[vicali]

Back in 2016 this;
Not Second Starting

Now it’s happening again.

2008 Forester plugged in from 3am to 8am, outside weather is -18C, engine coolant temp is 20C. Car starts first thing, warms up for 10 minutes, drives for 10 minutes, parks at the school, kids get out and get walked in.

Car doesn’t start. Fuel pump sounds, starter goes, engine turns over, won’t run.

1) rtfm suggests 1/4 gas while turning over. nope.

2) rtfm suggests pedal to the floor start. nope.

Wife has enough time to try it 10 more times, text me, get angry, get frustrated, text me to come get her so she’s not late for work. I get 5 minutes away from my office and it starts.

Things that are weird;

I was out on the weekend trying it in the driveway, not plugged in -20C cold start it started 10 in a row, then 20 minutes later another 5 cold starts. I could not get it to have the same trouble as school drop off does.

Newish batt (2016). New plugs (2016). Low mileage since (~1000km).

Runs 100% every day, the rest of the year - no codes, no issues..

Suspect list;

-Coolant temp sensor. Only temp related thing.

-Fuel pump (should be showing other symptoms though?)

-Starter (should be showing other symptoms though?)

Thoughts?

 

[Easy Fixer]

belt

Check the fan belt for the alternator. I betcha you turn a whole lot of stuff ON after starting the car that drains the battery since the alternator is slipping and not recharging the battery.

 

[Botnik]

I've had cars and lawnmowers that started fine when the engine is hot, and started fine when the engine is cold, but are difficult or impossible to start anywhere in the middle. I don't have a solution other than to let it cool off.

 

[ILuvMySubaru2]

Wondering if any connections at the battery/body ground or starter might be loose or corroded? Just a thought. Good luck and let us know how it works out.

 

[bman400]

Back in 2016 this;
Not Second Starting


2008 Forester plugged in from 3am to 8am, outside weather is -18C, engine coolant temp is 20C. Car starts first thing, warms up for 10 minutes, drives for 10 minutes, parks at the school, kids get out and get walked in.

How many miles are driven in those 10 minutes? And at what speeds? If this was 10 minutes driving over a distance of 16km/10m at 80kph/110kph/50-60mph, that would probably re-charge the battery. But if this was all stop and go driving, highly doubt battery would get recharged.

Idling for 10 minutes also does not help to recharge the battery either.

 

[vicali]

How many miles are driven in those 10 minutes? And at what speeds? If this was 10 minutes driving over a distance of 16km/10m at 80kph/110kph/50-60mph, that would probably re-charge the battery. But if this was all stop and go driving, highly doubt battery would get recharged.

Idling for 10 minutes also does not help to recharge the battery either.

Literally 500m ~1/3 mile through a school zone..
I don't think it's a battery issue, the car is daily driven on a 5 mile commute with no other symptoms.
Scangauge shows healthy volts; 12.6 before start and 14.2 while running..

I've also been out trying to duplicate the no start for the last three days in the same temps and haven't been able to.