Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

Ultimate Subaru Message Board

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Starting problems on an 1989 Legacy RS

Featured Replies

Hi,

 

I have 1989 Legacy RS & im having starting problems.

There is power when i turn the ignition on but the engine is not turning over

I have just brought a new battery but its still not working?

Starter motor faulty?

Ignition?

 

 

any answers would be appreciated

 

Cheers

Is your car Manual transmission.? If it is not turning over at all, but you have lights etc, maybe its just a jammed starter motor. Stick it into 3rd gear, with the ignition OFF and rock it back and forward. You may hear a click as the pinion disengages from the flywheel. If that fails, check the continuity of the starter motor--------it should read very low ohms ~1 ohm. If it is burnt out, it will be open circuit and read OL or a very high figure.

If it clicks when you turn the key, then it is probably just jammed.

I wouldn't know about an 89, but a lot of people with early to mid 90ish cars have had the starter contacts fail. Inexpensive part and not too difficult to replace if you are somewhat mechanically inclined. Do a search and you'll find a few threads.

 

Commuter

they had a legacy in 89? didn't know that.

Legacys were introducted in Japan in 1989, there were sold in Austraila and New Zealand that same year. Some of these, I think the RS was one of them, had an EJ20G (turbo) engine. When I built UltimateRX, I said that Subaru could have built that car, they were producing both the RX series car and teh EJ20G engine that I put into it.

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

Sign In Now

Account

Navigation

Search

Search

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.