FRS won't start
 

Hi, my FRS won't start, I was driving normally to work, then my car made a loud rev and went to max rpm on it's own, then I tried to accelerate but it won't go. I parked on the side of the road and tried to restart the car but nothing is happening. Now my car won't start. Now I here this weird rotating sound when I try to start the engine. I'm wondering if any of you guys know what's happening.

Hi ya, Pop and welcome to the group. - :)

Standard questions:

* how many miles on your car?
* is it still under warranty?
* do you have any power mods?

When was the last time you gassed up?

Does the car turn over when you try to start it or it turns over and won't fire?

Now, your car isn't out of gas is it? - sorry, I had to ask. - ;)

Come back.

Sound like he ran out of gas.

Need far more info but "went to max revs" and "weird rotating sound when starting" would seem like a flywheel issue to me. Any and all guesses at this point are pretty much valueless though since there are hundreds of things it could be with the limited information we have.

It's a 2013. Probably valve spring recall. RIP

[QUOTE=humfrz;3352289]Hi ya, Pop and welcome to the group. - :)

Standard questions:

* how many miles on your car?
* is it still under warranty?
* do you have any power mods?

When was the last time you gassed up?[QUOTE]

Does the car turn over when you try to start it or it turns over and won't fire?

It's an 2013 FRS. Milage is 131,339. Not under warranty. No power mods. I fully pumped gas that morning. When I start the car it turns slowly like two metal rubbing against each other and that's all that happens.

[QUOTE=Pop;3352478]OK.

So, after you put gas in the car, how far did you drive it before it stopped on you? Now, you didn't pump out of a diesel tank did you? (sorry, I had to ask). Was that station your usual fueling place? (bad (water) in the gas)?

Now, when you hear the sound of two metal (what's) rubbing together??), is the engine turning over or just the starter?

Are you on the original battery? Is the battery strong?

Have you had problems like this before?

Does the dash show a CEL?

Do you have a OBD reader that you could read any fault codes?

Come back.

Reminds me of back in the day it CT, when this cute neighbor lady, wearing a bikini, was trying to start her lawn mower in her front yard ..... oh, I think I've told that story before - :bonk:

[QUOTE=humfrz;3352522]I was on the highway driving 60mph then my car reved on it's own for about 2 secs, right after that I pushed the gas pedal and nothing happened. I pushed it a couple more time and nothing, no acceleration. I had full tank before I entered the highway. I pump 91 at the same Kwik Trip every week. The metal rubbing is coming around the crankshaft area. Battery was working when the car stopped on me. Never had problems with it. When the car died on me my check engine light, oil, and battery went on at the same time and is still on when I put the key in. I don't have a code reader to check. I have a video you guys can look at, put the volume at max. you can hear the problem I'm trying to describe.

PLEASE WATCH VIDEO
I THINK IT WILL HELP FIGURING OUT THE PROBLEM
LINK: https://youtu.be/QN4b-JzhwnI

Well, Pop, that sounds like the starter spinning but not engaging the flywheel.

If that is what it is, the starter solenoid may be shot and it's not pushing the gear into the flywheel. If it is a starter problem, a new starter would be in order.

If it is a manual transmission car, have you tried to push start it?

Come back.

It's an automatic with twist to start with key. So it may be the starter causing this?

I can't be certain if it is a bad starter.

When you are trying to start it and something is making that noise, is the engine turning over? (do the pulley belts move?)

I looked at all the rotating wheels for the belt and none is moving, you think it could be the crankshaft that's broken?

Well, if that sound we hear when you are trying to start the car is just the starter spinning, then either it is not pushing the gear on the end of the shaft into the flywheel or all the teeth are ground off of that gear or there are no teeth left on the flywheel where the starter is trying to make contact.

Even if that (or some of it) is true, that doesn't explain why your car stopped running on you.

Back in the day, I would have taken the starter off and examined and bench tested it. If it failed, I would have purchased a new (or remanufactured) starter and installed it.

However, today, in my lazy mode, I would call up the guys at my local auto shop and have them come pick up my car, take it to their shop and fix it.

If, after they get it to start, and it doesn't run right and they can't get it to run better, I'd ask them to drag it down to the dealer and ask the dealer to fix it.

As far as why your car spirted and then stopped on you could have been caused by many different things. A code reader (an inexpensive one would be a good investment for you) may be able to give you a hint as to why the car stopped running.

Back in the old days, before all this computer code reading BS and a car stopped running, we would have started by finding out which ingredient was lacking (fuel, spark, timing or compression). I'm leaving one out to see if anyone is paying any attention. - :D

Maybe some of the other fellows will come along with some suggestions.

I hope you get er going.

That is not a starter issue.
A failed starter does not cause the car to shut down at 60MPH.
The starter is engaging.
If it was just spinning it would be a high pitched steady whirr not the low pitched gradually slowing grind.
Although the symptom of the sudden acceleration is a bit odd the rest of the story adds up to a spun bearing/crankshaft issue.
That engine is toast.

After watching that vid, my first thought was bad starter, but like other said a starter does not die on the freeway.

My second guess was a clogged fuel pump.

Then ol man tcoat might be right. If this was any other engine I would have done a quick compression test. That would have narrow it down. But doing that in this car is a major pita.

Clogged pump, lack of fuel, electrical issues, etc would all result in a normal full crank but no ignition so not start. That starter is straining big time just to turn that engine over. There is something jammed in there causing that resistance. Be it a spun bearing, bent connecting rod, one or more stuck valves or some other moving part that engine has serious issues. Be interesting to look at an oil sample and see if it sparkles like a Twilight vampire.

Thanks for the response. I brought the car to a nearby auto shop and they said the crankshaft broke in half. I don't know how that happens when I don't have turbo. The shop wanted me to get a used engine to replace mine for around 8k-11k. I decided to ask Subaru and they said there's no way the crankshaft broke without having turbo. They want to open up my engine and see what the problem is for $1700. I might end up selling the FRS and see if anyone else wants to take the challenge to fix this. Since I don't want to drop more money on this car.

My money is on a spun bearing not a broken crank but either way the engine is done.
No point in spending money at the dealer since they will indeed charge to diagnose and you are well out of warranty anyway.
You could pick up a used engine if you can find a shop or somebody to throw it in for cheaper than the price the shop told you.
Won't get much selling it with a bad engine.

Well, that's a shame.

I was hoping it was something simpler - :(

There are used motors between $1.5k and $3k on ebay. Install by a decent shop will be a grand. Maybe a smidge more. You're looking at under $5k to be back on the road again easy. 8-11k???

You could literally buy a built block for that price... $3900 for an IAG built stage two block ready for FI.

Heck for 10k my buddy had his '14 STI fitted with a built block and making 400whp reliably all day. You need to find another shop that isn't trying to pull one over on you.