car won't start....and I'm an idiot

srt4eh · 12-03-2005, 07:28 PM

ok....so - I own an 03 SRT-4 and know everything about it...but when it comes to my other car I know nothing. here we go...

I have a 93 Impreza L 4-door sedan. 5-speed. (1.8L) It has 140k miles on it. I replaced the plugs, plug wires, air filter, and gave it an oil change. It doesn't like to start the first time I try it. It usually grabs the 2nd or 3rd time. Now that its gotten colder - it doesn't really wanna start at all. I can get it but not until after I've been messing with it for about 5 minutes. Once it gets started its fine - I can drive and turn it off...it'll start immediately. But if I wait a couple hours it'll be hard again. I have a CEL - I'm trying to figure out how to read it now. The alternator, battery, and starter are fine. I'm going to clean the Idle Air Control Valve or whatever its called to see if that helps. Could this be a fuel pump issue?

Thanks
Eddie

* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

Mulder · 12-03-2005, 07:43 PM

In this thread you'll find out how to read codes on older OBDI Subarus-
http://www.troublecodes.net/Subaru/
Get the code FIRST, before you start pulling things apart.
A bad coolant temp sensor is a common cause of hard starting on these, but don't assume that is the problem until you read the code.

srt4eh · 12-03-2005, 07:46 PM

yeah - i found that code site....not sure what they mean by the connectors. Do I just plug them together? On Neons you just have to switch the key on and off....I'm not quite getting the connector thing. Perhaps I'll just go and mess around and see what happens

Ramon_12345 · 12-03-2005, 11:45 PM

Beneath the steering column you should see two black connectors and two green connectors. With the ignition OFF and the KEY OUT, connect the two black connectors together and then turn the ignition on (do not start the car), the "CHECK ENGINE" light will flash the trouble codes at you, just record them and start troubleshooting afterwards.
For additional help, you can post the code number on this thread when you get it.
Good luck

srt4eh · 12-04-2005, 01:50 AM

ok - that clears it up. thanks....ill try it in the morning.

andrewjohnson · 12-05-2005, 02:33 AM

I have a 5-speed 95 Impreza 2.2L that had a similar problem, it would randomly start and then it wouldn't and so on. Everyone said that it wasn't the starter. I did everything, cleaned the battery corrosion, checked the ignition relay fuse, and felt for any bad connections, finally I pulled the starter out and had it tested. It worked, so i put it back in and it started right up. A week later the same problem came back to haunt me. I took it out again and installed a new one and 3 months later it is still working. I think it was a bad spot in the cellinoid, sometimes it would stick and sometimes not, almost undetectable unless the thing decides to go caput right before you test it. Copper is very temperature sensitive.
hope this helps.

HndaTch627 · 12-05-2005, 04:08 AM

chances are with it getting colder it's the coolant temp sensor. I had the same issue with my fiances car and just replaced the sensor. Also make sure you run some good injector cleaner thru the car. I know in the chicago/milwaukee areas this is when we start seeing injectors with tips waxing. i know one of mine already tried to clog

srt4eh · 12-06-2005, 06:50 PM

thanks y'all. its been too cold and i've been lazy to try and mess with the car. but now that my srt4 is broken again...looks like I have no choice.

HndaTch627 · 12-07-2005, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srt4eh

now that my srt4 is broken again

you bought a mopar...shame on you

my boss just had his wifes new 2001 prelude painted the yellow off the SRT-4.

