I will try to fix the key area when it is not raining, Nice idea. It sure is problem when your car will not start.

 

Well, I originally posted in this form way back in the day thinking i had some kind of current draw. Well These past months it would take 30-40 turns to get my baby to start up.

Well Popped the steering wheel shell off and low and behold that damn screw was loose. Fixed it and now she starts first try.

THANK YOU!!

 

The battery should always be checked by giving it a full charge, checking the voltage, and checking it again 24hrs later. A dead cell will result in a voltage drop that puts the battery below where it should be.




Believe me when I tell you that there are quite a few persons who are struggling with the same thing and just haven't found this discussion yet. Glad yours is sorted.

 

Been having this issue for about a year now, just found this thread and tried everything as instructed. Still continues to not want to start?!?!?!?!

HELP!!!!! lol

 

Massive help!!! **** yeah!

My car has been on the dyno a gagillion times so I could see why it got a bit loose!

Thank you OP...I was dealing with this way too long and could not find the root cause. This **** needs to be sticky'd

 

Try replacing the starter relay. $11 from Autozone. Even if you test a relay to close its gate when voltage is applied, it might not make a full connection. So spend the $11 and see if it helps.

Otherwise, clean the contacts on the starter solenoid, and follow some of the testing procedures from the service manual, like checking continuity to the battery (both + and ground).

You can also test your ignition switch. Disconnect it and take it out, then test for an open circuit while turning it to the normal positions: ACC, ON, and Start. The service manual has info on that too.

For me personally, I'm having this issue too. But I can start with the ignition switch hanging halfway out of the socket. So I'm not sure the switch is that sensitive. It's just a big dumb switch. But it's a pain to troubleshoot cause the car will always start when you don't want it to, lol.

I just bought a new relay tonight and haven't had starting issues. Will wait a month before I make any conclusions.

 

Hey guys my car has fallen to the intermittent starting.

A little info on what is going on with mine.

The problem is not related to

the key cylinder <-----been bypassed
the clutch switch <-----been bypassed
the starter <-----been replaced
Battery <--- seems fine but might replace anyway just for Sh*ts and giggles.


The only thing that seems to get my car to start again is to put it in gear and rock it back and forth. Every now and again I get a CPS cell but I do not think it related to the problem.

Ordered everything for a timing belt change and also a new CPS since I'm going to be in there anyway.

any info on this would be greatly appreciated.

 

Bypass the starter relay, and I'll bet it cranks every time. See post #50 for location. Jump the positive battery terminal to pin 5 socket, and it should crank. If it doesn't crank, your solenoid wire is shot or has a bad connection at the solenoid. If it cranks, either the starter relay is shot, or you don't have enough juice to activate the solenoid. If that turns out to be the case, I believe I have a fix.

 

Will try this next time it does it to me

 

Just went out on lunch break and what you know the car would not start.

I bypassed the relay and the car started right up.

So looks like starter relay is shot, or I don't have enough juice to activate the solenoid.

Ordering a new relay today or going to buy one if I can find one in stock.


Thanks Ted B for the fast response. Would like the info on your thought fix for not having enough juice to activate the solenoid being this still might be the problem.

 

This is the lingering issue that plagues me on occasion. I have previously fixed the slipping starter switch issue, replaced a bad starter relay, and replaced an incorrect starter solenoid. I have also cleaned and tightened the solenoid trigger wire socket assembly. And while these have reduced the starting issue by 90%, it has become clear that whenever this issue does reappear, triggering the solenoid directly from the battery as I described just above always gets things cranking. I've even resorted to keeping a jumper wire in the glovebox just in case I get in a fix.

The starter solenoid receives its signal from the starter switch via the relay. This is not a dedicated power source, and can pass only a tiny amount of current. I've thought about powering the solenoid side of the relay directly from battery, but that will create a real mess if the relay shorts, and I've shorted two already from repeated cranking efforts. If I do this and the relay shorts, the engine will keep cranking, even with the key removed. I don't like that idea.

I've decided to get a universal 30A 5-pin relay and pigtail, that I will add to the existing starter circuit. I will cut the pin #5 wire between starter relay and solenoid. I will use the solenoid signal from the factory starter relay to activate the low current side of this relay, and wire the high current side from solenoid to battery. That will fix it.

 

I replaced battery, alternator, and starter. After replacing starter made a month solid with no issues. Then bam, wouldn't start after a drive 30 minutes down to Nashville. As of late when it does it, continual attempts to crank eventually does the trick. Sometimes a couple turns and she starts, sometimes 10+. And once I tried the lifting the key as I turned it trick and that worked but only that one time. I'm thinking now it's the ignition switch. Any input Ted B?

 

These starting issues have really caused me a lot of grief. To the point that I have to gameplan when and where I will drive the Evo because it's getting harder and harder to predict when it will or won't start. Basically I've lost confidence in driving it somewhere. Just Friday I drove it to the parts store for oil. Turned it off, was inside less than 5 minutes, come out and won't start. Just little times like that makes me lose confidence to drive it. I dread it half the time.

 

The first thing to check is for the slightest rotation of the key switch when turning the key. Go to the OP and start reading. That may be your only issue.

 

Well, having replaced my relay, I drove it around a bit without issue between about 6 starts on a hot day, then the 7th time the starter took half a second to kick in, the 8th another half a second (started to sweat a bit, was on my way camping 3 hours from home), then making a stop after an hour drive, it took 10 minutes.

Three more good starts after sitting around for a few hours (camping), and on the way back after a 1 hour drive with some hard driving and using the AC, starter refused to kick in for a good 3.5 hours.

Called AAA. Tried jumping off the guy's jumper box, and his van, no dice.

He calls for a flatbed and leaves. I give it another go -- what the hell -- it slumbers back to life. I'll likely have to test my battery and charging circuit. I'm getting 14v at idle, but maybe something else is amiss. Battery was bought in May or June.

Ted, when people say they run 12v directly from battery to the starter coil, do they actually run a cable all the way from + to under the car? Or instead a jumper to the relay terminal 5?