location: Houston Vehicle: 2003 Wrx Orange	Exact ssame thing happend to me. I changed the battery and the starter and still had the same problem. As it turns out the ground on the bracket that attaches to my starter was lose and caused all me problems, so you might want to take a look at that.