[Gotter]

My experience with a failing starters has been that of a slow drawn-out death... so when my wife's Subaru Outback failed to start today (Happy Father's Day!), I immediately thought alternator or battery... except everything - EVERYTHING - works. Windows, radio, cold A/C... but the car won't try to turnover. This was sudden and with only one clue to impending failure. On our 15-minute drive to PetSmart, while waiting to turn left, an electrical gremlin reared its ugly head.

With the blinker on, the RPM gauge would jump from 0RPM to the real reading opposite of the dashboard blinker coming on and off. No power shortages, nothing else to say "Hey, I'm about to crap out on you."

So, what do you guys think? I still think starter, even though it doesn't really follow the MO I'm accustomed to. The shop - all shops - were closed when the tow truck arrived at 6pm, so I will get the official diagnosis tomorrow, but want to get a second opinion before they come up with some crackhead problem.

Did I mention I had to work this morning? No? Yeah, I had a great Dad's Day. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mad.gif[/img]

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[blue-968]

my Guess is an alternator
please update after diagnosed

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[flash]

quite possibly merely a bad cable or connection - low current things will still work with a hinky connection, but high current things like the starter won't

also, it could be low on water if it is not a sealed battery - this time of year batteries are notorious for this - top up as necessary with distilled water (not tap water)

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[S_Cal968]

My guess is a failed ground connection or an issue with the starter solenoid.

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[Gotter]

Let the betting begin, then! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]

I'll post the diagnosis as soon as I hear something - maybe by 1pm EST today... Pacific Coasters will have a slight time disadvantage. LOL

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[Gotter]

Verdict:





Depleted battery. Specifically the voltage (!) It was a 2007 Quaker State. According to the mechanic the QS batteries are crap to being with, but 2 years??? Anyways, the connections to the battery were fine. I had been under the hood just two weeks ago cleaning things up and I checked out the posts - very little corrosion. Not enough to cause power disruption.

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[flash]

had the same thing about 6 months ago with the oem battery in the 06 denali

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