4FOR4 Posted December 15, 2003 Share Posted December 15, 2003 Thsi the the third year now that with the snow comes starting problems with the '92 Turbo Legacy sedan. It seems to be temperature related, usually happening after sitting all night or after many hours of sitting. You turn the key and nothing but a relay click happens. Hold the key in the start position for 30 seconds to 3 minutes and it will start. When it first started happening I put a new starter in, but problem persisted. Anyone have any ideas? This is my daughters car and I'd like to resolve the problem so the bitchin stops. Other than this problem, which only occurs when it's cold, the car looks and runs fantastic @ 170,000 miles! Considering I live in western NY where they put tons of salt on the roads so the non All wheel drive people can drive 60 mph, that's a pretty long life! Any help would be appreciated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EOppegaard Posted December 15, 2003 Share Posted December 15, 2003 First off...AWD people can drive 60 on the roads...great...now try stopping :madder: Anyways, have you checked the battery? Your electrical system may be lacking in the cold cranking amp department. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4FOR4 Posted December 15, 2003 Author Share Posted December 15, 2003 The point wasn't that I wanted to go 60, it was more a general slam to those who regardless of the weather feel there is no need to slow down and that the roads should be bone dry even during a blizzard. The battery has been changed also. When the problem occurs it doesn't even try to spin over, almost like a dead spot on the starter or a key (ignition) switch problem. If you hold the key on though it will suddenly spin like it should and start right up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northguy Posted December 15, 2003 Share Posted December 15, 2003 Check the connection on the battery terminals. Sounds like you're holding the switch open long enough to finally get a connection, then it goes. Clean the posts and inside of the cables. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legacy777 Posted December 15, 2003 Share Posted December 15, 2003 The clicking sound usually is a sign of bad solenoid contacts, but since you replaced the starter, it's probably not that. Check/clean the connection both on the battery terminals & the starter. If the problem still persists, you may want to run a secondary lead from the pos of the batter to the starter. If the problem goes away then the pos battery cable lead to the starter is probably bad and should be replaced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4FOR4 Posted December 15, 2003 Author Share Posted December 15, 2003 I'll give your suggestions a try Legacy777 By the way, my '92 that I'm talking about has the same paint as yours, they look alot alike. I saw in the marketplace site someone was try to get rid of a spoiler off a '93. It would be a great addition to your car. I'm sure it would fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legacy777 Posted December 15, 2003 Share Posted December 15, 2003 I've already got one I added one a little over a year or so ago. here's a couple pics http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8080/subaru/images/spoiler1.jpg http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8080/subaru/images/spoiler2.jpg http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8080/subaru/images/spoiler3.jpg these are the most recent ones I got http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8080/subaru/images/legacyzymol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nug Posted December 16, 2003 Share Posted December 16, 2003 Maybe it's the ignition switch. How often do they go bad? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nathan Posted December 16, 2003 Share Posted December 16, 2003 The last post is on the right track. It sounds like the ignition switch is going, with the mileage and if the car is driven short trip(ie. lots of starts) it would not be out of the picture for the ignition switch to be worn out. As far as temp. related, just grasping, it may be that the contacts shrink just slightly so they are barely not making contact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueTrain Posted December 16, 2003 Share Posted December 16, 2003 i agree with the ignition switch conclusion. try jiggling the key a bit while in "start"..if it makes a contact quicker because of this, it most likely is the ign switch, as they get pretty worn over time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
applegump Posted December 16, 2003 Share Posted December 16, 2003 Do you get a check engine light? I had the same situation a couple of months ago and it turned out to be the crank angle sensor! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legacy777 Posted December 16, 2003 Share Posted December 16, 2003 if Ignition switch is bad.....you would most likely not hear any click from the starter solenoid. He's hearing a click and the solenoid plunger is engaging the ring gear. Typically if you have an ignition switch go out, you won't hear anything..... yes....no.....? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northguy Posted December 16, 2003 Share Posted December 16, 2003 Always go with the free-to-inexpensive fixes first. Then progress to those that will cost money. Clean ther anodes and connections. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4FOR4 Posted December 16, 2003 Author Share Posted December 16, 2003 It's around 40 dgrees F today. Too warm to get it to not start. Purred like a kitten this morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1ABAJA Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 That is a really good idea....a Turbo Legacy....for my daughter to outrun guys in their b!tch cars! Josh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northguy Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 4 for 4, there's the answer - move to a place where it doesn't get cold.:-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4FOR4 Posted December 17, 2003 Author Share Posted December 17, 2003 What would I do with all the AWD if I didn't have snow to play in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nug Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 I would break out with a voltmeter and start doing voltage drop tests on the big diameter wires (battery cables, starter wires, etc). And I'd make sure the starter is grounded properly. yeah, i know it's bolted directly to metal. That sometimes doesn't mean anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie Posted December 19, 2003 Share Posted December 19, 2003 and hook it in line at the solenoid. If the car starts right up bypassing the ignition switch then you have your problem. Frankly this car is so old it should have a switch as PM. You can always install a button. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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