Car not starting (no sound when turning the key)

Discussion in 'Modifications And Maintenance' started by Panko, Jan 19, 2009.

  1. Panko
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    Panko Member

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    So I drove back from Iowa yesterday, parked my car for 45 minutes, went to start it up and nothing happens.

    Battery seems to be working as interior lights/radio works, but when I turn the key to start nothing happens, no noises at all. Same as if the clutch wasn't pressed in and you try and start it.

    Any ideas what I should be checking/ looking at?

    It's a 2007 Subaru WRX
     
    Panko, Jan 19, 2009
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  2. Ronnie@RSmotors
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    Ronnie@RSmotors Well-Known Member

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    make sure the battery has enough power to start the car. if its an auto make sure its in park. check starter wire.
     
    Ronnie@RSmotors, Jan 19, 2009
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  3. wrxsti_02
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    wrxsti_02 Well-Known Member

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    I had the same problem with my 02 wrx. Jump started the car and it fire right up. Test my battery at work and found out it was bad so I replace it.
     
    wrxsti_02, Jan 19, 2009
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  4. silver03
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    silver03 Well-Known Member

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    cables on tight?
     
    silver03, Jan 19, 2009
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  5. putz
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    putz Well-Known Member

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    poles clean on the battery?
     
    putz, Jan 19, 2009
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  6. TheHoboMan
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    TheHoboMan Well-Known Member

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    Try giving the car a jump before you do anything else.
     
    TheHoboMan, Jan 19, 2009
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  7. carl
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    carl Well-Known Member

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    do you have a multimeter or a way of checking the battery's voltage?
     
    carl, Jan 19, 2009
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  8. Panko
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    Panko Member

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    Thanks for the replies guys,

    so this morning when I went to try and start it again I noticed that I had the lights on parking setting. When I switched them to off I tried starting it and it started up. I drove it around for 15 minutes or so, and figure that would be enough to charge the battery, but when I shut it off it wouldn't start again.

    Do I have a dead battery?
     
    Panko, Jan 19, 2009
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  9. ShortytheFirefighter
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    ShortytheFirefighter Pokemans. I has none. Staff Member

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    Your lights should go off automatically when the car goes off. Do you mean the switch on top of the steering column for the parking lights?
     
    ShortytheFirefighter, Jan 19, 2009
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  10. legendx
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    legendx Well-Known Member

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    check the battery bud. its more than likely the issue based on the info you have provided.
     
    legendx, Jan 19, 2009
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  11. Panko
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    Panko Member

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    If I stomp on the clutch pedal really hard, I can get the car to start. Any idea what that means?
     
    Panko, Jan 19, 2009
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  12. ShortytheFirefighter
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    ShortytheFirefighter Pokemans. I has none. Staff Member

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    Sounds like a clutch switch to me rather than a battery.
     
    ShortytheFirefighter, Jan 19, 2009
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  13. Bullwinkle
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    Bullwinkle Well-Known Member

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    Also, 15 min of stop and go traffic driving is not enough to charge a dead battery. Personally, I'd recommend you charge the battery with a trickle charger or go for a long highway drive to charge the bat. From what you posted, it just sounds like you left the parking lights on.
     
    Bullwinkle, Jan 19, 2009
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  14. Shibbs
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    Shibbs The Daywalker

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    At LEAST take the battery out of the car and let it warm up. THEN put the trickle charger on it.
     
    Shibbs, Jan 19, 2009
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  15. greg donovan
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    greg donovan Well-Known Member

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    probably a combination of a bad clutch switch, a drained battery and cold weather.
     
    greg donovan, Jan 20, 2009
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  16. Panko
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    Panko Member

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    Panko, Jan 20, 2009
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