96 Legacy won't start if the wheels aren't straight

[jdwolff]

I'm driving a 1996 Legacy with 177k miles -- it runs like a charm but we have recently developed a problem starting it (within the last 5k miles).

 

If the car is turned into a parking space on anything like a hard turn (I have to parallel park it in Manhattan every day for street cleaning), it often will not start. The symptoms vary -- either totally nothing, a clicking sound, or the regular starting sound but the engine won't turn over.

 

The solution has been to straighten the wheels, which is tough to do b/c the power steering doesn't work with the car not started.

 

So far we have always been able to get it started with enough fiddling around with the steering wheel in this way, but the problem is occurring with greater frequency. As far as we can tell, the problem does not occur if the wheels were straight ahead at the time the car was parked (this is a bit tricky to tell with tight parallel parking, since the wheels may be straight but the steering wheel can still be off by a rotation). The engine being warm or cold seems to make no difference.

 

I have an appointment with a dealership, but I am looking for any thoughts or advice about what I might be dealing with and how urgent the repair might be.

 

-Josh

[Cougar]

There may be a couple of problems going on here. The starter solenoid contacts are at the right age where they start giving intermittent problems like you stated. You can replace the contacts for around $12 dollars or replace the whole starter with a rebuilt unit. You also stated that the starter works but the engine doesn't fire up. There may be a problem with the ignition switch or wiring causing this trouble.

[Manarius]

I think it's something that has to do with the ignition switch itself. The jiggling of the steering wheel is indicative of this.

[jdwolff]

At first the service department at a dealership in NJ thought it was an electrical short in the steering column, but they couldn't find anything. Now they are say they found a dead spot in the starter motor and are replacing it. I don't know if this is right, but they'll know (since they can reproduce the problem) right away if replacing the starter doesn't do it.

[idosubaru]

i don't think the starter motor is going to fix it, but let's hope it does.

ignition cylinder or mechanism controlling the steering lock seems most probable. will the steering wheel lock if you turn it without the key in it?

[mtsmiths]

I think it's a problem in the steering column lock, and I think the dealer damnwell knows it.

[WAWalker]

The symptoms vary -- either totally nothing, a clicking sound, or the regular starting sound but the engine won't turn over.

 

This is one of my favorites. "My car starts but the engine won't turn over". Well it is bolted down;)

 

Seriously though.............If I understand your description of the symptoms...................

 

1) Totally Nothing.

Could be a bad connection at the battery. Getting no power to any of the electrical systom. When you get "totally nothing" do you mean totally nothing happens when the key is turned on? No warning lights on dash...........no nothing?

 

2) A clicking sound.

Could be a bad connection at the battery.

Could be a bad battery.

Could be starter contacts.

Is this a single click each time you turn the key to the start position? Or is it multiple fast clicking?

 

3) The regular starting sound but the engine won't turn over.

The regular starting sound would be the starter turning the engine over. This would be a "crank but no start". This could be a number of things, but not a bad starter.

 

Sounds like you may have more than one problem.

 

Assuming the battery, cables and the connections are all good, clean, and tight. The most common cause of the "click but no crank" problem is starter contacts. Which will be taken care of buy replacing the starter. The expensive way but none the less, the new starter will have new contacts.

 

If you still have a "crank but no start" problem. Comon things there are ECT sensor, Cam and or Crank sensor.

[nipper]

Check all the engine grounds. COuld be a loose ground that is affected by the slight geometry change of truning the wheel.

 

 

When the wheel is turned (left or rigt) does it crank or no crank.

 

Turn it full lock, make not of the steering wheel angle where it wont start. If it is in the column, it should not start again if you tunr the wheel 360 degrees to the same position.

 

Next time it wont start (assuming no crank) put the gear selector in neutral (if a automatic). If its a manualrun the car through the gears then put it in neutral and try. Another thing to try is with the car in gear rock the car a bit, then try to start it normally.

 

I know im fishing a bit here, but bare with me.

 

 

nipper