Electrical gremlins... Car wont start!

[Jord]

Right so my 99' B4 has developed a electrical problem that has me rather stumped. The car has had the battery run down many times over the years mainly from having the car sitting unused for weeks on end and the alarm draining the battery. Since buying a new forester as a daily, the car sat unused for approx 1 month before being used again. When I went to start the car, unsurprising the battery seemed flat. Attempted to jump start the car which also failed, so I went out and bought a new battery as it was due for replacement anyway. Fitted the new battery and now the car is behaving in a very odd manner. The starter kicks over no worries and the fuel pump primes but the ignition wont catch. Then when I remove the key from the ignition, the CEL light appears very faintly and the radiator fans come on and will stay on unless disconnect one of the terminals on the battery!

Any ideas on where to even start?

[Koom]

Have you checked for fault codes?

http://clubsub.org.nz/forum/showthread.php?4799-Full-list-of-fault-codes

Although I'm unsure if that still applies with the 99 models?

[Jord]

Sorry yes should of mentioned I checked the codes.. nothing present.

Car has a Uniden alarm/immobiliser that came fitted when I purchased the car. Was very poorly wired in, but had it rewired two years ago. Unsure if it has anything to do with the problem, you can here what sounds like the central locking clicking very fast when cranking the engine?

[Jord]

Right so went and had another go at trying to start it, got it to run for about 3 seconds before dying. Tried a second time and noticed the CEL lamp wouldn't illuminate and the fuel pump was constantly running - no ignition. Tried a third time and I could here relays ticking in behind the glovebox. So the problem seems to have no consistency to it, could poor earthing cause issues like this?

[94 Leone]

 Jord said:

Right so went and had another go at trying to start it, got it to run for about 3 seconds before dying. Tried a second time and noticed the CEL lamp wouldn't illuminate and the fuel pump was constantly running - no ignition. Tried a third time and I could here relays ticking in behind the glovebox. So the problem seems to have no consistency to it, could poor earthing cause issues like this?

My legacy did that when the battery was utterly shagged.the relay behind glovebox thing.

[Jord]

Its got a brand new battery in it.

[boon]

Is the brand new battery completely flat? I've seen that a few times.

That, or is your negative terminal completely filthy?

[Marky]

For what you are describing I'm thinking the alarm is having a bit of an acid flashback or something

If the battery was poos it wouldn't crank, once it's started the condition of the battery shouldn't matter

Lack of CEL and fuel pump having a 1 pump party points me at an alarm fudgery - it generally has a hand in disabling both those things (ECU / ignition and fuel pump disable on most?) so makes sense it could make the pump go when not meant to etc