Startup time.. and other paranoia!

[d1giPhux]

I think im being paranoid.. but it seems like my "start up" time for my car is sort of long. I turn the key, and it takes about 1.5 seconds or so to start up. I also seem to be paranoid of the smell my exhaust is making. It doesnt seem to be burning anything, because no smoke is coming out of the exhaust.. it just smells funny.


I think im just being overly paranoid, since i did just buy this car. The car doesnt have any problems.. yet *knock on wood*.. so im just asking for opinions on start up time, and what an exhaust should, or should not smell like. Also wondering if there is any other stuff i could check that might be causing these 'imaginary' problems im having.

Here is a soundclip of the car starting up :

http://www.designlabx.com/subaru/car-startup.wav
http://www.designlabx.com/subaru/car-startup2.wav



The car is a 99 Legacy 2.5 GT. Thanks for the help!

[Huffer]

When you turn the key to ON, do you hear the fuel pump priming "eeeeeeee" in the background?

Smelly exhaust is normal for Subbies - they run rich on cold start.

[d1giPhux]

I just added a sound file for you guys to check out. I think im seriously just being paranoid and care WAYYYYY too much about this car. I hope! lol :roll:

edit : just added another sound clip for more 'comparison'. lol

[warrior]

Hey man,

I was in the same boat as you.. my car took a while to start up and I couldn't understand why. After a few readings, the boxer engine does have to turn over a few times to get it going.. but that's also related to battery!

I picked up a Yellow top optima battery and the engine turns over TWICE as fast and VROOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!.. the first 3 seconds are the most crucial to starting a vehicle and if your battery can't give it the juice it needs, it won't be efficient.. but before this yellow top, my car would turn over like 3 or 4 times before it started, now it starts at the 2nd turn over

[d1giPhux]

^ Nice, thanks for the tip! Yea, it turns over about 3-4 times before wanting to start, and it was just making me paranoid! I'm gonna see if i have another battery to test on the car, and see if it helps out at all. How much did your yellow top run ya? Do you know the correct "size / type" of battery these cars take? I'm sure i could just look, but maybe someone can just spit it out at me. LOL. Thanks guys!

:cool:

[Huffer]

I have an Interstate battery. One turn, fires every time during temperate weather.
During the snow season, it might take a couple of cranks. No more than 2 seconds though.

[d1giPhux]

Yea, im not sure what type of battery this is.. im assuming its probably getting old though. No corrosion and stuff on the posts, but it's probably just worn out! Thanks for all the info guys, glad im just being paranoid!! :shock:

[warrior]

Our cars take "group 35" batteries I believe, the difference is, the positive terminal is on the left and the negative on the right (looking at your engine bay from the front) and closer to the edge. These are hard to find yellow top, but maybe they may be readily available in your area. I actually just used the Group 34/78 one because the terminals are in the right location but i just had to cut off one clip to extend the positive cable an inch so it would fit.

As long as you don't go below the CCA (cold cranking amps) of your OEM battery, it doesn't matter. I think our CCA OEM rating is 660, the Group 34 battery i have is like 850. More the marrier, it won't damage anything because the voltage is still the same.

Here's the battery I got

http://www.remybattery.com/graphics/00000001/D3478-950.gif

If you're in the US, the cheapest place to get one is www.remybattery.com (http://www.remybattery.com) .. i picked mine up from Costco for $187 CAD plus tax

I went through hell trying to find the proper battery that would work so if you have ANY questions, ask away cause I don't want you to go through the same thing I did :cool:

Edit: The only thing to watch out for with yellowtop or redtops are the size of the battery, cca and how the terminals are situated. If the three things match, then get it.

To install mine, I had remove the plastic black case because our OEM batteries are wet cell and they have that plasic there in case the battery leaks, however, Optima batteries are dry cell and can be placed in any position so therefore do not need the plastic case and it wouldn't fit with the plastic case :oops:

[gil_ong81]

sounds normal to me.

and yeah, i also always wait for the fuel pump to finishing doing its "eeeeeeeeee" thing.

[2.5GT]

haha its the same with my car :lol:

[d1giPhux]

warrior : thats for all the info! I think i might get one if i can get the money together, or just buy a better battery with more CCA! Anyone got any other battery types they would like to reccomend for the money / value?

Also, which would you say is better, red top, or yellow top? And why?


Thanks!

[Huffer]

Do you need a lot of CCA's?
I have a couple of friends who run their GC8's during the summer months with lawnmower batteries - a lot lighter, and not as expensive as "lightweight" batteries.

[d1giPhux]

^ Good question.. im also interested in the answer for this. I think the next battery i pick up, I will try to get a battery with a little bit more CCA, because of the bad winter weather here and such. Plus, might help stabilize the power / starting out a bit more. If that makes any sense. LOL :lol:

[warrior]

The Redtops are cheaper, but not by a lot.. they are a starting battery, they aren't deep cycle. Yellowtops however, are both starting and deep cycle. A Deep cycle battery is one which can be charged/discharged however you please and it won't effect the life of the battery or its performance.

A Yellowtop is used if you are pushing a lot of electronics, like a high end stereo, hydraulics, etc. I've got about 800watts RMS, and i can have my stereo blasting for 3 hours in the ACC position and the yellow top keeps on pounding. The redtop is also amazing, my friends alternator died and literally travelled 100km on the battery alone.

If you only want starting power, I'd go with the red top, but if you're going to power a lot of accessories, i'd go with yellow, but if you just want a decent CCA battery that's powerful and will last you, but not as pricey as a dry cell, then anything by Interstate Batteries. Those batteries are amazing!! I had one in my Talon and never had a problem!

[shazapple]

My car always takes a few turns to start. When I got a brand new battery it pretty much started instantly, but now its back to its old ways.

[d1giPhux]

but now its back to its old ways.

^ oh man ,that made me crack up! hahah! :lol:

thanks for all the great info warrior. I think i might look into a new battery at some point soon, possibly a optima, but depends on how cheap i can get one for. I'm just glad to know I was being overly paranoid in thinking my car was taking a few seconds to start up. hah.