Help - Starter issues?

[pip9ball]

Hi All -

 

I'm looking for some help what direction to take given the following.

 

1.) My son's 2005 Subaru Legacy wouldn't start the other day. I checked the battery, connections, etc and even tried jumping the car with my truck to no avail. We heard a series of clicks coming from the start so I decided to try the old trick and tapping the starter with a wrench. Viola! This worked and allowed us to get the car home.

 

2.) I purchased a reman Ultima starter from Oreillys and installed it tonight. On the first attempt, I heard the clicking but the car started although it sounded like the battery was dying. Dash lights dimmed, etc. I turned the car off and tried to start again and nothing but clicking. I hooked the battery up to a charger and double checked all the connections to the starter as well as ensured the battery terminals were clean and tight. I attempted to start the car every 10-15 minutes for about an hour and never was able to get it start.

 

3.) I pulled off the new starter and put back on the old starter and it started right away. A few off/on attempts and it finally exhibited the clicking sound. Another tap with a wrench and car starts.

 

At this point, am I right in assuming that the issue is definitely the starter and the new starter is also bad? What are some other things I can test?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Phil

[Max Capacity]

Some auto parts stores can test the starter for you. I'd do that next.

[relative4]

That and get the battery load tested and thoroughly reinspect and CLEAN the connections.

[pip9ball]

Why would it be the battery if tapping on the starter temporarily allows the starter to function?

 

Perhaps a function of both dying battery and starter? Do new starters require more power to turn the motor? Just trying to determine why the new starter wouldn't start that car but the old one will work some coercing.

 

Thx,

 

Phil

[Infosecdad]

Take the reman one back and have them test it as well. Sometimes they slip through and aren't functioning properly.

[Wasted Potential]

If you just started it and shut it off there isn't much charging going on?

If it's like the old days (I know my mustang starter had issues), and a hammer did the trick, I presume starter.

[guzzimutt]

I had a similar experience and I thought it was the starter. So I bought a new starter from AutoZone but it didn't help. So I drove back to AutoZone and had them test the battery and low and behold it was completely spent. Almost no cold crank amperage at all.

I never thought it was the battery because it was a year old and one of those gel batteries. Luckily they gave me some money back on the expensive gel battery and I bought a regular lead acid and now everything works again.

So- get the battery checked is what Im trying to say.

[pip9ball]

I had the battery load tested and it was indeed bad. I bought a new batter, installed it and still nothing but clicking

 

I bought a new positive battery clamp from local subaru dealer and that didn't help either.

 

Could it have been a combination of bad starter and battery? The reman starter solenoid was also clicking with the old battery same as the old starter with new battery.

 

Any other ideas of what could be wrong?

 

If starter relay was bad, I wouldn't think a signal to the starter would happen at all, correct?

 

Ignition switch?

 

Thanks,

 

Phil

[guzzimutt]

Maybe test/swap out the relay...

[apexi]

could try some of the things he does in this video

 

I wonder if the engine has a bad ground to the frame, seems to be a common issue as these cars get older.

[rougeben83]

The next step with the starter is to always check and see if your starter is getting the 12v trigger to the solenoid. It's just one wire- see if you get a signal when you turn the ignition from the wire hooked up to your starter. If it's not consistent, then its the starter relay.

 

Is this an auto or manual car? Because the manuals also have a neutral safety switch that needs to be grounded effectively in order to get the trigger to the starter.