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Old 01-14-2019, 10:51 AM   #1
Curry
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Join Date: Jun 2010
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2002 Impreza WRX 2.0
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Default 2002 WRX Weird starting issues

Car is a 2002 WRX, Optima yellow top battery.

I have not checked the voltages as of this morning, im at work now but I will check them later and post updated numbers.

What I noticed the car doing is sometimes I turn the key to start and nothing happens. Dash lights go on but car does not crank, no click nothing.

If i turn the key in the ignition back and forth a few times then the car cranks slowly and starts. When I first noticed this issue I checked the alt voltage and battery voltage and everything seeming to be good.

Went over the grounds, connections and cleaned everything. Problem still persists.

I've noticed lately the car struggles to turn-over and start. Obviously when its colder it worse or if I don't drive the car for a day or two. I also have a 2002 wagon that starts instantly when I turn the key, I took the battery out of that just to see if it would make a difference... it did not.

I use the car monday to friday for a short commute in the morning and evening. Less than two miles each way.

ideas?
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Old 01-14-2019, 10:53 AM   #2
Andrew2166
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Location: Bucks county Pa
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02 Impreza wrx 2.0
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Curry View Post
Car is a 2002 WRX, Optima yellow top battery.

I have not checked the voltages as of this morning, im at work now but I will check them later and post updated numbers.

What I noticed the car doing is sometimes I turn the key to start and nothing happens. Dash lights go on but car does not crank, no click nothing.

If i turn the key in the ignition back and forth a few times then the car cranks slowly and starts. When I first noticed this issue I checked the alt voltage and battery voltage and everything seeming to be good.

Went over the grounds, connections and cleaned everything. Problem still persists.

I've noticed lately the car struggles to turn-over and start. Obviously when its colder it worse or if I don't drive the car for a day or two. I also have a 2002 wagon that starts instantly when I turn the key, I took the battery out of that just to see if it would make a difference... it did not.

I use the car monday to friday for a short commute in the morning and evening. Less than two miles each way.

ideas?
Maybe alternators going bad
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Old 01-14-2019, 11:03 AM   #3
Blktrax
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The 16 year old starter , that makes 2 starts minimum a day approx 240 times a year. Might be worn out.
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Old 01-14-2019, 11:39 AM   #4
SleepingWrex
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Have you tried hitting the starter lightly with a hammer? If you use a long blunt punch you can get to it from the top without much difficulty. If that changes the starting issues then you need a new starter. If you have a good meter and an amp clamp, you could also check the starter draw. Should be drawing 125-175ish amps if I recall correctly. Any more or less and have issues.
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Old 01-14-2019, 11:42 AM   #5
SleepingWrex
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You also aren't driving that car enough to fully warm up the engine or to fully charge that battery. Driving patterns like that (aka "grandma cars") are really rough on engine internals and other components.
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Old 01-14-2019, 12:31 PM   #6
Curry
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Blktrax View Post
The 16 year old starter , that makes 2 starts minimum a day approx 240 times a year. Might be worn out.
On my list to replace. I just realized this motor was from another car and it probably was never changed.

Quote:
Originally Posted by SleepingWrex View Post
Have you tried hitting the starter lightly with a hammer? If you use a long blunt punch you can get to it from the top without much difficulty. If that changes the starting issues then you need a new starter. If you have a good meter and an amp clamp, you could also check the starter draw. Should be drawing 125-175ish amps if I recall correctly. Any more or less and have issues.
Did not try this yet.

Quote:
Originally Posted by SleepingWrex View Post
You also aren't driving that car enough to fully warm up the engine or to fully charge that battery. Driving patterns like that (aka "grandma cars") are really rough on engine internals and other components.
Depends on the day. Most days I get a lot of traffic so the drive time can be about 15 minutes or so each way. I usually remote start the car on colder days.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew2166 View Post
Maybe alternators going bad
Going to double check the voltage later today.
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Old 01-14-2019, 12:35 PM   #7
Andrew2166
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Curry View Post
On my list to replace. I just realized this motor was from another car and it probably was never changed.



Did not try this yet.



Depends on the day. Most days I get a lot of traffic so the drive time can be about 15 minutes or so each way. I usually remote start the car on colder days.



Going to double check the voltage later today.
Unplug the electrical connector and see if it sends out a AC ripple. Or i believe u can just disconnect the battery after its started and should still run if the alternator is good.
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Old 01-14-2019, 02:18 PM   #8
SleepingWrex
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew2166 View Post
Unplug the electrical connector and see if it sends out a AC ripple. Or i believe u can just disconnect the battery after its started and should still run if the alternator is good.
Yeah, that's how we replace batteries at the dealership where I work to avoid memory loss. Just be sure to insulate the positive terminal so it can't short to ground.
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Old 01-16-2019, 11:58 AM   #9
Cougar4
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Before you replace the starter motor I suggest you check the voltage at the starter solenoid while cranking the engine. You should see around 10.6 or more volts there while cranking the engine. If it is less than that make sure the main cables to the solenoid and ground are okay. There should be less than 1 volt of voltage drop across each wire while cranking the engine. There could be corrosion inside the wire at the battery terminal causing the issue. Another possible problem with low voltage at the starter is can be caused by faulty starter windings and case extra current draw on the battery.

You should never check the charging system by disconnecting the battery while the engine is running. It can cause voltage spikes on the DC buss. To check for excessive AC ripple voltage measure the AC voltage across the battery while the engine is running around 1,500RPM. There should be less than 0.1 VAC there. Make sure your meter blocks DC voltage in the AC mode, not all meters do. If you measure a battery voltage while in the AC volts mode and get a steady reading then that meter doesn't block the DC component and the reading can fool you. You need to know your meter.
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Old 01-16-2019, 12:03 PM   #10
Curry
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cougar4 View Post
Before you replace the starter motor I suggest you check the voltage at the starter solenoid while cranking the engine. You should see around 10.6 or more volts there while cranking the engine. If it is less than that make sure the main cables to the solenoid and ground are okay. There should be less than 1 volt of voltage drop across each wire while cranking the engine. There could be corrosion inside the wire at the battery terminal causing the issue. Another possible problem with low voltage at the starter is can be caused by faulty starter windings and case extra current draw on the battery.

You should never check the charging system by disconnecting the battery while the engine is running. It can cause voltage spikes on the DC buss. To check for excessive AC ripple voltage measure the AC voltage across the battery while the engine is running around 1,500RPM. There should be less than 0.1 VAC there. Make sure your meter blocks DC voltage in the AC mode, not all meters do. If you measure a battery voltage while in the AC volts mode and get a steady reading then that meter doesn't block the DC component and the reading can fool you. You need to know your meter.
Thanks I will try this before changing it out. Worst case I have a working starter in my 02' wagon thats been sitting so no big deal there. Time to dig out my fluke.
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Old 02-01-2019, 10:28 AM   #11
Curry
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Solved the issue. Alternator good and battery is also good. There was some tape on the wire going from the battery to the starter. When I opened it up it looks like someone extended the wire but it was very badly crimped, literally falling apart.

As a temporary measure I soldered the wire put some heatshrink on and taped it up. Car started up perfectly without an issue. Once the weather warms up I will get a proper single length of wire and replace it.
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