FR-S Won't Start - Starter / Alternator (?)
 

Got out of work went to my car, it turned on fine and I started to leave... I reached into my pocket thinking I forgot my phone so I shut the car off, walked about 10 feet and then realized my phone was in my backpack...

When I went back to my car it wouldn't turn on...

When I turn the ignition all of the lights on the dash come on, headlights work, interior lights work etc., but I hear an incessant tapping noise and the car won't crank... I tried jumping the car for the hell of it and still had the same issue.

Though when I did leave the car and come back it got a little gas before the ticking noise started and the car failed to crank again...

Is this a starter / alternator problem? Anything I can try while standing in the parking lot?

It's 10:00 pm on the east coast so I'm pretty much resigned to leaving the car in the lot for the night...

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Also - forgive my lack of knowledge but... would a standard towing company have a tow hook / be capable of towing a FR-S?

Or would I have to invest in a tow hook first?


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edit: I have a quarter tank of gas...

:- [

Why don't you try to push start the car first? Before you call for Towing Services.

Sorry could you explain?

This is an auto btw, the car is parked facing a wall (not sure if any of that is relevant lol) - regardless I wouldn't be calling until the morning

You have a towhook in your trunk under the trunk floor panel.

There are two options for towing companies. Flat bed or dolly tow trucks will work fine.

Check the parking lock and see if it is fully in park, or try starting it in neutral. It's pretty odd that it would start, and then suddenly not start.

https://youtu.be/iDW08ejOKnU

Video... I tried jumping again, this time when I turned on the car the oil and battery lights game on the dash, others didnt.

And dome center light would randomly blink...

Damn must be a day for starter problems I had some too, you said you tried a Jump? Try hooking up a battery from another car, leave your fans off on both cars. Rev the other car alittle. But don't turn on your car, wait at least 3-5 mins. Then turn it on, I had this happen to me earlier today, the problem
Was the battery it might have a bad cell. I hope it will start for you, and if it does tomorrow get your battery tested if the car still runs if not, see if replacing it helps. Good luck

Well, @02.ACCORD.DUDE I reckon your battery is dead or the post corroded and isn't allowing the electricity to flow.

Easy enough to check with a voltmeter.

http://www.aa1car.com/library/battery_runs_down.htm

Now, if the battery is really low .. and you jump it, it may start, but if the battery is dead it will not run the car long .. maybe just a few minutes.

So, why did the battery die ..... sometimes they die of old age ..... most of the time it's because the alternator is not keeping it charged up.

So, to tell if the alternator is working, see above link.

I'd suggest you have a shop "load test" the battery. If it doesn't pass, get a new one. If it passes, have them slow charge it back up to speed. Also, have the shop check the alternator to see if it's charging the battery. If it isn't get a new (or remanufactured) one.

Remember, the alternator will not re-charge a drained battery ..... it just replaces the electrons used (unless you run the car, with no other accessories working, for many ah mile).

I hope you get er going soon.


humfrz

Thanks for the responses, so if the car starts tomorrow... it's likely a battery issue as the alternator was able to charge it? But if it's still the same issue... It could be that either the alternator or the alternator and the battery are crapped up? (If not something else all together which would be a worst case scenario!)

(I'm trying to debate whether to just grab a battery and replace it myself... or just bite the bullet and tow to dealer to have then to their thing...)

...what's the battery specs for the stock automatic? (I'm a wreck, going to call it a night :lol: and come up with action plan tomorrow...)

Just tow it back to the dealership if your car is still under new car warranty. Hope you got AAA for towing. Sometimes it's just easier to let stealership replace and install the battery for you. ;)

Your battery is low/dead. Or terminals are corroded.

If you change the battery and it won't hold charge well, then you have a problem with your charging circuit.

-alex

Will check terminals when I get there, but didn't notice any buildup / residue at all...

I'm wondering if the on-off-on sequench blew a fuse...

I'm shit out of luck on both accounts I'm afraid... Luckily there's a dealership 15 min, 5 miles away.

