DanKearney
02-14-2013, 01:15 PM
Not quite sure if this is the correct forum. I did a search, but didn't find anything applicable.
My Outback has developed an intermittent issue that I think is a bad starter, but I'm not quite sure how to troubleshoot. The symptoms are that sometime, usually when it is cold outside, turning the key will produce a single click. I am not sure if the click is the sound of the starting circuit relay or the sound of the starter solenoid popping the pinion gear out. The starter does not turn. This is very similar to what one would experience if the batter charge was too low. However, in my case, cycling the ignition key off then back on will start the car up normally. Most times the car starts normally on first try. Sometimes it take one or more iterations of cycling the key to the start position before the starter cranks.
This first manifested itself about a 6 weeks ago and has recurred about 5 - 8 times since. Today, for the first time, a new symptom was added. Turn the key to start, the starter turn normally for about 1/2 a second and then just stopped. I repeated it two more times and on the fourth try, the starter kicked in normally and started the engine.
My gut tells me it is simply a starter going bad, but as everything is computer controlled and this is an electrical issue, I know it can sometimes be difficult to troubleshoot properly. Battery tests good after siting all night in a cold garage, so I don't think the battery is going bad.
So my questions are:
Anyone able to diagnose these symptoms?
How difficult is it to swap out the starter on the EJ25 motors?
Any other troubleshooting suggestions would be welcome.
Cheers,
Dan K.
My Outback has developed an intermittent issue that I think is a bad starter, but I'm not quite sure how to troubleshoot. The symptoms are that sometime, usually when it is cold outside, turning the key will produce a single click. I am not sure if the click is the sound of the starting circuit relay or the sound of the starter solenoid popping the pinion gear out. The starter does not turn. This is very similar to what one would experience if the batter charge was too low. However, in my case, cycling the ignition key off then back on will start the car up normally. Most times the car starts normally on first try. Sometimes it take one or more iterations of cycling the key to the start position before the starter cranks.
This first manifested itself about a 6 weeks ago and has recurred about 5 - 8 times since. Today, for the first time, a new symptom was added. Turn the key to start, the starter turn normally for about 1/2 a second and then just stopped. I repeated it two more times and on the fourth try, the starter kicked in normally and started the engine.
My gut tells me it is simply a starter going bad, but as everything is computer controlled and this is an electrical issue, I know it can sometimes be difficult to troubleshoot properly. Battery tests good after siting all night in a cold garage, so I don't think the battery is going bad.
So my questions are:
Anyone able to diagnose these symptoms?
How difficult is it to swap out the starter on the EJ25 motors?
Any other troubleshooting suggestions would be welcome.
Cheers,
Dan K.