so I came home from work, started up my Outback lifted hood and heard a jingling noise. Turned engine off, grabbed phone and took a picture of where the noise was coming from. 

Look in the red circle...that bolt shouldn't be free swinging, it's hitting the pulley causing the jingle.

I think I need to replace some things.

Edited January 22, 201412 yr by ghageysh

Looks like the tensioner bracket for your alternator/belt broke. You can replace it in about 10 minutes time. You should be able to find one at a junkyard. Most any 90s legacy bracket should be the same.

Saw your other post. If you were experiencing alternator issues, i'd say you found your culprit.

Saw your other post. If you were experiencing alternator issues, i'd say you found your culprit.

Yep. Found rebuilt alternator at Subaru dealer for $78, but there's a pull for $25 I think I might head out, pull the one for $25 grab the tensioner bracket too. 

I've had good luck with used parts. Chances are though, thyat your alternator is fine. if that tensioner wasn't doing it's job properly, the alternator couldn't charge properly either. Nothing wrong with a $25. alt though. Nice to have as a spare "just in case"

That's the AC belt tensioner, it has nothing to do with the alternator at all. That belt only goes around the AC pump. The other belt goes around the alt and the PS pump.

 

The whole tensioner assembly should be the same up through 2004.

Edited January 22, 201412 yr by 987687

That looks like someone's failure to loosen the lock nut on the pulley before trying to turn the adjuster screw.

 

Not a huge deal really, just makes it a bit tricky to adjust the AC belt. Grab a whole tensioner assembly from a junkyard and put it on when you do the alternator. You could also look/ask in the classified section here. I'm sure someone has a good used one for sale.

I guess I haven't been staring at subaru motors enough lately. I stand corrected.

I guess I haven't been staring at subaru motors enough lately. I stand corrected.

I *just* started staring at them -

If it fails it will only leave you without AC. IF it fails enough though, the belt will cut into the timing belt cover. This part is the same on many years and engines. I believe the one on even a 05 turbo legacy is the same. Easy score at the junkyard.