Engine not starting - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

S84kam · 03-09-2016, 07:19 AM

This morning I had a starting issue. I tried roughly 10x and the engine wouldn't turn over. I could hear the starter motor cranking the engine but it wouldn't turn over. Damn it was embarrassing.

I don't think it's a battery issue because I just replaced it with an optima battery.
I finally got the engine to start by turning the key and pressing the gas pedal.

On a side note. Now that this has happened. I'm listening to the engine and it sounds like faint pop corn noises.

EDIT

just got the car back, dealership can't replicate the problem WTF!?

BRZnut · 03-09-2016, 07:20 AM

sorry to hear. Any codes? Can you record the "pop corn" noise for us to hear?

NyC Zn6 · 03-09-2016, 08:06 AM

Possibility of a misfire

S84kam · 03-09-2016, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRZnut

sorry to hear. Any codes? Can you record the "pop corn" noise for us to hear?

no codes and the pop corn sound went away. I just dropped it off at the dealer and i'll be getting it this afternoon

Quote:

Originally Posted by NyC Zn6

Possibility of a misfire

not a missfire, did not throw a code

MuseChaser · 03-09-2016, 09:04 AM

On a barely related note, my 2013 FR-S cranks much slower than any other car I've owned, and always has. Starts no problem, even in subzero (F) temps, but it's weird hearing it go "vra..vra..vra...vra...vroooooom" instead of "vra.vra.vra.vra.voooom", if that makes sense. Anyone else notice the same thing?

Barry

jasonojordan · 03-09-2016, 09:08 AM

your list of mods if any would help with a diagnosis.

S84kam · 03-09-2016, 09:19 AM

Mods - stock

edit -

ok dealership calls me, tells me nothing is wrong with the car and they couldn't replicate the issue.... I'm really starting to doubt the reliability of this engine

humfrz · 03-09-2016, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S84kam

This morning I had a starting issue. I tried roughly 10x and the engine wouldn't turn over. I could hear the starter motor cranking the engine but it wouldn't turn over. Damn it was embarrassing.

I don't think it's a battery issue because I just replaced it with an optima battery.
I finally got the engine to start by turning the key and pressing the gas pedal.

On a side note. Now that this has happened. I'm listening to the engine and it sounds like faint pop corn noises.

EDIT

just got the car back, dealership can't replicate the problem WTF!?

I'm sort of confused. You said you "heard the starter motor cranking but the engine wouldn't turn over". If the starter motor is cranking but the engine wouldn't turn over, that would indicate that the starter is not engaging the flywheel or the flywheel has a tooth missing.

Did you mean that the engine would crank over but not fire .. ??

Even though your battery is new, maybe it isn't getting re-charged by the alternator....?? Here is a simple test:

http://www.aa1car.com/library/battery_runs_down.htm

humfrz

Elkton86er · 03-09-2016, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S84kam

This morning I had a starting issue. I tried roughly 10x and the engine wouldn't turn over. I could hear the starter motor cranking the engine but it wouldn't turn over. Damn it was embarrassing.

I don't think it's a battery issue because I just replaced it with an optima battery.
I finally got the engine to start by turning the key and pressing the gas pedal.

On a side note. Now that this has happened. I'm listening to the engine and it sounds like faint pop corn noises.

EDIT

just got the car back, dealership can't replicate the problem WTF!?

Sounds like the engine was "flooded" - or whatever the equivalent for fuel injected cars is. Classically, the solution for starting a flooded engine (with a carburetor) was to crank it with the gas pedal held to the floor - seems counter-intuitive, but it works by holding the throttle air intake wide open. Symptom and solution both match.

S84kam · 03-09-2016, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elkton86er

Sounds like the engine was "flooded" - or whatever the equivalent for fuel injected cars is. Classically, the solution for starting a flooded engine (with a carburetor) was to crank it with the gas pedal held to the floor - seems counter-intuitive, but it works by holding the throttle air intake wide open. Symptom and solution both match.

what could cause our cars cylinders to be flooded?

Quote:

Originally Posted by humfrz

I'm sort of confused. You said you "heard the starter motor cranking but the engine wouldn't turn over". If the starter motor is cranking but the engine wouldn't turn over, that would indicate that the starter is not engaging the flywheel or the flywheel has a tooth missing.

