I have a 97 legacy outback wagon with the 2.5 and a 5 speed, it runs good but sometimes won't start , like today I ran it parked it , had dinner came out and it wouldn't start, it turns over and you can hear the fuel pump go but it won't start, then I tried it like 30 min later and it started right up, it's done this a few times in the past few weeks, I'm boggled at what it may be, any pointers would be greatly apriciated

When it does it, I'd have a spare plug and plug wire you could hook up and see if the plug is firing.

No spark - cam or crank sensor could be bad

 

If you have spark do you have fuel, pull the intake off and put a cap or two of gas in the intake and see if it starts.  If so, the MAF could be going out.

 

Good luck,

Larry

does it do it only after you have driven it, only when the engine is warm?

does it do it when the engine is cold, first start of the day?

 

if the computer thinks the engine is cold when it is not ,

it could be the ECTS, temp sensor.

I had issues with hot starting on mine. it would start cold but hot was a problem. i would pinch off the fuel line into rails , and it would start as a test. Ended checking the temp sensors on manifold and one was bad. Also had a leaky injector? 

So I believe it was a flood issue due to temp read and injector. This was obd1 and led's were not working

Good luck

Cold and hot, sometimes it does it first thing in the morning with a cold engine

any current or recent check engine lights?

 

I had one not starting for awhile.  Found some other threads that said cam/crank sensors could cause that so I replaced them and no change.
After a year or quite a few months - it finally gave a check engine light and wouldnt' start at all - MAF sensor code, replaced, good to go.

Edited September 24, 201510 yr by grossgary

I've narrowed it down to a spark issue, I ran it today then let it sit ,it continued to start up every time every few minutes till it sat about a hour, then no start, checked with a extra plug no spark, I changed out the cam sensor and it started, I then reinstalled the old cam sensor and it also started and ran fine, so now I'm still not sure, but it is a ignition spark issue

the cam triggers fuel.

the crank triggers spark.

 

have you gotten any trouble codes?

check the codes.

Edited September 25, 201510 yr by johnceggleston

if original, everything on the car is 18 years old, so, I see nothing wrong with 'trying' one or 2 not expensive items.

 

like a new crank position sensor.

Got it, it was the cam sensor all along, thanks guys , it wouldn't start, I installed a different cam sensor and it ran then I reinstalled the original and again no start so installed the new one and it runs good now, it's the engine in my new Buggy, I ran it all day yesterday with no starting issues, so thanks again everyone , you guys are great!