We're supposed to be going away on holiday Monday in the Legacy (BH5 GTB - EJ25) but today I popped down the road to the shop and when I came out the car wouldn't start.

Sods law, I only have breakdown cover on the TVR and I can't take that cos I need to take all the luggage and 4 bikes on the bike rack. I've tried joining a breakdown company but they're all saying 48hrs before cover starts and besides that I know more about cars than every recovery driver I've ever encountered and they've never once been able to fix on the roadside.

If anyone can offer any advice, take a look or know someone who can I'd be eternally gratfull and offer a big drink.

I disarm the alarm, the doors unlock, the ignition lights all come on ok and the fuel pump cuts in but there's just nothing when I turn the key. The battery is fine so my only guess is that its alarm or imobilizer related but its never had any problems before and the flashing light goes out as it should. Its a Clifford Concept 300.

The only other possibilities I can think of is starter motor/solonoid or maybe, as its an auto theres some in gear sensor that disables the starter unless its in park?

Please help.

 

hve you tried bump starting it? in fact can you even bump start an automatic

 

Na can't bump an auto but I'm pretty certain it would run fine if I could.

 

will it start now it has cooled down?

crank sensor..

check if you have spark and fuel..

Simon

 

from what he is saying i dont even think its cranking over??

 

hit the starter motor with a hammer (might be sticking)

 

Na still no go mate.

Not sure if it's anything but just hooked it upto ecuExplorer and got the following fault codes..

poo66 Air assisted injector control circuit or circuit low
p0065 Air assisted injector control circuit range/performance

I am currently running in an EJ25 short motor though so I was expecting some errors.

 

Hmm, mine did this a few times, I'm sure it was just the immobiliser. Mine had the immobiliser on the dash and there was a cylindrical key thing on the keyring that you used to unlock the immobiliser. Eventually the cylindrical key thing stopped working and I had to resort to using the keyfob which locked the doors and worked the immobiliser. I remember a few times trying to turn on the ignition and nothing happening and having to lock and unlock the doors again.

 

Did try that with a lump of metal I had to hand but wasn't enough access for a good ****. I'll get a hammer and extention bar on it tomorrow.

I'm still thinking its some kinda sensor that senses what gear you're in and disables the starter or maybe thats just me too willing to blame the auto box as I hate it? lol

Anyone know how to bypass the starter relay?

 

is the engine cranking? if not you prob find the immob is wired up to the ignition wires, (the one thats live when cranking) will prob be cut in half and immob wires will be joint to the to split ends (to complete the circuit) might be worth looking and join them together like originally would of been, that will by pass the immob if it is wired up to the starter motor. hope that makes sense

 

At the starter take the signal wire off (the thin wire from the ignition to the starter, the "spade" terminal) make yourself up a jumper wire with a crimp on 6mm female spade terminal, push this on where you took the signal wire off the starter, then put the other end of the wire on the positive terminal of the battery(just hold it on by hand) and see if it cranks over(make sure it is in park position).
This then rules out all immobilzers, park position switches, bla bla, if it turns over then check if you are getting power out the ignition switch in the wire before the alarm box.

 

Good plan, will try that first.

If I can get it started like that I'll happily use it like that till I get home

 

Sorry I thought it was cranking..

what he said.. plus obviously is the signal wire on the starter motor..

Simon

 

Signal wire on the starter should work but most autos do have a P/N sensor. Which means the car will only start in park or netural (check its in one or the other) if it is try starting veh while wiggling the stick in 'park' sometimes works!

 

OK I've tried adding 12v to the starter trigger and it turns over but does not fire.

Now I'm pulling hair

 

it will only fire up if your turning the key as no fuel is pumping thru if your just turning the starter motor, try turning the ignition key round till all the lights come on the dash and try it

 

You got it adzer

Just tired applying 12v to the trigger AND getting someone to turn the key fully and BINGO

There's obviously still a problem but at least it'll get us on holiday even if it does mean I have to hotwire it under the bonnet each time

 

nice one

 

trip to halfords for a switch a fuse holder and some wire and run a wire to the cabin with switch

 

I've gone one better...

I've run two wires through the window with a houshold light switch on the end.

Its a nice modern chome one too

 

Don't use a dimmer !

LOL

dunx

 

 

sounds like the switch for the gear selector, might be worth bypassing it or source another one?? but glad its got you going again

 

HA HA HA. You nut!

(Well troubleshoooted by everyone - interesting thread )

 

lol remember doing similar on my mother in laws metro..

 

OK thanks for the help so far getting me mobile. I now have a nice little button mounted on the center console and although I'm quite used to the push button starter on my Cerbera it can't stay :laugh:

To recap....

The car has'nt had any starting issues before (although I have recently swapped out the engine for an EJ25). I popped down the shop (a 2 min drive) and when I came out it wouldn't go.

There is no live going to the trigger wire on the starter but when I apply a direct feed it starts.

I've looked at the diagrams found below but I can't follow them. I'm guessing its something between ingnition switch and trigger wire but I can't see anything and

Surrealmirage - Subaru Legacy Swap Electrical info & notes

or the full pdf here...
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/empty_spa...5TCD99L567.pdf

As mentioned above the biggest suspect is the in gear start inhibit switch so where is it and how do I bypass it. Presumably its on the side of the gearbox but is there any way without getting underneath?

The lights on the dash displaying which gear its in work ok though so not sure if this rules out this inhibit swich or not.

The other possibilty is the Clifford Alarm? Could they have added a relay or something in between this and where do I look?

Before I start digging too much are there any obvious relays or fuses I could have missed?

Thanks again for your help.

 

There could be an external relay to the alarm. They normally put this around the steering column or near the fuse box.

Some Clifford's are wired as fail-safe as opposed to fail secure. Disarm the alarm and pull the fuse out for the alarm (by the battery?) See if that makes a difference.

Alternate option is to get a multimeter out and find the 12v starter wire from the ignition barrel where it is live when the key is in the cranking position. Trace wire from there.

 

Just wanted to say the light switch and the dimmer comment sure gave me a giggle.

Good Luck with electronics mate.

 

Same here Baly!

 

Just to add some closure to this.

I never did find the problem so I ended up soldering a wire onto the back of the ignition barrel and running it through the bulkhead and onto the starter trigger.

I know its a bit of a cop out but its a tidy job and works perfectly.

Big thanks for all your help guys.