Well my 03 impreza rs randomly wont start once in a while. I’ll drive to my friends house prolly a 15 min drive, then i’ll be there for 2-3 hrs, i’ll go to leave and my car wont turn over, then i push my car back in neutral maybe a foot and it starts right up(and my car is automatic) which doesnt make any sense to me, i have gotten tests on my battery and alternator and the battery needed to be replaced, so i did, also the alternator was strong, and the issues still continues…And now I’m kind of leaning towards the starting module, but I’m not that confident in my mechanic knowledge… now if ANY ONE can give me a new starting point to try n solve this thing i’d GREATLY appreciate it!
does the car make any noise when you try to start it, or just completely dead? if dead try using a mulit meter on the battery and see if you have any power. maybe a bad ground also
It’s called a neutral safety switch and only allows the car to be started in neutral and park. It’s there so you don’t runover little kiddies. Anybody who has a remote engine start and drives stick will know what I mean lol.
Check that cause that would be my guess. Usually cheap but who knows cause transmission stuff is expensive these days.
Next time skip pushing it and just try moving the gear selector around. Try starting it in neutral too, or neutral to park a couple times and try again. If it starts after just moving from park to neutral a couple times its almost certainly the neutral safety switch.
If that doesn’t do it, give the starter a couple light taps with a hammer, pipe or wrench and see if that does it. Again, without pushing the car. If that works it’s time for a new starter.
I have seen this on another auto subaru. Next time this happens, take notice if the light on the dash board that indicates it is in park is lit. If it is not, tap your shifter toward you. It should light up and the car will start.
There is a problem with the adjustment of the neutral safety switch from the factory. There is a TSB procedure to adjust it properly. It will most likely require you to remove the shifter assembly from the car because you have to make adjustments on the cable but being a buffalo car it will be seized.
If this is something you don’t feel up to tackling PM me and I can set you up with an appointment to have it fixed.
