Ok, so heres the deal. IDK if this is a common DSM problem or common problem in cars in general. I go to start my car and half the time it'll start on the first attempt. The other half of the time i'll sit there and turn the key about 10-15 times before the car starts. The car has never NOT started but its just super annoying. I had to replace my starter not so long ago and i was hoping this would eliminate the problem but NO!! The car came with an alarm (dont know the brand) and i've heard this might be the alarm causing this. I have also researched "clicking starter problem" and read that adding a relay to the starter might be the answer. Any suggestions on what this might be or if any of you have or have had this happen to them.

This is the site where i read the relay solution
http://www.glenn-ring.com/tech/relay_starter.htm

What's it doing when you turn the key? Does the engine crank? When you're having that starting problem, check for spark, fuel etc. I know the ignitors will cause such problem, sometime they work sometimes not. I had a fuel pump problem with a 1st gen that sometimes started, sometimes didn't. That's why I say , check for spark and fuel.

When it doesn't crank, and you turn the key, do you hear a clicking sound?

if so: (i'm goin by what i remember that happened to havoc on his car)

1) Check the wires that go to the starter, make sure they're making a good connection with the starter. The thicker wires might be corroded on the inside and not making a good connection. some people have ended up needing to replace that part of the harness in extreme cases.

2) Just because you replaced the starter doesn't mean it'll fix it. (you may have bought a defective starter)

3) If you have a turbo timer, unplug the plug-and-play harness from the ignition harness and return the ignition harness to how it was stock. see if that helps.

Yeah i hear a clicking noise, i have no turbo timer car is basically stock besides FMIC, and HKS BOV, nothing big yet. The car ALWAYS starts but not always on the first turn of the key. Ive looked for videos of people with similar problems but nothing. I think i might need a new batter but i dont think this is whats causeing the problem. Ive tried a diff battery and same thing.

trust, this isn't only a problem to you. i know of a couple people who've had that problem lately.

i'd try jumping the starter to make sure the 1) solenoid pops out the gear, and 2) the gear spins. if they work fine, it's a problem most likely in the harness somewhere, not the starter.

when you replaced the starter, did you replace it for this same issue? if so, did you have that 'oid' starter tested out of the vehicle to make sure it needed replacing?

one sold the car the problem was in, the other still has the problem


how are the connections to the battery? are the battery connectors clean? that might affect it too.

Dude me and you are on the same boat so far I replaced the battery brand new nothing still the same problem, replaced the starter brand new still same problem, replaced the wires that go from the terminal to the starter nothing still same problem. I dont know what it is but im thinking it might the ignition switch or something. Do you hear a type of clicking noise coming from under the radio when you turn the key.

I had the SAME problem crop up a few months ago. While inspecting the wires I tugged on the starter cable and it snapped clean off the terminal at the starter end. I bought a new terminal and stripped the insulation on the cable back to expose some clean wiring, then attached the new terminal. The problem went away entirely, but then came back about a week ago!!! o.O

At this point I'm going to re-check all the wiring to make sure its good, but my battery is also suspect. I have a red top Optima which is a great battery, but I accidentally let it fully discharge twice (which is really bad for AGM batteries).

My car NEVER had any starting problems before this. It's really frustrating. I'll let you know if I find anything.

this is the one where the guy eventually puts on a push start button
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/newbie- ... start.html

Recommended??
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/newbie- ... setup.html

Similar to my issue
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