I can reproduce the struggle-to-start issue
 

I don't know if this applies to the manual or the frs, but i have a BRZ limited auto, and i figured how to reproduce the struggle-to-start issue.

When starting the car with push button start, the process normally is: step on brake, push the button. I find if i don't step on the brake all the way down AND press then release the push start button right away, the car will struggle to start.

Here is what i tried on the same day:

First try in the morning: step on brake firmly, push start button hold for 1 sec, car starts fine.

Second try after the the first drive in the morning: step on the brake lightly, press the start button and release right away, car struggles to start, but eventually started.

I repeated the above the next day, same result. I tried these about a week ago and i have been firmly stepping on the brake and hold the push start for 1 sec and haven't had the car struggle since.

Not sure if it's just my car, or anyone with an auto with push start can reproduce this? Donno about the manual start procedure. Maybe some of you who are mechanically inclined can speculate what's wrong based on my steps?

hmm. I need to try this but I have been getting spotty starts as well.

security measures?
In the owner's manual, it is mentioned: "firmly depress the brake pedal" and continue until engine starts.

For Manual you have to press the clutch.

Yeah on a manual, if you release the clutch (while in neutral) during the starting procedure, it will kill the engine... I guess it's a question of timing that differentiates struggle-to-start and plain ol' stall.

Thanks potato.

I don't even think I press the brake when I start the car; just the clutch since my e brake is engaged.

Must remember to try this later.

So what you're saying is, when you don't follow the procedure properly as per the owners manual, it doesn't work properly? Seems pretty self-explanatory to me. We in the aircraft maintenance field call that "pilot error."

If a non-qualifying sequence is initiated, the vehicle shouldn't struggle to start: it should not try to start at all.

Pilots (even private ones like me) tend to call that "design flaw". :D

So in other words: If you don't allow the car to prime itself it will struggle to start.

In other news cars continue to operate as designed.

Fuel pump priming in a Limited must be done by pressing the start button twice with the clutch engaged (foot off pedal). Due to the five seconds longer this takes me, I don't do it. Never had a reproducible starting issue. Only inconsistent struggle to start occasionally when cold and several times after starting shortly after a drive.

The sequence OP is describing isn't wrong, just that he's not holding the brake firmly and, what I'm guessing the real issue is here, he's not holding the start button long enough. I've had my FR-S struggle to start a few times as well (which is how I found myself in this thread to begin with) but it was always when I was in a rush and let go of the key too soon. Usually it cranks through 3-4 firing sequences before fully coming to life, but for some reason sometimes it takes longer. Thought the reason for that was being addressed here, but when I read the thread I just had to laugh.

I don't think you need to press the brake while starting a manual car...

what i'm saying is, for those who are experiencing this issue, maybe they didn't press the brake HARD ENOUGH even if they thought they press the brake firmly. The word "firmly" is pretty subjective. We in the software field don't believe in subjective terms. We like to have everything to be "measurable". ;)

again, this reproducing sequence is my personal experience, and it's with the auto. YMMV.