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Subaru Crew Problems & Solutions

19283 messages,  Last post on May 01, 2013 at 9:15 AM

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What is this discussion about? Subaru Impreza, Subaru Outback, Subaru Forester, Subaru Legacy, Coupe, Sedan, Wagon, SUV


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Messages Page 1739 of 1929

#17378 of 19283 01 outback won't turn over by bes001

Sep 05, 2007 (8:58 am)

I recently purchased a 2001 Subaru Outback 2.5 Liter with 76000 miles. It is from out of state and I wasn't able to personally test drive it. A friend test drove it for me. While test driving he shut the vehicle off and then was unable to get it to even turn over. The passenger was a mechanic and thought to tap the gear shift and it started and ran fine. (We think it might be a neutral stop/safety switch). On the way home from the destination the vehicle killed at a stop light and several minutes later after jiggling and jostling everthing in the vehicle it started. It then drove fine the remainder of the distance to his house roughly 3 hours on interstate. I had sceduled to have another friend finish the relay to my home. The next morning he was in route to the rondevous point when he pulled over to run an errand and found the car again dead. Frustrated for both him and myself I called a tow truck. When the tow truck eventually got there 1 1/2 hours later the vehicle started without problem and he drove it up on his trailer. I have no idea what is causing this because I now have it at my home and have driven it and shut it off and restarted it with no problems. I am afraid it is going to let me down sometime when I need it most. Any idea what may be going on?? Any help will be greatly appreciated.
 
Thanks,
Ben

#17379 of 19283 Re: 01 outback won't turn over [bes001] by xwesx

Sep 05, 2007 (11:04 am)

Replying to: bes001 (Sep 05, 2007 8:58 am)
There might be a couple of problems. The shift interlock and either a loose ground connection to the starter, or the starter solenoid is going bad.
 
But, when you say the car is dead, what does that mean? Does that mean there is no power anywhere in the car? Does the engine give no response when trying to start it? Does it 'click?'

#17380 of 19283 Re: 01 outback won't turn over [xwesx] by bes001

Sep 05, 2007 (7:11 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Sep 05, 2007 11:04 am)
It just happened to me personally and it is the shift interlock. The vehicle was running and I placed it in park while waiting at a light to grab something from the floor and when I went to place it in drive it would not come out of park. I had to use the lock override button to get it into drive. Upon arriving at my destination I shut it off and was unable to start it in park and it wouldn't let me take it out of park without pushing the override. It will start in neutral. I find it interesting that it is intermitant because it will now start in park and shift without problems. Is this an easy fix?

#17381 of 19283 Re: 01 outback won't turn over [bes001] by bes001

Sep 05, 2007 (7:14 pm)

Replying to: bes001 (Sep 05, 2007 7:11 pm)
To answer your first questions. No it doesn't click when you turn the key and the dash powers up ect. Just no response or noise when key is in cranking position.

#17382 of 19283 Re: 01 outback won't turn over [bes001] by paisan

Sep 05, 2007 (8:08 pm)

Replying to: bes001 (Sep 05, 2007 7:14 pm)
Should be a relatively easy fix.
 
-mike

#17383 of 19283 Re: 01 outback won't turn over [bes001] by xwesx

Sep 06, 2007 (12:18 pm)

Replying to: bes001 (Sep 05, 2007 7:14 pm)
Yes, then I think the shift interlock is likely the only problem. Should be an easy fix (in terms of expense), though I have never performed it.

#17384 of 19283 shift lever problem? by cptplt

Sep 07, 2007 (1:28 am)

I had a problem with my 98 which I traced to my bad habit of keeping my cell phone and other junk in the little space in front of the shift lever which would bump against the junk and not quite get into P properly even though it looked like it was in P and so the safety switch would stop me from starting the next time I tried to drive.

#17385 of 19283 Re: well [paisan] by orangelebaron

Sep 10, 2007 (7:52 pm)

Replying to: paisan (Aug 06, 2007 4:00 pm)
I filled the car with premium a couple weeks ago and the CEL went off after a couple days.
Well, last week I put regular in and BAM! the CEL went on again. So a few days ago back with 93 fill up and today it went off.
I got the catalyst code when I brought it to Advanced Auto.

#17387 of 19283 similar won't turn over pt2 by jumbob

Oct 11, 2007 (12:33 pm)

1998 outback- Several times now the car only clicks when trying to start it. I have found that turning on the key to full on position, stepping on the brake , and shifting to N or back to P, it has started as normal. Neutral switch seems very likely, battery seems good, I replaced it not long ago, when the starter spins it has good speed. Terminals are tight. Yesterday it took my wife 15 min. of switching between N and P and as I arrived it had started. I took it in three days ago to a very trusted auto repair place, they couldn't find anything wrong "couldn't replicate the probelm", and didn't charge me. Will this show on the computer codes? I haven't tried just clicking until it starts in the same gear, maybe shifting (nuetral switch) it is not the problem, it could be just the solenoid. Is there a way of isolating the solenoid?
 
Will the computer codes report a lock out due to anti-thief devices?
It seems when it clicks but doesn't start can be: neutral switch, or anti-thief circuit, lose wire to solenoid or just solenoid (knowing the battery and battery terminals are good). How can you tell which?
 
Also for my wife's 2 cents, she would just replace the starter/solenoid ($100 plus labor), she is freaked out she will be stuck somewhere. What do you think, just throw money at it and hope the solenoid is the problem?

Messages Page 1739 of 1929

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