1. Home
  2. Subaru Cars Forum
  3. Long Crank On 2006 Subaru HELP!!!

Long Crank On 2006 Subaru HELP!!!

I have a normally aspirated, non-turbo, manual transmission 2006 Forester. I have had an odd problem for a couple of weeks. The first symptoms were that occassionally the car cranked over longer than normal before it started. One time, the check engine light came on for a split second and went off immediately. I thought it was the battery, but the crank was fast not slow! I had the battery checked and it showed to be low, so I decided to put in a new interstate battery anyway. The original battery was 5+ years old. But the problem has persisted. Now, if I have the clutch slightly off the floor, the car cranks on fast without a problem, but if I have the clutch to the floor, it cranks for a few seconds before it kicks over. Checked cable connections. I do not think this car has an adjustable clutch? I had thought that perhaps the flywheel is getting to much force? The only other tidbit is that when I reconnected the battery I heard a click? I do not know whether that was the starter engaging? and finally my ratchet fell through the engine compartment when it fell off the plug. Weird I know, but could it have hit something on the way down?!! But the car was displaying this problem on a smaller scale before I ever changed out the battery, so I think whatever it is it is a progressive problem. I even considered the clutch interlock switch? Maybe disconnecting the battery and draining any excess charge would help. Have not tried that yet? I am at a loss. The car only has about 26,000 miles on it. Do not drive it that much. Has not had major service yet. Anyone have any idea what the problem could be? Please help if you can. hoshwa is online now Report Post Edit/Delete Message

Reply to
Michael Roback
Loading thread data ...

I dunno. It seems your original problem could have been a bad battery. Certainly 5+ years is a long time anywhere in the southern US. batteries here in Texas average about 3 or less.

If the check engine light came on, there is a code stored. I'd read it. Likely, it's just a spurious code like misfire or ??? Caused by the poor starting. It may, however, have been erased from changing the battery.

You should consider having your car serviced and checked out. Low usage, like you have, is considered 'severe duty' .

Reply to
1 Lucky Texan

As soon as you said that the symptoms changed when you eased up on the clutch I thought clutch interlock switch. Perhaps it has a worn spot on the contacts so that when it is all the way down that worn spot doesn't pass voltage very well, but when slightly off the floor it will pass voltage fine. However, I don't know if this is a valid theory since I'd think that the juice going to the starter would not go through that switch, but rather through a relay activated by the clutch interlock switch. And that relay would either be on or off. So I don't know. But I'd lean more towards mechanical causes.

I could see if the throwout bearing were going bad it might create extra friction for the engine to overcome, but in my experience with bad throwut bearings, they ususally make a big racket when you have the clutch out and do nothign wrong when the clutch is in. But this could be another failure mode.

Anyone else got some ideas?

Reply to
weelliott

The problem does not seem to be the starter, it cranks. The difference is the time it takes for the engine to kick over.

Is there a chance that the clutch pedal is pressing on a wire harness? Aftermarket alarm or another installation?

If the throw bearing were binding you would hear a difference in the cranking speed, so i am inclined to think that the problem is not mechanical as someone else suggested.

I checked and there are no TSBs about this.

Good luck!

weelliott wrote:

Reply to
AS

2 good guesses, I think: 1) Fuel system is taking time to come up to pressure. way to test- turn key to 'on' and then to 'off' (after you hear the pump stop running) several times before cranking 2) One or more injectors is leaking after the car is parked, and car is 'over-rich' at startup. Way to test- crank engine with the gas floored, if it starts right up, it's fulla fuel. (throttle-by-wire systems usually allow full-throttle-startsto clear an overrich condition)

Dave

Reply to
Dave__67

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.