Weird starter fail?

Technical info on the Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Matrix including do-it-yourself info
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Chiadog
Posts: 971
Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2012 9:41 am
Location: Abrams, wisconsin

Weird starter fail?

Post by Chiadog »

Straight from the X( er.. V?) files.
If I put my 2005 Vibe in neutral with the engine running. The engine shuts down in 30 seconds or so. The engine then restarts itself - without my input.
Also, turning key to "RUN"(not start) with tranny in neutral causes the engine to start itself.
Any ideas?
Any members want to try to duplicate this with their car?
I just bought this car and I'm guessing it has remnants of a remote start system lingering in the the computer brain. Either that or I bought "Christine".
For now, I'll be avoiding "neutral".
thanks,
chiadog
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joatmon
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Joined: Fri Mar 21, 2003 5:19 am
Location: Room 101

Re: Weird starter fail?

Post by joatmon »

That is weird, can't imagine it behaving like that when things are stock and working normally.

Do you see any evidence of a previous remote start install?

Sounds haunted, be extra careful if the radio starts playing 50's tunes
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Chiadog
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Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2012 9:41 am
Location: Abrams, wisconsin

Re: Weird starter fail?

Post by Chiadog »

I'm not sure I'd know remote-start components, if I saw them. But Nothing looks amiss under the hood or under the dash!
chiadog
cq358
Posts: 348
Joined: Sat Nov 22, 2008 5:19 am

Re: Weird starter fail?

Post by cq358 »

#1 Since your vibe got the front end remodeled, there could be something at the electrical side which is loose connection, a cut /short/loose ground at the wire harness can bring problem like this. Start with the ignition fuse/relay and start tracing your wiring.

#2 check if there was indeed remote start installed. I have no knowledge about installing remote start " check youtube" . but If they had remote start they need to splice the wire harness somewhere.
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Chiadog
Posts: 971
Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2012 9:41 am
Location: Abrams, wisconsin

Re: Weird starter fail?

Post by Chiadog »

Thanks CQ,
Good ideas! For now it's on the back burner, and I am being careful not to use neutral at all. Oh, and I did put full coverage on the car just in-case.
chiadog
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