Car Won't Start - Please help!
 

Thanks for your interest. I very much appreciate any input.

Problem:
I turn the key and the car doesn't even attempt to crank over.

Summary/Guess:
Theory 1: I unplugged the dimmer switch and trunk switch without disconnecting battery (stupid me).
Theory 2: I may have manipulated the alarm system dongle/wire in some way when removing the kick panel.
Please see a more elaborate explanation below.

Additional Information:
-Car ran fine 5 minutes earlier.
-Everything else works fine, headlights, door locks, trunk opens, etc.

What I've Tried:
-I tried using my spare key - no luck
-I tried disconnecting the battery (both terminals) for 5 minutes - reconnect, same scenario.

What I did after the car ran to cause it to not run:
-I tested out my brand new 86 nanny from beastronix. (http://www.beastronix.com/shop/86nanny-pedal-dance/).
-The 86 nanny plugs into the osb2 port. I tested it and it enabled pedal dance as designed.
-The 86 nanny also acts as a pass through so you can use an obd2 transmitter with torque or other app. I also tested that, that also worked. I was using an ELM327 V2.1 and the Torque app. That worked well also.
-Next on the list was installation of the 86 nanny into the car more permanently. So I shut the car off.
-Installation includes removing the panel on the left side of the dash, then unscrewing two srews, one under that panel, and another near your right knee, to remove the kick panel under the steering column.
-I removed the kick panel, disconnected the two switches (trunk open and dimmer switch) to drill a hole in the small panel to install the 86 nanny activation switch.
-I realized I did not have the right size drill bit and figured I could do it at work on Monday.
-hoping I wouldnt have to reinstall everything, I tried starting the car with those switches unplugged (dimmer and trunk opener). Car won't turn over.
-I tried reconnecting the switches. Car won't turn over.
-I tried disconnecting the battery (both terminals) for 5 minutes. Car won't turn over.
-I tried scanning with the ignition in the on mode with torque/obd2 unit - no codes.
- I tried my spare key, car won't turn over.
-I tried plugging the 86 nanny in just incase the car missed it for some reason and wouldn't start without it, car won't turn over.
-I am stumped.
-Also of note - the car alarm dongle/button unit is on the bottom of the kick panel, that was hanging by the wire when i removed the kick panel. I don't think i hit the button on it (blue) but I may have. Also, perhaps the wire hanging did something to the security system.
-The alarm (flashing red light with lock) light flashes on dash when I am not trying to start the car. I can't remember if that light flashed did that before this whole snafu, I'd be willing to guess it did not, but can't be sure.

Thank you so much!

I think its totaled dude.

Try cuddling.

Try jumping the car. Can't believe you haven't tried this yet.

Problem:
I turn the key and the car doesn't even attempt to crank over.

Additional Information:
-Car ran fine 5 minutes earlier.
-Everything else works fine, headlights, door locks, trunk opens, etc.

Seems like you tried changing a whole bunch of stuff at once. How about changing it all back? Next time, try changing one thing at a time to see what each change affects.

!-800-Subaru Roadside Assistance

Tow to dealer

Hope for the best

Uber is your new best friend

did you check if your starter fuse is broken?

Don't know what that nanny thing does exactly but does it change anything where the car would think it is in drive/in gear?

Sounds like you may have blown a fuse or relay.I would definitely check into those first.

My car did the exact same thing when my battery died. I'm not talking about a drained battery but a DEAD battery. When your battery dies, it dies. My car wouldn't even crank over and I had to get a new battery. Even if you have a DEAD battery, I believe you can still jump it and drive off to the mechanic like I did. So just because your car won't even crank over, don't assume it's not a faulty battery.

If the battery was dead, the lights, locks, etc. wouldn't work.

And if low enough to operate them but not start the car, the starter, or at least the solenoid, would attempt to operate.

Not true. Even after my battery died - window auto scroll, locks, lights, etc. were gone, the anti-theft light was still blinking. So I essentially had no power in anything except for the anti-theft lights.

Update. Battery has 13.5 volts from my multimeter.

its not auto diagnostic forum here, no one will help much here. only will tell you go to dealership
check voltage when you turn key on crank position
maybe starter fuse blow? for some strange reason
check all the fuse, worth a shot

All sorts will try to help. Very few will succeed. It is the same as saying "I have this noise what is it". A thousand people can throw ideas at it but without being able to see and touch it there is little value in them.

