John, yes I did!

 

I take it, it didn't work? There's at least one other person on here who found it did!
It's got to be very frustrating.

JohnD

 

Tonight cranking for at least 10 seconds and did not start, cranked agin and came to life slowly.
Any ideas ???

 

Spoke to Paul @ES and he advised that it could be the cam position sensor, before i buy new one, anyone has good used one that i can borrow to see if this is the cause.

 

Mine is the same, 2002 bug sti. It's at scooby clinic now hopefully they'll sort it and I'll let you know.

 

Not started the car for a week, replaced the cam position sensor with known used (supplied by Matt) cheers.
Started on the button, see how it is in a couple of days.

 

Let me know mate as mine isnt sorted yet

 

How is it going now mate? Did the old cam sensor show as faulty with diagnostics?

 

Started agin today and lot better, still couple of turns before fire up with only a small splutter, will see in couple of days, may change the crank sensor to.

 

Replaced the crank sensor with advised known good used part and made it worse, will have to put the old one back in.
After this has to be trip to speciation that has select monitor and hope they can find the issue.

 

Mine is still at scoobyclinic they've had it on computer and dyno I think and still not found the issue yet.

 

Holy cow, my bugeye had couple of things replaced and was still doing the same. The stick on the throttle trick worked though, I just tried it for the heck of it but the issue was never resolved. I had replaced the fuel filter, fuel pump, tps, cps, checked for vacuum leaks, replaced spark plugs to no prevail. I think my bugeye started having that issue after 12 months of remap, I have sold the vehicle, the new owner is aware of it and he said he'll let me know once he gets it figured out but still haven't heard since. I now have a Blob Sti and everything is greaatttt. Hope you get that figured mate, I'm still curious what is causing that hard starting for future use.

 

Ha,ha................As the proud inventor of the 'throttle stick trick' I can honestly say that since employing it, the car has never failed to start first time, every time!
I went through all the above, to no avail and the problem was there before mods such as turbo's, injectors etc and was still there afterwards! Nothing was ever picked up during five re-maps.

JohnD

 

Bit of an updtate: Back to how it was today cranking for some time then splutter into life, seem like a trip to "someone in the know" is required.
Run out of ideas??

 

Mine has been fine since getting it back from scoobyclinic, they put new coolant ( needed doing anyway ) clean idle control valve as was a Little sticky apparently and adjusted a few things ( their words ) on the dyno that's all I know. Maybe call them and ask. Black prodrive bugeye sti cheers Marc

 

Battery fully charged and used the car for a coue of days, the starting is better, spins over lot quicker but takes time to catch and when it does still the splutter.
Ran out of ideas!

 

Someone must have some ideas/solutions???
Apart for the stick on the throttle trick!

 

I had the same cold start issue ,now 2 months later rough idle and I've got a code p301 missfire on cylinder 1, did maf before and I earth an engine in other place,today will change plugs on pfr7b ,next will be idle control valve clean.

 

I was looking for this thread the other day to say that after leaving the car for nearly a week I went to use it and realised I hadn't used my 'stick trick' and guess what - the bugger wouldn't start! Eventually coughed and fired up but it was just like it used to be! I've remembered the stick since, and it's been fine! Sounds crazy, I know, but it's been going on for years.

JohnD

 

Think my be getting close to the root cause, today when to start the car and normal cranking for while then spluttered to life.
What I did notes was blue smoke from the exhuast, not a lot more of an haze which cleared within seconds, no smoke on tick over or lift off when stationary or driving.
So the thinking is now more mechanical than map or electical.

The thinking is now that it could possibly be rings? If it was from stem seals would smoke on idle?
Running 10/50 oil my go back to 5/30 and see if it helps.
Or any other ideas?

 

The way the imprezas engine is laid out it is very common to get a puff of smoke on startup. What spec is your battery does it have a good cold crank rating? Cheers Marc

 

Cranking is fine and new fully charged correct battery fitted, was one of the first items replaced.
Car never smoked on start up and always was on the button when starting.

 

I read a thread from the us where they mentioned the soldering points in the immobilizer can become defective? Maybe worth a look?

 

One thing I wouldn't do is to change back to a 5/30 oil!

JohnD

 

I know you have said your battery is fully charged but thought I'd share my latest experience, switched last night from bosch s4 to a bosch s5005 battery and starts really quick now.

 

Not got issue with starting (Turnover) speed it's the time it takes to fire up.

 

Here's what I did to my bugeye, replaced spark plugs, replace fuel pump, replaced fuel pressure regulator, cleaned iacv; cleaned throttle body, replaced tps, air filter replaced, new battery almost a full tune up and bugger still didn't fix my issue. I sold the bugeye and bought a stock Blob eye, and never looked back. Trouble free since Blobeye. Ha ha.

 

All of the above has either been done or checked, next to have the map checked.

 

It does seem odd that it seems to be bugs with the problem? What changed between the years something electrical immobiliser alarm system etc?

 

I think there are a number of blobs with the same or similar symptoms. My 03 STi has been doing it on and off for years! I did all the usual things as described in other posts but to no avail. The only thing that worked was my 'wedge the throttle open' trick after driving. (description in earlier posts) It's worked perfectly for me but, assuming others have actually tried it without success, (got a feeling some might not try it as it sounds a bit daft!) it's not the answer for everyone.

JohnD