Anyone else's Z start when it feels like it? Not steering lock...

Riptide67

So long story short I have an 09 that's got 31k on it. Had issues with it starting two weeks into ownership. I thought it was the dreaded SLU and had the steering lock unit replaced at 30,800 miles. Started great every time the first time I pushed the button. One day later same issues but started in 3-4 pushes. Dealership recommended changing the batteries in key fobs. I did and it started everytime on the first try for a week.

I go on a two week vacation. My gf starts it for me while I am gone during week one. Week two I come back and it takes 3-4 pushes to start.

2 months later it is back to me pushing it 30-40 times. I can here a click like it wants to turn but it won't. This is whether the fob is in or out of the key port.

Sometimes it even likes to start if I open the door and let it cycle back to lock.

Any ideas...I am frustrated beyond belief and it is annoying as hell. I'm really afraid it is the ECM which is hella expensive.

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fonzo179

^This. Betrayal. You my friend, have been lied to.....now dump her Kidding, dude. My 2010 Z has 51K miles on it, and the fobs are acting up on me. I got the batteries replaced, but it still acts like it's got a mind of its own. I'm still troubleshooting, good luck brother.

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Riptide67

Hahaha, she is scared of my car as it is. I'm contemplating changing the fob batteries again and then possibly the main car battery. I am waiting for the dealership to get back to me. Not sure how far I will get considering they told me it was fixed the first time.

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gbrettin

Maybe the push button is going bad?

SouthArk370Z

Sometimes there is a pause between pressing the start button and the car turning on and starting. I don't think anyone has figured out why it happens but it seems to me to happen more often if the car was shut off for only a few seconds. Doesn't happen very often, so this may not be your problem. But it's easy to check. Wait for a few seconds (2-5 seconds for me, some have reported longer pauses) after pressing the start button and see if it starts. If it's not that, I'd look for an intermittent clutch/brake switch.

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Riptide67

I have a GTR start button to swap out once it arrives.

Isn't there a switch with the clutch pedal assembly? I'm doing some reading through the site checking for possible causes. I wonder if that could cause it.

But I can literally here the click like it is attempting to start the car. But then my stereo just starts playing and the gauge needles do the goofy little swipe thing.

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kenchan

check your clutch switch. those sometimes go bad.

Riptide67

That's what I think I am going to have the dealership look into.

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dP3NGU1N

You're sure it's not just the main battery? Just sounds like battery is dead/dying. Still enough to power small things but not enough power to crank the engine perhaps.

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fuct

mine does it too. i thought i was crazy but it seems to do it more since i removed the steering lock fuse.

my battery is brand new too.

DEpointfive0

This

And maybe you need a second steering lock

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SouthArk370Z

As far as I can tell, the fuse doesn't have anything to do with the pause. I pulled my fuse and it didn't seem to have any effect. Judging by the other posts I've read, a short (1-3 seconds) pause is "normal" - anything longer makes me suspect clutch/brake switch(es). If it happens more than one in ten starts, I'd also suspect the switches.

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DEpointfive0

There actually was a thread dedicated to a longer pause after pulling the fuse, c'mon SouthArk!!! You're slackin'!!!

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370Zsteve

If the dealer didn't fix it, then they are responsible for fixing it now.

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SouthArk370Z

There have been some reports of it making the pause longer, but nothing I would consider "scientific." I'm all but convinced that the brake/clutch switches are the culprit for long pauses. Edit: and possibly the reason for all pauses.

My guess as to what is happening is that there is a (filtering) capacitor on the ECM/BCM inputs and when the brake/clutch switches get dirty the extra resistance makes it take longer to charge the cap. If anybody has another theory, chime in.

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