Hi all,

I have a 2006 Mitsubishi Outlander with 143,000 miles, 2.4L 4-cylinder engine, and automatic transmission. The car has been difficult to start for the past 4 years. Sometimes it starts up the first time, other times it takes a few tries. At times, keeping the car in the "ON" position for a few seconds before turning the key to the "START" position helps. It's now gotten really hard to start. I got a new battery shortly after I started having the starting issue and it didn't help.

When the car doesn't start, I can hear the relay clicking, but the starter doesn't make any noise (not even a clicking sound).I took the following voltage readings:

• 12.44v across the battery terminals with the car off.
• 12.44v between the negative battery terminal and the positive cable on the starter with the car off.
• 12.44v between the starter (when still mounted to the engine) and the positive battery terminal with the car off.
• 12.14v between the negative battery terminal and the small terminal connector when trying to start the car.
• 0v between the negative battery terminal and the small terminal itself on the starter when trying to start the car.
• 0v between the negative battery terminal and the small terminal on the starter when the key isn't in the "START" position.

I removed the starter from the car yesterday and bench tested it by connecting it to the battery terminals using a jumper cables and using a screwdriver between the positive terminal on the starter and the small terminal. I tried it a few times and the starter worked every time (the gear pushed out and spun).

I checked resistance between the negative battery terminal and the starter, and it was zero. I checked resistance between the positive battery terminal and the positive power active lug on the starter, and it was zero. The voltage drop between each was miniscule when trying to start the car (no crank though).

The engine is not seized.

When I use pliers to bridge the positive terminal on the starter and the small terminal on the starter, the car cranks.

Edit: I did some additional testing today and updated the above with the latest info. Thanks again for reading and any help you might be able to provide.