Difficulty starting 2004 WRX
#1
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Mid Atlantic
Posts: 340
Car Info: 2004 WRX Sedan
Difficulty starting 2004 WRX
Greetings.
My 2004 WRX is only about 2 1/2 weeks old, and I have had two incidents where it was difficult to start. The car cranks normally, but does not fire. I cranked it for about 3 seconds and nothing. Cranked it again, and then it started.. ran a little rough and then was fine. It almost seemed like it was flooded. I did fill up with a new tank of gas the day it started happening & also washed it, but it ran great that whole day until the evening when the first incident happened. I was especially careful not to drown the engine bay with water, so I do not think it was anything with the washing. It just did it to me again today with the same symptoms when I ran out for lunch. I have about 800 miles on the car, and I am going to fill it with 94 afterwork to see if maybe it was the tank of gas (still half full). Anyone else had similar problems with their 04 WRX sedan? I did a search and did not find anything. I do not think I could replicate it right now if I were to take it back to the dealer. It is too intermittent.
Thanks!
My 2004 WRX is only about 2 1/2 weeks old, and I have had two incidents where it was difficult to start. The car cranks normally, but does not fire. I cranked it for about 3 seconds and nothing. Cranked it again, and then it started.. ran a little rough and then was fine. It almost seemed like it was flooded. I did fill up with a new tank of gas the day it started happening & also washed it, but it ran great that whole day until the evening when the first incident happened. I was especially careful not to drown the engine bay with water, so I do not think it was anything with the washing. It just did it to me again today with the same symptoms when I ran out for lunch. I have about 800 miles on the car, and I am going to fill it with 94 afterwork to see if maybe it was the tank of gas (still half full). Anyone else had similar problems with their 04 WRX sedan? I did a search and did not find anything. I do not think I could replicate it right now if I were to take it back to the dealer. It is too intermittent.
Thanks!
#4
I have had the same thing happen. I assume its the battery but I haven't had a chance to contact the dealership or replace the battery. I've heard the factory batteries aren't very good...
#5
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Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: So. Ca., CA USA
Posts: 261
Car Info: 03 WRX / 08 Forester
When turning the key all of the way forward, try allowing a second or two just before you crank it over. Just before the car turns over you can hear the fuel pump working. I believe my problem was that I was trying to start the car too fast and the pump didn't have enough time to get fuel to the engine.
- Kean
- Kean
#6
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Mid Atlantic
Posts: 340
Car Info: 2004 WRX Sedan
Thanks Kean! haven't tried that, but I will give it a shot.
04blkwrx: It's not the battery... it cranks normally but it doesn't want to fire. It seems more fuel related than anything. Thanks for the post anyway. I will go back to the dealer if it doesn't clear up. It only started Saturday night, so we will see if it persists.
04blkwrx: It's not the battery... it cranks normally but it doesn't want to fire. It seems more fuel related than anything. Thanks for the post anyway. I will go back to the dealer if it doesn't clear up. It only started Saturday night, so we will see if it persists.
#7
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Car Info: silver MIAMI wrx in the bay area
Originally posted by Kean
When turning the key all of the way forward, try allowing a second or two just before you crank it over. Just before the car turns over you can hear the fuel pump working. I believe my problem was that I was trying to start the car too fast and the pump didn't have enough time to get fuel to the engine.
- Kean
When turning the key all of the way forward, try allowing a second or two just before you crank it over. Just before the car turns over you can hear the fuel pump working. I believe my problem was that I was trying to start the car too fast and the pump didn't have enough time to get fuel to the engine.
- Kean
eric.
#9
Originally posted by Kean
When turning the key all of the way forward, try allowing a second or two just before you crank it over.
- Kean
When turning the key all of the way forward, try allowing a second or two just before you crank it over.
- Kean
Rock: yes, my cranking sounds normal too, not like the battery is dying. I was just speculating. I'd guess this has happened to me three or four times total in the five months I've owned the car and it doesn't seem to be weather related.
#10
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Location: Location
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Car Info: Wagon
Hi
My 04 wagon had this particular problem 3 times since July. It seemed to happen every time I shut off the car without letting it idle long enough for everything to cool down. Since i've become really diligent about letting it ldle for a few minutes (jeez I really need that turbo timer) it hasn't happend agian.
My 04 wagon had this particular problem 3 times since July. It seemed to happen every time I shut off the car without letting it idle long enough for everything to cool down. Since i've become really diligent about letting it ldle for a few minutes (jeez I really need that turbo timer) it hasn't happend agian.
#11
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Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 1,402
Car Info: 02 WRX wagon=dead; rollin' in a Craptastic Camry!
Originally posted by Kean
When turning the key all of the way forward, try allowing a second or two just before you crank it over. Just before the car turns over you can hear the fuel pump working. I believe my problem was that I was trying to start the car too fast and the pump didn't have enough time to get fuel to the engine.
- Kean
When turning the key all of the way forward, try allowing a second or two just before you crank it over. Just before the car turns over you can hear the fuel pump working. I believe my problem was that I was trying to start the car too fast and the pump didn't have enough time to get fuel to the engine.
- Kean
#13
hears the scoop on letting the fuel pump run fully before start up.earlier cars (all makes)had fuel pressure held in the fuel lines up to the injectors even after the car is turned off.government regulations have changed making the fuel bleed back to the gas tank.this is done so that no fuel or vapor may escape into the air .if for some reason there is (however small or large)fuel leakage.if you check your owners manual,it gives you correct starting procedures and cold starting.
#14
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Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Land 'O' the Ports, Orygun
Posts: 1,687
Car Info: Broken ass stock '02 WRX
i have had that same problem a few times, i always thought it was because the car was cold (it only did it when i was leaving work at about 9pm when it is fairly cold here in santa cruz)
#15
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: EastSFBay
Posts: 344
Car Info: Not a WRX any more . . .
One nice thing about my VW -- when you open the passenger door, the fuel pump turns on just long enough to build up pressure, before you're even in the car. Nice trick, I wish Subaru would use it.
(Down side of the VW -- like everything else in it that will probably break any day now and cost about $600 to fix.)
(Down side of the VW -- like everything else in it that will probably break any day now and cost about $600 to fix.)