2006 Forester AT, NA (non-turbo) w/ 110,000 miles. I turned the key in the ignition and I heard the starter motor whirling away and the motor turning, but the car doesn't start. I originallly thought the starter was bad, but the motor is turning.

 

It looks like I have a day of troubleshooting ahead of me tomorrow, if the rain holds off.

Edited November 27, 201114 yr by The Dude

The newest I've worked on is a 2002, but I don't think much has changed.

 

Pop the hood, on the drivers side on the back of the engine you will see the starter bolted to the transmission bell housing. You can follow the positive battery cable if you need to.

 

The soleniod is part of the starter, the round cylinder on the top. You can tap it a bit while someone tries to start the car. Make sure your off to the side and it's in park or neutral with the brake set.

 

It's not to hard to pull off:

Disconnect the Negative and the Positive terminals on the battery

Disconnect the Positive from the starter

Disconnect the start wire plug from the back of the starter

Remove the bottom nut

Remove the top bolt

Pull the starter out.

 

You can then bench check it or have it checked.