Any ideas anyone? :/ Starting Problems

[Project_AW11]

Hey There

Im getting abit of a starting issue with my Rev3 Turbo lately...

It only seemed to happen when it was really cold (car frozen) but now seems to be happening everyday when it rains and is nasty outside.

Basically when i turn the key to ignition normally all the dash warning lights come on and you hear a slight whirring noise (power steering pump and starter motor i presume?)

When i goto start the car only half the dash lights come on and if i turn to start nothing happens. I then wait for 10 seconds or so (varies each time) and all the other lights come on and makes the normal whirring noises and allows me to start the car.... One of the lights which appears to come on late is the light with the "engine and fan". This only happens when the car is cold.

If anyone has any ideas i would be very grateful as i dont really know where to start, someone said it is the battery needs replacing as its playing up in cold weather but i don't want to buy one to find out its not the problem. Could it be the starter motor or at least water getting inside it. Is this happening to anyone else in this weather?

Cheers
Joe

[Steve-O 2007]

I would go with battery.

Before buying one get some jump leads and connect the MR2 to another car and try and jump start it, if it starts then problem solved, bang a new battery on

[Project_AW11]

Went to halfords and got the battery test. The volts were fine but the amps were down very low.. The machine read 52% start capacity

So replaced the battery but the same problem is still happening... Basically i turn the key and nothing happens, i wait for say 10 seconds and the the last warning light comes on and the engine can be started. It seems to be worse the colder it is.

Anyone got any ideas where to check next?

[g.lewarne]

it could be a sticky IGN relay perhaps ?


open the engine compartment and locate the IGN relay in the fusebox. swap it for another one of the identical ones in there and see if it still happens.

[4ndee]

have you checked to see if the alternator is charging? and checked the starter motor? does the car turn over? or make any noise? clicking or dead?

[rev3gtturbo]

How many miles/km on the clock?

Is it an intermittent problem or happening every time?

Does it happen with the other key?

I got this problem last year. Seems to be 2 ways to start the car when it happens depending how you react to it.
1. Continue to hold the key in the fully start position - all the dash lights come on eventually and it starts.
2. Release the key very very slightly and hold it there... wait for all the dash lights to come on then turn the key fully to the start position and it starts.


Problem first started with the Autumn damp foggy nights a year ago. I do a lot of miles. It is very intermittent and difficult to make it go wrong anywhere near a garage, making it difficult to fix.

I had it looked at a few times and different things been tried and the relay and the ignition assembly have been replaced. Then the problem went away for months until one day in summer, so I guess it is not totally a cold/dampness related issue. Then it did not do it again for months until October.

It has happened again a few times in the last couple of weeks so will ask the garage to look at it tomorrow while it is in for something else.

[Slarty]

Loose/corroded earth? Long shot, I know....

[Project_AW11]

Wow thanks for the responses guys!

g.lewarne, Ill give that a try as soon as i get home. Would be a nice easy fix if its the case!

4ndee, i havnt actually checked but i would presume its working as once the car is running it is fine, never been left with a dead battery either.
I have not checked the starter motor, i am unsure of its location and what i should be checking for? Water/ wiring damage i guess. What happens is i turn it to ignition and all the warning lights come on bar one or two.. then i turn the key nothing happens, slilent. After a 10 seconds or so of waiting there is a CLICK and the rest of the warning lights come on and normal whiring sounds in the engine. Once it has done this it will start as per normal

rev3gtturbo, Its got 90k miles on the clock.
It has only started happening this month. Only happens when the engine hasnt been started in a while (ie cold starts). And it only happens on the colder frosty mornings.
Havnt tryied with the other key yet. Let me know how you get on

Slarty, Definately worth a try if all else fails, thanks.

[rev3gtturbo]

Looking at my paperwork, I was getting the problem with about 135,000 miles on the clock. I was commuting 100 miles a day so it was regularly used!

It was behaving today and nothing out of the ordinary was found.

Let me know if changing key works for you.

[4ndee]

4ndee, i havnt actually checked but i would presume its working as once the car is running it is fine, never been left with a dead battery either.
I have not checked the starter motor, i am unsure of its location and what i should be checking for? Water/ wiring damage i guess. What happens is i turn it to ignition and all the warning lights come on bar one or two.. then i turn the key nothing happens, slilent. After a 10 seconds or so of waiting there is a CLICK and the rest of the warning lights come on and normal whiring sounds in the engine. Once it has done this it will start as per normal

could be a relay sticking, or starter solinoid,

[pbmr2]

4ndee, i havnt actually checked but i would presume its working as once the car is running it is fine, never been left with a dead battery either.
I have not checked the starter motor, i am unsure of its location and what i should be checking for? Water/ wiring damage i guess. What happens is i turn it to ignition and all the warning lights come on bar one or two.. then i turn the key nothing happens, slilent. After a 10 seconds or so of waiting there is a CLICK and the rest of the warning lights come on and normal whiring sounds in the engine. Once it has done this it will start as per normal

could be a relay sticking, or starter solinoid,

+1
could be the starter relay in the boot, to the right of the ecu.