Car won't start, not battery

[Gray Fox]

Hello, friends!

So, my car has been having issues starting lately. I have a push start brz, and sometimes when I try to start the car I hear a single click, and no crank. after trying a few times the car would start. Some days it starts on the first try. Other days, it takes a few tries. Today, it wouldn't start at all, so I took the battery to get tested, and it's still good (less than 6 months old). I then moved on to the alternator. Got it out and took it for testing too. Alternator is also good. Okaaaay... so, my only conclusion now is that the starter is faulty. What do you guys think? Thanks ahead of time for the help!

[Tcoat]

I know this is the most basic of things but did you try cleaning the terminals really well and put the battery back in? Even clean looking terminals can have a thin coat of oxides that will give exactly those symptoms.

[retoocs]

Try placing the key fob next to the push button start. If it starts up, replace the battery on the key fob.

[humfrz]

^^ good suggestions ......one old school, the other new school ......


humfrz

[BirdTRD]

Sounds like a starter solenoid to me. There's also a starter (ignition) relay which is much easier and cheaper to replace so it's worth a look, but my money's on the solenoid. Reman starters should come with the solenoid attached.

[Spuds]

Doesn't the click mean the solenoid is working, but the starter isn't getting enough current? I had this happen on a really old Subaru before, and it turns out the ground cable was corroded. A bit early for that to be happening on a 14 though. I'm assuming there hasn't been any electrical work done recently?

[BirdTRD]

Originally Posted by Spuds

Doesn't the click mean the solenoid is working, but the starter isn't getting enough current? I had this happen on a really old Subaru before, and it turns out the ground cable was corroded. A bit early for that to be happening on a 14 though. I'm assuming there hasn't been any electrical work done recently?

Mechanically and partially electrically working, yes, but if the contacts inside that pass the current thru from the battery to the starter motor are worn or corroded, the starter won't spin, just get the solenoid click x1.
I'm sure @humfrz and @Tcoat have done the 'ol screw driver across the solenoid terminal trick when they were mounted near the battery.
It would be worth checking the connections at the starter to make sure they are good.

[guybo]

I don't know why you'd think it's alternator. There's 2 things a single solid click might be:

1) battery terminal. If you have aftermarket cheap-o terminals that are painted, scrape off the paint from the inside of the terminals and clean up the terminals and make sure they are very tight and no corrosion
2) starter is about to shit the bed. Often they will start to go intermittently then one day it'll just fail altogether. If you have a standard, it's no big deal. If you have a slushbox, you're gonna need a tow so get AAA.

My money is on B. Often happens just after getting a new battery. And now that it's hot out, starters start to fail a lot.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by BirdTRD

Mechanically and partially electrically working, yes, but if the contacts inside that pass the current thru from the battery to the starter motor are worn or corroded, the starter won't spin, just get the solenoid click x1.
I'm sure @humfrz and @Tcoat have done the 'ol screw driver across the solenoid terminal trick when they were mounted near the battery.
It would be worth checking the connections at the starter to make sure they are good.

Yep, run a piece of #9 wire from the battery to the starter and with a screwdriver, start touching things together till you hear a click and/or a whirring or the starter turns the flywheel.

Watch your eyes from a shower of sparks, in case you don't get it right. Oh yes, gloves are handy if that wire heats up ......

OR ....... just get the crank out from under the seat ......


humfrz

[Guff]

There doesn't happen to be a yellow flashing key symbol on the dash, is there?

[steve99]

Or the clutch switch is intermittent if manual

Or the park switch if its auto

[PandaSPUR]

Originally Posted by steve99

Or the clutch switch is intermittent if manual

Or the park switch if its auto

That wouldn't lead to a single click though. I had this issue, car just went into accessory power mode.

[Gray Fox]

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I ended up removing the starter and took it to get tested, and it turned out to be good as well, which really surprised me. Starter itself looked pretty dirty, so I checked the cables that connected to the starter, and they were incredibly dirty as well; turned out to be the source of the issue! Cleaned them really well and she starts up just fine now, no hesitation whatsoever. Super happy I saved money on parts thanks to you guys

[JD001]

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I ended up removing the starter and took it to get tested, and it turned out to be good as well, which really surprised me. Starter itself looked pretty dirty, so I checked the cables that connected to the starter, and they were incredibly dirty as well; turned out to be the source of the issue! Cleaned them really well and she starts up just fine now, no hesitation whatsoever. Super happy I saved money on parts thanks to you guys

Dirty connections.. now where have I heard that before???