I have a strange problem, just need some general advice about possible causes....

My car (MY98) starts ok on leaving work, but once arrived at home, if I turn the engine off, and try to re-start then the starter motor wont turn over. There is a clicking noise so some power must be going thru the electical circuits. Had the solonoid replaced but the problem still occurs. However, when starting the car next morning, it's as if nothing is wrong.

First time this happened was at the petrol station near my house, after a 20 mile run from work at the end of the day.
Also before then, I noticed an increasingly long time delay (up to 1.5 seconds max) between turning ignition key and starter motor turning over.

I suspect some heat issue, as it now has a big fat after-market turbo (more heat ?), more metal pipes(intercooler pipes due to FMIC) in the engine compartment (heat-soak ?), and happens at the hotter part of the day (always in afternoon, never in morning). (NB I live in sunny Brisbane, hot afternoons !).

Spoke to the guy at the car electrics place that did the solenoid, but he has never heard of this problem before.
I take the car to him tomorrow.

In the meantime, any ideas ???

 

Probably a good idea to take all the leads off the starter including the main earth from the gear box and give them all a good clean

That would be a good starting point.

Yes i have heard of it before many years ago on a escort turbo and a replacment starter cured the problem.

 

Local Subaru Dealer quoted me $1600 AUD for the part alone, and they say there are none in the country, it has to come from Japan. Seems expensive. They also say they never fail either, in their experience.

 

Just out of curiosity where is the starter motor located on a classic?. It's just that i have a 2 second delay between turning the key and the engine firing, so could do with removal and inspected.

 

Sould be able to get it rebuilt by a good starter specialist. may be cheaper

 

As you look at the engine bay from the front, it's on the right hand side at the back of the 2 cylinders , ie on the passeger side, almost below the edge of the top mount intercooler.
You will need to look from the pax side of the car to see it.