Subaru BRZ with Proximity Key Fails to Start
 

For the second time now my Subaru BRZ failed to start upon command. The ECU seems to boot up and do everything normally, EXCEPT actually engaging the starter motor.

The first time I was in a dark gravel parking lot and eventually had to resort to pulling the ECU-B fuse (presumably the ECU ignition-off-draw fuse) and putting it back in to reboot the ECU. (mind you that was about the 7th fuse I pulled)

Both times it has happened I was in a hurry to get the car started ASAP as I was leaving parking areas and wanted to drive my shiny new car past my co-workers/friends to show it to them as they also were leaving.

I am wondering if I have run into a "race" condition bug in the engine ECU where I provide control input (i.e. start signal) too soon while it is in the process of booting up still, and I get it into a "wedged" state.

This second time I decided to video tape my troubleshooting procedure so that I can help the dealership/Subaru troubleshoot. See the video below:

[ame]http://youtu.be/4uwZpFu8Z10[/ame]

Anyone else run into this kind of issue?

Gotta love software!

-Eric

P.S. I absolutely love the car so I am not really unhappy in any way. I am pretty technically/mechanically adept, so no big deal so far. I do hate the stereo though and the Bluetooth is utterly useless. Also, I have noticed the passenger side window is not doing "auto-down" very well today perhaps due to the humidity. I have to press the button harder, or multiple times. Not sure if it is a switch issue, or if the force limiter is causing the "auto" down feature to kick off since there is too much friction.

Never had the same issue, although I had it MANY times with the push button start on my '11 Genesis Coupe V6. The dealer could never figure out what the problem was, and actually questioned if I reall knew how to start the car. So much like you did, I recorded it about 5 different times and they still couldn't figure it out.

It never really bothered me until one day I was late picking my daughter up, and it took over an hour to get it started. Frustrated to say the least.

I really hope this car doesn't start acting up like that.

The first thing I would do is replace the battery in the key fob. According to the service manual, if the key fob battery is low, you can still start the car by placing the fob near the push button start and the sensor there will pick up on it and allow the car to start. The fact that your car wouldn't start while you were holding the fob, but did start while you had it near the start button may be an indication that the battery in the fob needs replacement. Worth a try at least.

Yep, have had this issue but only once.

Ignition was ok with accessories all going but on pushing start there was no action from the starter motor a all. Tried the electronic key fob next to start button as recommended (assume this is for flat fob battery only) and still nothing.

Tried spare electronic fob. Gave up, tried 5 minutes later and it worked. Have not had the problem since.

It was like the immobiliser was engaging.

My HKS OB-LINK displayed error code P1604. Google showed this was "startability".

Has never happened again and dealer said no error codes were showing when I took it in for something else about a month later.

As I said, I think it was the immobiliser kicking in for some reason.

.

So I doubt this is the issue as the car would have reacted differently. It would have given me the flashing yellow key, or it would not have gone into accessory mode. Also, the car is only a few months off the assembly line. The Key battery should not be dead!

-Eric

Maybe, maybe not. But why not try just for the hell of it since it's a few bucks for a new battery? Just because it's a few months from the factory doesn't mean that you couldn't have gotten a battery.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Tapatalk 2

Well that was a surprise at the end of the video

Heh, yeah, so this time it did *eventually* start without pulling the ECU fuse.

It surprised me as well clearly...

-Eric

Ya this happened to me a couple of times. It seems by removing the key from the car "resets" the system. Starts right up after... I dont get it either.

You don't happen to live under high tension powerlines do you?

If the steering is loaded against the steering lock the car can't remove the lock pin it will fail to start. Easy to work out once you know what it is.. This is a possibility...

There is a thread about this... I've encountered it a couple of separate occasions.

had it happen a few times as well....