My "Mystery" Problem

[Superu264]

After a day of driving the Legacy, and letting it sit overnight, I'll come out in the morning to start it up and it doesn't. It tries to turn over but its a no go.

After trying a few times I quit for about 15 minutes, turn the key, and its starts right up.

I had a "friend" that's a mechanic at a Subaru dealer take a look at it, he was worthless. I took it to my mechanic a week ago and he said I wasn't getting any spark so he figured it was the coil pack, he popped an OEM Subaru coil pack in and three days later I'm having the same problem.

Its sitting at the shop now, he basically told me he needs to keep it until this happens for him to diagnose it. Its such a small window where it wont start that if its not at the shop he'll never figure it out. I understand what he's saying but there's gotta be a way to figure this out other than the wait-and-see approach.

I figured I would give you guys something to ponder for a while :wink:

any ideas? This may be the final straw that breaks the camel's back.. I'll sell and buy a better one :twisted:

edit: whoot! 500th post!

[Wiscon_Mark]

So you did spark plugs, and the wires aren't black anywhere? Because it could depend on the temp. of the engine. These sorts of spark issues tend to be more problematic when the car has cooled down, hence why a mechanic would have more trouble identifying it.

Try hammering the starter :razz:

[SHOfast]

When you say it tries to turn over but it doesn't do you mean the starter motor is not able to turn the motor over (aka no cranking?) or the starter cranks the motor just fine but you get no fireing of the cylinders?

If the starter has problems cranking check the battery connections and cables for corrosion, then look at the starter/battery (hammer method works well)

If it is acting like no spark or no fuel (cranking but no start) it sounds more like an electrical problem, maybe the crank sensor? You would need to test a few things...

Both of those can be intermittant problems like you describe.

[Superu264]

No fiiring of the cylinders

The crank sensor has been replaced already, too.

[Superu264]

I called the shop today, he said its been starting up for him every time :mad:

He said now its pretty much a process of elimination and he's gonna put in a new module.. what module is he talking about? Im assuming something expensive

[Wiscon_Mark]

did he give you an estimate on it? I would hope he's not just dropping in new parts w/o telling you how much it's going to cost.

A module could mean anything really.

[Superu264]

He didn't actually, didn't give a price or an explanation.. I was at work so I was in a hurry when I was talking to him.

I'm stopping by tomorrow to straighten it out. I'm guessing its some sort of an ignition module since that's my problem. I'm just frustrated that my main problem right now is that it is starting up and they cant figure it out.

Right now I'm 50/50 on just selling and buying a GT, seriously.

[Wiscon_Mark]

It's probably a good idea. After all, FWD parts aren't easy to come by anymore ;)

[Superu264]

this is what I have my eye on:
http://images.cars.com/actual/main/DMI/108809/6405.jpg
http://images.cars.com/actual/main/DMI/108809/6405.04.jpg

Back OT though, it seems to happen about every 3 weeks but its only for about 10-15 minutes then it'll start right up, I can't see something being broken if it only happens for 15 minutes once a month. :banghead:

[blackgtbeauty]

this is what I have my eye on:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/

Back OT though, it seems to happen about every 3 weeks but its only for about 10-15 minutes then it'll start right up, I can't see something being broken if it only happens for 15 minutes once a month. :banghead:


mmmm... project car...

turn whitey into a beater

don't know man, i wouldn't think there'd be a short somewhere

[Superu264]

mmmm... project car...

turn whitey into a beater

:lol: No time/money for a project car

and whitey would have to be sold to buy something else

[Superu264]

Dude called today, he put a new ignition module in and said I was ready to go, went to pick it up and IT WOULD NOT F**KIN START

They quickly ran out and started looking at everything (knowing that the problem only happens for about 5 minutes) they put the scanner on and checked all the wires.. and then it decided to start up.

All they came up with is that the coil isn't getting any power sent to it, so he said he's gonna put a new computer in and see if that does the trick. (btw I'm not paying for any of this)

This is just frustrating, school starts next week I don't feel like dealing with this crap.