Dulcineigha

Hi everybody... I've been a lurker for a while, but after surfing forums I'm still stumped by my Subaru's electrical gremlin. It's an automatic, 1999 (30th Anniversary Edition) Legacy Sedan. I'll appreciate input from anyone with ideas or similar problems. Symptoms: There's a delay between turning the key to START position and the car starting. There is total silence, not a single click (in steering column or at starter). All the other electrical systems seem to be functioning normally at that time (doors, radio, headlights, dome light, etc). Check engine light has NEVER been on, and I do get the expected dashboard lights when I try to start it. Usually if I hold the key in the START position, or if I turn the key several times, it will start... as in, it fires up immediately. I don't even hear the starting turning more than minimally required. I turn the key and VROOM!!! Sometimes it won't start at all, but if I leave it for a while (even to go inside and grab my coat 'cause I'll be walking to work) and then try again it fires right up. I can start the car in Park or Neutral, but changing gears doesn't help when it won't start... nor does pushing the gearshift forward harder. It only happens in the morning, and seems to be related to cold weather. After repairs (list to follow), the delay eventually returns but is brief, then it gets longer, then it doesn't start without a few tries, then it won't start at all, etc. Last year I had my mechanic replace the "ignition"... I don't know the term, but I ended up with a new key... I don't know if the ignition switch is a separate component so I can't say for sure if that was replaced. Naturally my mechanic can't recall (but thinks it was all apiece). When that didn't help I took out the starter, took it to a shop where it tested "bad", so I replaced it with a rebuilt one (hope I won't regret that... it was a bear to get it in and out around all the other parts). The problem seemed fine until this fall when it all started again. Finally it wouldn't start, and I had the battery tested... "bad". I was told that it should have lasted longer and got a prorated price on the new one. After replacing the battery last week, it is still pausing before starting. Other electrical issues: The light under the shifter illuminates VERY VERY rarely (as in, I think it's come on twice in the last three years). Last year, the speedometer started to fail intermittently... the needle just sags. When I turn the radio off, there's a slight delay, and then the needle jumps back up to where it ought to be and it works fine again. It's infrequent, so I haven't addressed the issue... but some posts on this site indicate that the speedometer head is an issue for this model/year. It has an aftermarket alarm system, and I'm wondering if somebody screwed up something during the installation. So... do I replace the neutral safety switch? Starter relay? What else IS there? Does this sound like a switch or a connection issue? Think I've got a mysterious electrical drain somewhere? The battery terminals are clean, the cable to the starter also fine. I'm planning on getting a friend with a voltmeter to help me this weekend, but electrical stuff freaks me out so I'm not well-versed or really gung-ho. I'm also having trouble finding a wiring diagram, which would be a BIG help. Thanks, everybody. The game's afoot! ~D