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Subaru Outback/Legacy Starting Issues

156 messages,  Last post on Nov 20, 2012 at 1:48 PM

You are in the Subaru Legacy & Outback Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Outback, Subaru Legacy, Electrical, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 13 of 16

#116 of 156 Subaru Outback randomly won't start... by dsmitty

Oct 22, 2008 (7:11 pm)

I have a 2000 outback. Recently I'll go to start it and sometimes it will start right up, other times I turn the key and all the dash lights, radio etc. comes on, but the engine does not turn over at all. It doesn't make a sound. I can turn the key 5, 10, even 15 times or more before it will suddenly start up on the umpth try. Is this a starter motor problem?
 
Any suggestions?

#117 of 156 Re: Subaru Outback randomly won't start... [dsmitty] by ateixeira

Oct 23, 2008 (12:00 pm)

Replying to: dsmitty (Oct 22, 2008 7:11 pm)
That would be my guess...

#118 of 156 Re: Subaru Outback randomly won't start... [ateixeira] by xwesx

Oct 23, 2008 (1:33 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Oct 23, 2008 12:00 pm)
This was a fairly common issue for a few years. I had it in my 1996 Outback, and have come across several local Subaru owners (same generation, 1995-1999) suffering the same issue. It may be a faulty starter solenoid (mine seems to have been), but replacing it does not cure the problem in all cases.
 
I would, however, start there.

#119 of 156 2000 Outback Sedan won't start by slduthie

Nov 20, 2008 (11:59 am)

I just went to our local "all batteries all the time" store and had the battery in my fob replaced as was the first suggestion of my mechanic. Unfortunately, to no avail. I hopped in my car this morning and it started just fine, drove out to my barn to care for my horses and about an hour later hopped in and expected her to just start on up again and nothing. No radio, no clock, no click, no build up of fuel. It seems like the security system is involved somehow and the car is reacting like its being stolen, but there's no loud horn, no locking doors. I am sure the fob is in good working order, but what do I do about my car? Its been in regular maintenance since the day I bought her, she just got a new battery no more than 4 months ago. Gas tank is half full. She just refuses to start. I called a dealership and all they could recommend was to disconnect and clean the battery terminals. Any ideas from any folks out there?

#120 of 156 Engine Noise by alevasseur

Nov 20, 2008 (5:24 pm)

I just bought a 2003 subaru legacy sedan and there was a bit of a noise when I bought it, but i just thought this was the norm for subaru...now with the cold, it has been worse, but does not go seem to go away. There also seems to be a very quite whine now as well. Anyone any ideas what the problem could be?

#121 of 156 Re: Engine Noise [alevasseur] by xwesx

Nov 21, 2008 (5:33 pm)

Replying to: alevasseur (Nov 20, 2008 5:24 pm)
Can you describe the "bit of a noise?" I almost want to say piston slap, but that has rather distinctive characteristics so a better description from you could pin it down.
 
The whine may be a pulley bearing, but I could not tell you on what. It could be an accessory or a timing belt pulley.

#122 of 156 won't start when warm by Chris15961

Dec 03, 2008 (6:00 pm)

I've got a '96 legacy AWD wagon. Cold starts are fine, but if I shut it down after the engine is warm, it won't restart. wait 20 to 30 minutes and it will start. thoughts?

#123 of 156 Re: won't start when warm [Chris15961] by xwesx

Dec 04, 2008 (9:17 am)

Replying to: Chris15961 (Dec 03, 2008 6:00 pm)
Yeah, that is a tricky one.... Mine did this as well - for years. I always said that it was not an "errand" car, as you never knew when it was going to leave you sitting. My general rule for it was that if it failed to start after its normal 2-3 cranks, I would wait 5 minutes then try again. It would normally start the 3rd or 4th try (10-15 minutes of waiting), but sometimes would take as long as 30-40 minutes! That was okay during the summer, but very frustrating at -40F.
 
Ultimately, though, I ended up having the knock sensor go out. When that happened, I replaced the knock sensor and, on a whim, the crank and camshaft sensors at the same time. After that, I no longer had the cold start issues associated with the faulty knock sensor, but also had no more problems with the no-start situation. I have no idea whether doing this on yours would alleviate the problem for you or which sensor it was that may have actually been the root of the problem, but this was my experience.
 
Good luck - I know how frustrating it is, especially because it would not throw a code in the computer and therefore no shop was able/willing to diagnose it. I spent hundreds of dollars on shops trying to figure this one out before I finally gave up and decided to live with it. If I knew I was going to only be at a place for 30 minutes or less, I would usually leave the car running to avoid having to deal with it. Four years passed before the knock sensor issue finally came along and fixing it had the very happy side effect of eliminating the no-start problem.

#124 of 156 Re: won't start when warm [xwesx] by paisan

Dec 07, 2008 (12:17 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Dec 04, 2008 9:17 am)
Interesting, I have a similar problem on my dad's 95 Impreza L.
 
Cold starts are ok. Warm starts sometimes don't start. So far I've done battery, alternator, distributor pack, and the ignitor.
 
I will try the knock, and crank position sensors next
 
-mike

#125 of 156 Re: won't start when warm [paisan] by xwesx

Dec 08, 2008 (5:39 pm)

Replying to: paisan (Dec 07, 2008 12:17 pm)
I know, this one is terribly frustrating. I hate throwing parts at a car with nothing more than a hope it will fix the problem.
 
I was having stall issues early in my ownership of it (September 2000) and same deal there - no codes, shops could not help. One of the shops suggested I try replacing the mass airflow sensor. I did (with a used one) and no more stall problems. Oddly, though, I knew someone last spring who had a '98 Impreza 2.5L with a bad MAS and the car would not run at all. I offered him my MAS, but with the disclaimer that the car could have intermittent stalling problems. He took it, and nearly insisted on paying for it (though I finally convinced him that we were doing each other favors by him just taking it ), and apparently it works fine for him.
 
I did recommend that he clean the sensor before installing it, but do not know whether he did so. I now wonder if that part was ever even bad.... ?

Messages Page 13 of 16

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