pippyrips

the last couple of days the scoob has struggled to start first thing in the morning. when turning the key the engine seems tick over ok but doesn't fire. After the 2nd or 3rd time the engine does fire but very slowly. After a couple of seconds all is fine and as normal. Will also start perfectly for the rest of the day with no probs at all.

Any ideas what this might be? - should mention the car is a 04 sti and was on the rollers at powerstation the other day showing no sign of trouble - drives perfectly apart from this.

gtijames

mine did the same thing today i reckon its because its been so cold recently,the battery doesnt like getting too cold.

B0DSKI

iTrader: (17)

There was a thread on this the other day, my 03 PPP STi does exactly the same thing. Not sure what the fix is but seems to be common on 02 STi's onwards.

scarey

I got the dealer to fit a nice shiney new battery under warranty and now I have no problems

pippyrips

tbh i was thinking that it might be the cold getting to the battery - will call the garage tomorrow to them i want a new one!

RJL_WRX05

Yeah I started a thread last week as my MY05 WRX was struggling to start but only did it when it was really cold. It hasn't done it since last week though but I am gonna take it to the dealer and mention it. I have only had the car 6wks and it was a bit a bit embarassing to here a nearly new car struggling when an F Ref festa next doors fires straight up!! I dont think it is the battery though, just had ppp fitted and have heard that can sort the problem?

scarey

a while back there were a few postson here about the tracker not going into sleep mode and draining the battery. Could be that in conjunction with the cold weather

sgcooby

My 03 WRX does this. But it appears to be random. On a cold day it might struggle to start but then on even colder days its fine. Doesent happen a lot maybe about once every 2 weeks but sometimes i swear its not going to start but it allways does but i dread the day it doesnt. My car is standard and only got serviced 4 weeks ago. Might say to subaru next time im in but not untill im up there for something else.

pippyrips

i know exactly how you felt!! Started fine this morning so probably another one of those 'scooby joys' you buy in to when you get one

WRX_SWRT

iTrader: (2)

I had the exact same problem on my MY05 WRX its only 5 weeks old i went to the garage and they said they knew nothing but if it did it again the would put it on a tester. It was really cold up here in scotland the 2 times it happened but has not done it since strange. Iv no PPP but if it helps then its just one more reason eh

davedipster

PPP makes no difference m8, but in the owners manual it does say if you have bother in low temps you should slightly depress the throttle while starting.

Dipster

bob

I get the same problem with my motor. The thing will just not fire. Very cold mornings and there is no hope, BUT found if I switch on ignition and not start It after about 30 seconds I hear a few clicks from engine department and fuel pump starts. The car then starts straight away. Think I have a lazy imobiliser. Perhaps a relay sticking in the cold.
Try it anyway just switch on ignition and wait to hear fuel pump.

Varboy

get the same prob on my 04WRX, reminds me of the Maxi 1700 I used to own

pippyrips

well i took mine to Powerstation on Friday for a remap thinking there might be something wrong (or it could well be paranoia). they did 2 runs and told me to either go home or talk to Ian Litchfield next door as the car was pushing out 340BHP with not even a hint of trouble - i think this really is one of those "Scooby things"

SPEN555

I have an MY03 JDM WRX STi and when I switch the ingnition I always wait a second to hear the fuel pump prime, this coincides with the time it takes for the dials to do their sweep. I then turn the ignition to start the car.

I have not driven my car since Sunday and it fired up fine tonight. Using the above start up it has never failed to start (he says this clutching a big lump of wood).

Don't know whether this helps.

Damian.

Ministry Maniac

I agree, always let the fuel pump prime and then you shouldn't have any problems.

Scooby-Monster

Used to get the same problem in my 03 STi, found that by waiting for the fuel pump to prime helped a bit. That was after leaving the car undriven for few very cold days.

Now have a 05 STi PPP and can leave the car for a week with no such problems even during cold weather.

ShyTot

The point about the PPP improving matters was relevant to me in particular.
The MY02 UK STI (and I believe MY03UK STI) is a very poor starter in cold weather. I had a PPP fitted to this in 2004, and the car is now a very good cold starter.
I seem to remember Mike W saying that the PPP uses the latest standard Subaru software available at the time for the starting the engine, i.e. it is not modified by Prodrive, but is more up to date than the equivalent software on the MY02.

The Zohan

Only the scoob does not have the curved oblong steering wheel - Maxi was a top car for it's day

Gary C

I think its mainly because they can't enrich the mixture enought to give a good cold start because of emission restrictions.

SCOOBYBALL

it could be ur engine temp sensor not working proper

RJL_WRX05

I always wait for the fuel pump to prime but I have still had the problem twice in my MY05 WRX. No problems at all since PPP though, even in the cold. Fires up and burbles nicely! Great excuse to get PPP i say!!