It may be a long shot... but I do very much appreciate the suggestions. Next I will try fuses. Any particulars to check? Not sure which fuse is starter... I guess I can just pullemall. But there are quite a few.

What's not true? The OP said that his electrics worked. Perhaps the anti-theft light has a dedicated battery, but with a dead main battery, the lights would not work. If the battery is too low to start the car, but still runs the lights, etc, he would have at least heard the solenoid clicking.

Maybe I don't understand what you're saying, but based on what he wrote, I can't see how getting a jump would help.

Checking the fuse makes the most sense.

@SkiRideDrive I'll help you out. Definitely a fuse... I'll dig up the proper slot and post a pic shortly. Pretty sure the one you're looking for is going to be a 7.5a and should be spares in the box under the hood.

Thank you! I actually just shot you an email. Good timing!

Fuse 1 in engine compartment.
http://tijil.org/tC_fuses01.gif

c'mon guys. The dude's car isn't working and I'm sure this doesn't help

This diagram looks quite a bit different than what I am staring at in my 2015 frs.

These kinds of stupid posts aren't funny anymore nor are they conducive to helping anyone in anyway. Way to make everyone on the forum look bad:clap:

Beastronix has been in contact with me via email. Very helpful. Have gone through a few fuses and haven't quite found the problem yet. Will continue to diagnose tomorrow. Thanks for the help guys.

I have never looked at it against the real thing it was given a long time ago as the proper one. So I can't vouch that it is.

Why the negativity? Someone here might have had the same problem and resolved it, or people might know enough to help diagnose and fix the issue.

Get together smart people, like we have on this forum, and the sky's the limit as to the help they can provide.

"-The alarm (flashing red light with lock) light flashes on dash when I am not trying to start the car. I can't remember if that light flashed did that before this whole snafu, I'd be willing to guess it did not, but can't be sure. "

Generally if the alarm/security light is flashing the alarm/security is still active and the car will not start

We dont have the alarm function in my country just the immobilizer.

if all the dash lights illuminate and headlights work ect but car wont crank and imobilier/security light still flashing then i would concentrate on some issue with security system check the imobiliser/alarm fuses plugs/connections to alarm/imobiliser ect.
also measure the battery volts under load even a dead battery can measure ok unloaded.

as well as checking fuses check the big fusible links under the bonnet.

I had an electrical problem a few days ago and it was solved practically within a couple hours with another forum members help in here. This place is such a great source for help.
Anything I could think of about this car is either in here already or just in the case of that wiring issue I had, just a post away from being solved. I think a great
deal of why it's so great a source for info is the amount of traffic that is in here. I love seeing all the new posts, even if they are problems like this one, as I soak all that stuff up in case I might need to use it later.

Have you checked the battery voltage when the car is NOT running ... ??

It should be about 12.6 V.

With the engine running, you should be getting around your 13.5 V.

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


humfrz

Ya that is wrong! Have given that out 20 times I think. Pull your manual it is in there at page 276 (went old school). Or page 35 in the BRZ manual attached since the FRS one does not seem to be available in PDF. Fuse 21

Thanks. As soon as I put the key in the ignition... the red lock light stops flashing. I'm almost certain battery voltage is not the issue here.

Big fusible links?

The measurement was takenough with the car not running. I can't get the car to run...wish I could.

Since the car won't start and he pulled the voltage ...
Edit: AHHHH he beat me to it.

Today I tried any fuses with efi. Ign. Etc. That document u provided suggest st and am2. I will try those tomorrow. Won't have time in morning but will def give it a whirl in the afternoon.

Thanks.

And ironically enough one of the main reasons there is so much traffic is that this is also a highly social forum where people joke around and actually enjoy themselves. Pure tech forums can be empty wastelands or only have a handful of people. So those "totaled" or "cuddle it" jokes may not help the OP directly but they do keep people coming back and then eventually somebody can help.

yes that sounds normal key in ignition, alarm light stops flashing thats good car had read code from key transponder.

under bonnet their are more fuse box's in those their are some about 10mm square plastic blocks , they are fusible links (big fuses, just different to the tiny blade fuse.) they are generally the high capacity ones like 30 to 80 amps for starter headlights ect.

Fuses 21, 30 and 45 seem to be the main ones for starting. I would start with them.

@SkiRideDrive

see attached brz wiring diagram

Look back 8 posts!