Intermittent no start with '08

[mmorse]

I have an '08 coupe (manual) that has become quite finicky regarding starting. Sometimes it just won't start. The original battery was getting weak so I replaced it last Sunday but the condition persists. The car recognizes both fobs. I took it to the dealer and they were able to reproduce the condition but could not find the problem. There were no codes. I asked them if they checked everything including the RCDLR and they said yes. They started it about 25 times and only once did it fail to start. When it didn't, they found that no current was getting to the starter. But each subsequent attempt, the car started so they weren't able to continue.

The fob batteries each show 2.9v on my DVM. It's failed to start 7 times over the past three weeks including 3 times since the battery change. Now I never know if the car will start on any given try. It's my everyday driver so it's really becoming a pain.

If there are times when no current is getting to the starter and no codes are thrown, what is left to be a possible problem? The start button? The clutch switch? What else?

Any info is greatly appreciated as I need to get this solved.

[c4c5specialist]

Hi there,

Unfortunately, it sounds like you need to make sure that they are looking at the correct data from the RCDLR to see if the starter is enabled.

Its really that simple.

Allthebest, c4c5

[mmorse]

So are you saying the RCDLR may still be the issue? The car has never had the reprogram done.

[c4c5specialist]

HI there,

I am saying that the data from the RCDLR must be looked at first.

#1, seeing if it does detect a valid fob
#2, seeing if its showing a starter enable signal to the BCM

If you have those 2 things, you might just have a bad starter relay, but the data is the key.

Could it be programming?? Possibly, but monitoring the data is the key to accurate diagnostics and the vehicle doesnt even have to be on to determine and read the data. The Tech 2 can be on and monitoring data PRIOR to the fob coming into range.

Any and all DTC should be evaluated also if there are any in the BCM PCM or RCDLR.

Allthebest, c4c5

[c4c5specialist]

HI there,

I am saying that the data from the RCDLR must be looked at first.

#1, seeing if it does detect a valid fob
#2, seeing if its showing a starter enable signal to the BCM

If you have those 2 things, you might just have a bad starter relay, but the data is the key.

Could it be programming?? Possibly, but monitoring the data is the key to accurate diagnostics and the vehicle doesnt even have to be on to determine and read the data. The Tech 2 can be on and monitoring data PRIOR to the fob coming into range.

Any and all DTC should be evaluated also if there are any in the BCM PCM or RCDLR.

Allthebest, c4c5

[mmorse]

Thanks for the reply. I took it to the dealer and have to assume they went through the proper procedure to test for possible problems. I don't know what those procedures are so I wasn't able to ask specific questions of them. It's a bit frustrating to say the least.

[LLC5]

Originally Posted by mmorse

Thanks for the reply. I took it to the dealer and have to assume they went through the proper procedure to test for possible problems. I don't know what those procedures are so I wasn't able to ask specific questions of them. It's a bit frustrating to say the least.

What was the dealerships advice on how to fix the problem? They should have some ideas since they did have the problem active. You will probably need to leave the vehicle with them and let them diag it when it occurs.

You may want to check the price of a starter relay to see if it is cheap enough to just give it a try. Have the year, make, and model, and possibly the vin number ready for the parts dept. Good luck with it.

[mmorse]

They didn't offer any advice. They just said that they couldn't proceed any further unless it happened again and remained that way long enough to look at other possibilities.

[motorman]

what about the clutch switch that you have push in the clutch to start the engine. i start mine by pushing in the clutch after i hold in the start button. the clutch has to be all the way in so do you have any extra floor mats that could cause the problem

[mmorse]

Well, after several starts over the last week, it happened again today. Fortunately, I was on a hill so I managed to jump start it to get it home. I've tried several times to start it with both fobs and no go. I put one fob in the clove compartment slot and I started getting "no fob detected" messages. After it sat for an hour, it seems to recognize the fob again. The Dic says " Driver 1" one I get in with it but it still will not start.

Not sure if that would help at all. I do notice a whirring or something like a small fan sound by the push button when I press it in on instances when the car won't start. I don't hear it on instances when the car starts. Is the start enable relay located by the push button in the dash?