Car started up fine.. Got to the gas station pumped and when I was done I went to leave and car would not start.. All you heard was a click from the starter.. banged on it a few times and that did not help..

 

Tried a few more times trying to start and it finally did turn over..

 

I got home and turned off the car and started it up again and it was fine :-/

Was that click the solenoid? If so it's probably the copper contacts that feed juice to the starter. Cheap and easy fix.

Ditto to what Olnick said. If the starter is original and has anything over 100k miles, worn out contacts are the likely problem. Cheap and easy repair, once you get the starter out.

Was that click the solenoid? If so it's probably the copper contacts that feed juice to the starter. Cheap and easy fix.

 

Yeah the solenoid

What they said, probably just the contacts in the starter. There used to be a seller on eBay that had kits with new contacts.

You can only get it from ebay?

people said they ordered from this place

 

http://www.nationsautoelectric.com/densoparts.html

 

but what one do I need?

Describe to them your car and they should send you the proper kit.

 

Some Subaru dealers stock the contacts, other dealers deny that they can be bought.

 

I have rebuilt two Denso starters; I bought the contacts at a local starter/alternator repair place.

I don't see a part number at all for the contacts at the dealers I mean I can ask but I don't think I will get too far.

Like I said, some dealers either deny they exist, or don't know they exist. I suggest that you go with the NationsAutoElectric suggestion; their price is good and will include contacts, plunger, and probably instructions.

Edited March 11, 201214 yr by J A Blazer
typo

Call around locally. Try an auto-electric shop, the starter/alternator repair places that J A Blazer mentioned. Or try Toyota too--they used Denso starters.

 

Then, if someone has contacts, I suggest taking your old ones out and carrying them with you to make a visual match--there are several different styles.

 

I doubt that you will need a new circular plunger contact, just clean your old one up with emery sandpaper.

 

Good luck!

I will contact them to find out.. but one question the contacts are for the stater right? and the plunger is what pushes out the stater gear to mesh with the flywheel right?

 

So glad Subaru starters are easy to get to unlike some other cars I've dealt with

The plunger forces the toothed drive gear towards the starter plate attached to the torque converter (or to the flywheel if yours is a stick shift) at the same time it completes the circuit between the two contacts, thus permitting the flow of current to the starter motor and causing it to spin.

. . . the contacts are for the stater right? and the plunger is what pushes out the stater gear to mesh with the flywheel right?

 

Right. But the contacts are mounted in the solenoid housing and the plunger has a copper "washer" on it that closes the circuit to provide power to the starter motor.

For contacts, you need to see an optometrist ...

 

They're about $7 from a subaru dealer. That's where I got mine.

For contacts, you need to see an optometrist ...

 

They're about $7 from a subaru dealer. That's where I got mine.

 

 

All of the dealers I called in my area said they were not available. I went to an auto electric shop and they matched up the ones I brought in. It was around $5

 

If you post what dealer you are buying them from people could call and have them shipped anywhere. My dealer is close to an hour away so I have parts shipped all the time. I don't see why they wouldn't

All of the dealers I called in my area said they were not available. I went to an auto electric shop and they matched up the ones I brought in. It was around $5

 

If you post what dealer you are buying them from people could call and have them shipped anywhere. My dealer is close to an hour away so I have parts shipped all the time. I don't see why they wouldn't

 

Ya, I have stuff shipped as the dealer is over an hour and a half from me.

It was Evergreen subaru in Auburn Maine.

I haven't bought contacts from there in over a year, fortunately I haven't needed any... Dunno if they still supply them, but they did at one point.

crazy question but why would one need a plunger? It's not a wear item like the Contacts is it?

 

I gotta make a note to stop at the dealer after work to ask about the contacts.

crazy question but why would one need a plunger? It's not a wear item like the Contacts is it?

 

I gotta make a note to stop at the dealer after work to ask about the contacts.

 

I believe the plunger has the contact ring attached to it and I don't thing you can change just the ring. Mine showed decent wear when I changed the contacts but it I left it and it's still working great. I read somewhere that they last along time by changing the contacts.

Ya, I have stuff shipped as the dealer is over an hour and a half from me.

It was Evergreen subaru in Auburn Maine.

I haven't bought contacts from there in over a year, fortunately I haven't needed any... Dunno if they still supply them, but they did at one point.

 

 

Cool thanks, Wouldn't be a bad idea to have a set around. They are real easy to change and for $5 - $7 it would be worth a try rather than buying an new starter if it ever died..

Well look what I found

 

I went to the dealer closest to me when I got off work this morning.. the guy was like clueless.. but he could sell me a starter..

 

So i figured I need to drive to Milford so I will stop at Dan perkins and I know how good the Service department was.. And sure enough the guy was like yeah I think I have some of those.. So he brings out the whole box full of them sorted and picks those out and then the plunger..

 

I opted out for the plunger since the total would of been $35 and from what I hear not needed..

 

Just the contacts alone was $11 so not bad.

 

I just don't know when I will get to it right now This Saturday most likely.

 

You will probably find some pitting on the plunger contact ring, but it can be cleaned up with some fine sandpaper or emory cloth. In my experience the main reason that the starter gets finicky with age is that the contacts wear unevenly, which means that the plunger contact ring does not make good contact with both contacts. Once you open your starter you'll see what I mean.

Moving a little slow but removed the starter just now in like 5 min (yay subaru!)

 

Anyways I'm just waiting for it to cool since I removed it as soon as I got home

 

expect pictures

Pictures

 

How did you get the lower starter nut off so quickly? Did you have the car up on a lift?

Edited March 23, 201214 yr by J A Blazer
typo