hello everyone
i have a 97 legacy outback wagon AT 99k. in october i was having some hard start problems. i replaced the battery and everything was fine.
a few weeks later, more hard start issues. i couldn't get the problem to repeat for the shop, they started it fine for 2 days with no problems. they cleaned the connections on the starter and i took it home.
a few weeks later, it was hard starting again, but completely stopped turning over. i would try to turn it over, and the dash lights go off (as usual), i would get a click in the dash and no start.
the shop checked it, said...yes, was starter. now i have a new starter.
this weekend, i had strange idle issues, and it took longer for it to turn over. idle kicked up and down, and sometimes felt like it might stall at lights. so, i had the throttle body cleaned (all gummed up.) i also had the dash lights and a clicking (with the flicker of the lights) when the car was turning over. i couldn't get the shop to repeat the problem. so i picked it up yesterday.
it sat all day today...a bit of a hard start, but i drove it for 10 minutes. let is sit for 30 min and then i tried to start it...it began to turn over then stopped. i tried again, and i got nothing. no clicks in the dash when i would turn the key. the battery reads 12.4v still and 11.4 v when i try to turn it over. as i was pushing out of the driveway, the dash lights (AT oil temp, check eng, battery) all started to flash, click and brighten/dim (key in ignition.)
any clues anyone? i've been dealing with starting problems for months now, and it seems like crap always happens to me when the weather gets colder...ie, walking everywhere. the timing belt, water pump, alternator were all replaced at 76k. and now i have a new starter and battery and a very clean throttle body.
thanks in advance!
melissa