Did you mean that the engine would crank over but not fire .. ??

Even though your battery is new, maybe it isn't getting re-charged by the alternator....?? Here is a simple test:

http://www.aa1car.com/library/battery_runs_down.htm

humfrz

OK i meant to say it cranked and cranked but didn't fire up

humfrz · 03-09-2016, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S84kam

what could cause our cars cylinders to be flooded?

OK i meant to say it cranked and cranked but didn't fire up

"Flooding" is usually caused by too much fuel and not enough air. Or, the plugs don't fire.

OK, cranked but didn't fire. I'd give it a second chance ...... maybe the ECU was having a bad day .....

humfrz

S84kam · 03-09-2016, 04:04 PM

that doesn't damage our spark plugs right? because everyone knows how much of a pain in the ass they are

jasonojordan · 03-09-2016, 04:10 PM

If enough fuel was able to enter it could foul the plugs yes. I find this highly unlikely to be whats going on though.

Tcoat · 03-09-2016, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S84kam

I don't think it's a battery issue because I just replaced it with an optima battery.
!?

I don't see much mystery here. Circumstantial yes but may be something as simple as a not quite tight enough cable or slightly dirty connection.

03-09-2016, 07:19 AM	#1
S84kam Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Drives: FBRZS Location: Kingston Posts: 268 Thanks: 254 Thanked 150 Times in 83 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Engine not starting This morning I had a starting issue. I tried roughly 10x and the engine wouldn't turn over. I could hear the starter motor cranking the engine but it wouldn't turn over. Damn it was embarrassing. I don't think it's a battery issue because I just replaced it with an optima battery. I finally got the engine to start by turning the key and pressing the gas pedal. On a side note. Now that this has happened. I'm listening to the engine and it sounds like faint pop corn noises. EDIT just got the car back, dealership can't replicate the problem WTF!? Last edited by S84kam; 03-09-2016 at 10:39 AM.

03-09-2016, 09:19 AM	#7
S84kam Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Drives: FBRZS Location: Kingston Posts: 268 Thanks: 254 Thanked 150 Times in 83 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Mods - stock edit - ok dealership calls me, tells me nothing is wrong with the car and they couldn't replicate the issue.... I'm really starting to doubt the reliability of this engine Last edited by S84kam; 03-09-2016 at 10:38 AM.

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03-09-2016, 07:20 AM	#2
BRZnut Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Drives: BRZ DGM Limited Location: USA Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 5 Thanked 431 Times in 250 Posts Mentioned: 8 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	sorry to hear. Any codes? Can you record the "pop corn" noise for us to hear?

03-09-2016, 08:06 AM	#3
NyC Zn6 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Drives: 10 Series #974 6m/t Location: NYC Posts: 1,956 Thanks: 1,357 Thanked 1,141 Times in 669 Posts Mentioned: 6 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	Possibility of a misfire

03-09-2016, 09:04 AM	#5
MuseChaser Feeling like thinking.... Join Date: Oct 2015 Drives: 2013 FR-S Location: CNY Posts: 1,664 Thanks: 1,664 Thanked 2,433 Times in 1,064 Posts Mentioned: 20 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	On a barely related note, my 2013 FR-S cranks much slower than any other car I've owned, and always has. Starts no problem, even in subzero (F) temps, but it's weird hearing it go "vra..vra..vra...vra...vroooooom" instead of "vra.vra.vra.vra.voooom", if that makes sense. Anyone else notice the same thing? Barry

03-09-2016, 09:08 AM	#6
jasonojordan Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Drives: 2013 satin white brz limited Location: Cottage Grove MN Posts: 1,049 Thanks: 162 Thanked 511 Times in 326 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	your list of mods if any would help with a diagnosis.

03-09-2016, 04:04 PM	#12
S84kam Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Drives: FBRZS Location: Kingston Posts: 268 Thanks: 254 Thanked 150 Times in 83 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	that doesn't damage our spark plugs right? because everyone knows how much of a pain in the ass they are

03-09-2016, 04:10 PM	#13
jasonojordan Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Drives: 2013 satin white brz limited Location: Cottage Grove MN Posts: 1,049 Thanks: 162 Thanked 511 Times in 326 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	If enough fuel was able to enter it could foul the plugs yes. I find this highly unlikely to be whats going on though.

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