I have a 1999 subaru forester, it can not start today. The car is auto, 110k miles, awd. In the morning, I tried to start it several times, I can only hear click sounds, but engine did not respond. The battery seems fine, with headlights working fine when key at on. Tonight, I tried to start it again. This time the click sounds disappeared and nothing happened when turning the key. The headlights became very dim and the warning lights (oil pressure and at oil temp) on instrument panel did not show on when key was at on. This is really strange. Any help is highly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

SOURCE: Subaru starting problem

I cleaned the terminals and tightened the connections and solved a similar problem.

Brandon Johnson

• 253 Answers
• Posted on Aug 13, 2009

SOURCE: 97 Subaru Impreza Outback Wagon Occasionally Will Not Start

Hello, I was a Subaru tech for a few years and I agree w/ the other tech about the bad starter. Subaru starters are known for this exact kind of behavior when they are close to the end of their life. Forgive me, but I have to assume that everyone I help knows nothing about cars. You sound like the kind of person that is not convinced until you know exactly what is happening, So here's the breakdown. What happens, is when the starter engages the internal motor causing it to rotate. the positive and negative points (Brushes) make physical contact w/ a cylindrical shaft w/ separated plates providing power and ground to the copper wire windings surrounded by permanent magnets. Considering the enormous drag/load on this system from the engines resistance to rotate due to each compression stroke, a very high peak Amperage is channeled only through those two little brush contacts. They continuously spark inside of the starter, eating away at the brush contacts until they eventually wear away causing them to ground out. What's most likely happening w/ your starter is that whenever you start the vehicle, occasionally, by chance or (kind of like a roulette table) the brush contacts land on one or more of these grounded out spots. Even when you try to start the vehicle and nothing happens, the starter is still being influenced by amperage is trying to turn past this dead spot only very very very very slowly. This is why after you try to start it a few times it will eventually start, especially when you let it sit your actually letting the starter cool down. The more you try to start the vehicle the more the starter will become useless. The easiest test we techs have come up w/ when we get a no start concern, is to go out to the vehicle w/ a 3ft long bar, have someone sit in the vehicle and try starting it. If the starter brush contacts are stuck on a dead spot, we give the starter a good thud and if the starter starts working immediately we know it needs one. Some times it takes a few bonks to get it to work. If the starter is too far gone however, this test will not work and other procedures need to be performed in order to rule out all else as the cause for the concern. I hope this info helps...(subytech1)

Mike Butler

• 6674 Answers
• Posted on Aug 23, 2009

SOURCE: 2004 subaru forester, 99,000 miles. Check engine

Drop in to an Autozone, or Pep Boys, or similar big parts store & they will usually scan for codes free. This will hopefully eliminate all the guess work, or at least point everyone in right direction for better diagnosis. If not obvious from codes what the problem is, get back to us and we'll help you out.

Testimonial: "Thanks for the great suggestion . I'll have Autozone read the codes on Monday. Thanks again!"

SOURCE: '97 subaru legacy L,AWD wagon, 2.2L, auto trans.

Do you hear a 'click' when the key is turned to start? Have someone try the key while you listen under the hood. It should be the starter solenoid clicking. You need either a test light or voltmeter to test further. One large terminal on the solenoid has the large wire from the battery positive, and should always show voltage/light at all times. Test the other side of the solenoid (large terminal) that is connected to the terminal on the starter motor. It should show light/voltage when the key is turned. If it doesn't, the solenoid must be replaced. If it does show light/voltage, then the starter motor is defective (probably brushes). If you get no click when turning the key, test the small terminal on the solenoid, you should see a voltage/light change when the key is turned. If you see a change, but no click, the solenoid coil is open or the case of the solenoid is not grounding where it is mounted. Try loosening the mounting and re-tighten. If no help, replace the solenoid. If you see no change at the small terminal, remove the wire from it and using a spare piece of wire, touch the small terminal to, first, the large terminal that the battery is connected to, then to the the mounting bolt for the solenoid. If the solenoid is good, the starter should operate with one of these two tests. In that case, the starter position of key switch is open--replace the ignition switch.

Dan Doherty

• 1099 Answers
• Posted on Jan 22, 2010

SOURCE: my subaru impreza 2.0 turbo AWD engine has cut out

Could be an air flow fault, check all your air pipes for holes or splits and also check the air flow meter and sensor. just clean them up before going any further.

Also check the earth lead from the battery to the slam panel, and to the gearbox make sure all the earths have a good contact to the car body.