The car is on the top floor of the parking deck though so... Uh this will be interesting if I request a tow... :- |

Just to add some more plot details I'm 5th floor of a parking garage and a flatbed probably won't fit...

I'm on the way to pick up a battery and drive over there now FML...

That would be my first action. The price of a battery and the few minutes work is worth avoiding all the hassle of a tow to the dealer and the time spent messing around to me. If the new battery doesn't do the trick then go the harder route. You still end up with a new battery out of the deal.

You need a new battery. /end

If it's battery related, did you every notice your crank times getting longer when you started the car? Usually the older the battery, the longer the crank times.

This starting then stopped starting thing happened with my AMG one morning. Left the garage and went a quarter mile to the gas station and filled the tank. Wouldn't start after that. Eventually, after multiple tries, it stopped turning over too, so I thought maybe the battery was dead. I walked home, took the FRS to buy a new battery and installed the new battery.

Cranked, no start. Had the car towed to the dealership and it turned out to be a failed fuel pump which then melted one of the wires. Ended up having to replace the whole fuel tank and pump assembly because the wire harness can't be purchased separately from the fuel pump and didn't want to deal with a wire repair right next to the fuel tank.

I hope it's the battery, but if that doesn't do it, I'd check the fuel pump.

Dolly type tow-truck should fit fine depending on how tight the turns are going up/down the levels... and if you parked with the back of the car out.

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...8d&oe=5841AE12

Sweet mother of bollocks... I replaced the battery and it's working so far... my next service is about a month away, I'll probaby go in earlier and have them dig around to make sure nothing is out of sorts...

I am afraid to turn this baby off now thoguh... ive been just sitting on the roof chilling for the last 15 minutes...

I drove around in the lot and moved the car... but damn you dumb ho (p.s. I love you)

https://s12.postimg.io/o3z94uprx/201...2_11_05_58.jpg

https://s12.postimg.io/o3z94uprx/201...2_11_05_58.jpg

Now, I suggest you either check the alternator with a voltmeter by hooking it up to the battery (with the car running) and if it doesn't show at least 13.x volts, it's not working and your new battery will soon run out of electrons.

OR, take it to the dealer/auto shop and have them check it ........... ASAP!


humfrz


Back-in-the-day, most vehicles had amp meters on the dash ...... so, one could tell if the alternator (then generator) was charging. But, I reckon the manufactures don't feel the average driver can handle that these days ......:sigh:.

Well they do still have the idiot light that will come on if the alternator is not giving the proper charge. You have no clue what charge it is giving but if on you at least know it isn't working properly.

You are probably good to go. These cars seem to have the worst OEM battery ever.

very true. mine started taking hella long to start around 15 months and then it died before two years

I normally resist determining trends from forum posts since they skew so badly to the problem side but damn there are a pile of dead battery posts. So far mine is a strong as ever but I will be watching closely.

yeah, cuz what we dont see are the tens or hundreds of thousands of cars on the road rocking the stock battery still after 3-4 years since people dont post stuff like that. Just like people say the car is cursed cuz we see so many crash posts but in reality its probably less then 5% of the FRS on the road that have had an accident

Yep, and blown engines, saggy bumpers, wet tails, bad dealerships, and ... Shit the list is way too long.

the wet tails was enough for a TSB so I'll go with that one (I've had them replaced lol).

The saggy bumper thing is kinda funny to me because more cars then ours have that I feel like. Aren't those clips one ti me use and then tend to break? My STi had the same problem.

To OP I'm glad the car is running okay. :)

All this talk about battery makes me wonder about mine. I still have OEM battery and sometimes I do have to crank more than once to get it going. My car makes 2 yrs in October. Next service at the stealership isn't until October 1st. Looks like I'm going to take it to my mechanic to just test the battery. When the new car warranty runs out I'll be taking my car to a shop I've used since I had a 1991 Honda Civic hatchback.

Yeah, just carry jumpers and wait for it to die. I just got a Napa one for price and warranty

Still rocking the OEM battery since 8/2013, starts right away and never hard a problem (I bet I just jinxed myself).