Ok, first off, thank you in advance. This is my first Subaru but will not be my last. It's a 2002 Legacy and it's an automatic. Has 202,000 on it but it really good shape. Picked up the car for $400 due to a timing belt slip and they couldn't afford to get it fixed so their loss and my gain. That being said... got it all timed right and new belt installed, reconnected the battery and hit the key and all I get is a click sound. No starter click just some sort of electric click. I have headlights and all that but will not engage starter. Figured I'd ask for some advice before I go buying parts since I'm new to Subaru's. didn't know if this was a common problem or what.

Make sure your battery connections are solid.

if you are sure that the battery is good and there is a good connection to the starter, try tapping the starter as someone turns the key.

Don't need to stick your hands down there, just bet a long piece of wood and tap it with a hammer from above.

Starter may be on the way out and it gets stuck on a dead spot?

I traveled with a length of wood and hammer for a few weeks before replacing  my 05 starter.

I think you might be able to rebuild the starter solenoid on yours. Mine was a one piece unit that had to be replaced.

if you turned the engine over with a wrench successfully before trying the starter - can't be locked due to interference. Some folks use the wrong crank sprocket mark to install the belt.

 

check the connections at the starter.

 

bad coincidence maybe that the starter needs a solenoid rebuild as mentioned above - contacts and new plunger are cheap. very common for older Denso starters.

Edited September 18, 20178 yr by 1 Lucky Texan

So... worked on the car last night and no start. Went back over today with a car hauler to pick it up, jumped in, hit the key and it started right up. Was actually able to drive it onto the trailer. Got it home and it started right up and I backed it off the trailer. I've gone out and started it a couple more times since so my thought is the starter. I'll pull it off and have it checked

As 1LT said above the contacts and plunger are cheap enough.

Bunch of youtube videos. Here's one on a 97.

Pretty common for starters to fail intermittently.  Over the years, I have/had 5 subarus, models 1995 to 2002, and I think that I replaced the starters in each of them.  I've used the Advanced Auto starters and haven't had any problems with them.