he's a huge mopar man himself but works for a Honda dealer, go figure

12-03-2005, 07:28 PM	#1
srt4eh Scooby Newbie Member#: 100433 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Fort Knox, KY Vehicle: 2006 SRT-8 Jeep Silver	car won't start....and I'm an idiot ok....so - I own an 03 SRT-4 and know everything about it...but when it comes to my other car I know nothing. here we go... I have a 93 Impreza L 4-door sedan. 5-speed. (1.8L) It has 140k miles on it. I replaced the plugs, plug wires, air filter, and gave it an oil change. It doesn't like to start the first time I try it. It usually grabs the 2nd or 3rd time. Now that its gotten colder - it doesn't really wanna start at all. I can get it but not until after I've been messing with it for about 5 minutes. Once it gets started its fine - I can drive and turn it off...it'll start immediately. But if I wait a couple hours it'll be hard again. I have a CEL - I'm trying to figure out how to read it now. The alternator, battery, and starter are fine. I'm going to clean the Idle Air Control Valve or whatever its called to see if that helps. Could this be a fuel pump issue? Thanks Eddie * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Car won't start and CEL won't illuminate	DiscoGsus	Normally Aspirated Powertrain	5	04-14-2010 10:19 PM
Please help diagnose. Car won't start and looks like an electrical problem.	wrxpeed	Service & Maintenance	3	03-05-2008 01:18 PM
Car won't start and can't flash a map!! BIG TROUBLE!...	Liam	Commercial ECU Reflashes	22	09-06-2007 09:22 AM
Need Help!! Car won't start and is clicking	silversilver	Factory 2.0L Turbo Powertrain	0	05-16-2005 12:03 PM
Car won't start and blinking cell!!!! HELP!!!!!!	RoadRageDev	Factory 2.0L Turbo Powertrain	6	08-06-2004 11:30 AM

12-03-2005, 07:43 PM	#2
Mulder Trust no one Moderator Member#: 11170 Join Date: Oct 2001 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: NYC Vehicle: 02 WRX 05 GTO/11 Sonata(!)	In this thread you'll find out how to read codes on older OBDI Subarus- http://www.troublecodes.net/Subaru/ Get the code FIRST, before you start pulling things apart. A bad coolant temp sensor is a common cause of hard starting on these, but don't assume that is the problem until you read the code.

12-03-2005, 07:46 PM	#3
srt4eh Scooby Newbie Member#: 100433 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Fort Knox, KY Vehicle: 2006 SRT-8 Jeep Silver	yeah - i found that code site....not sure what they mean by the connectors. Do I just plug them together? On Neons you just have to switch the key on and off....I'm not quite getting the connector thing. Perhaps I'll just go and mess around and see what happens

12-03-2005, 11:45 PM	#4
Ramon_12345 Scooby Newbie Member#: 72021 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: BARBADOS Vehicle: 1999 JDM GC1 IMPREZA WHITE	Beneath the steering column you should see two black connectors and two green connectors. With the ignition OFF and the KEY OUT, connect the two black connectors together and then turn the ignition on (do not start the car), the "CHECK ENGINE" light will flash the trouble codes at you, just record them and start troubleshooting afterwards. For additional help, you can post the code number on this thread when you get it. Good luck

12-04-2005, 01:50 AM	#5
srt4eh Scooby Newbie Member#: 100433 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Fort Knox, KY Vehicle: 2006 SRT-8 Jeep Silver	ok - that clears it up. thanks....ill try it in the morning.

12-05-2005, 02:33 AM	#6
andrewjohnson Scooby Newbie Member#: 101632 Join Date: Nov 2005	I have a 5-speed 95 Impreza 2.2L that had a similar problem, it would randomly start and then it wouldn't and so on. Everyone said that it wasn't the starter. I did everything, cleaned the battery corrosion, checked the ignition relay fuse, and felt for any bad connections, finally I pulled the starter out and had it tested. It worked, so i put it back in and it started right up. A week later the same problem came back to haunt me. I took it out again and installed a new one and 3 months later it is still working. I think it was a bad spot in the cellinoid, sometimes it would stick and sometimes not, almost undetectable unless the thing decides to go caput right before you test it. Copper is very temperature sensitive. hope this helps.

12-05-2005, 04:08 AM	#7
HndaTch627 Scooby Guru Member#: 6551 Join Date: May 2001 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Carol Stream, IL Vehicle: '01 GC8 Dinged STM '09 Concours 14 ABS Black	chances are with it getting colder it's the coolant temp sensor. I had the same issue with my fiances car and just replaced the sensor. Also make sure you run some good injector cleaner thru the car. I know in the chicago/milwaukee areas this is when we start seeing injectors with tips waxing. i know one of mine already tried to clog

12-06-2005, 06:50 PM	#8
srt4eh Scooby Newbie Member#: 100433 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Fort Knox, KY Vehicle: 2006 SRT-8 Jeep Silver	thanks y'all. its been too cold and i've been lazy to try and mess with the car. but now that my srt4 is broken again...looks like I have no choice.