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The starter used in 1st gen Subarus have a built-in stater solenoid. Solenoid contact failure is a well known issue that exhibits starter actuating, but not turning.

I had that issue about 4,000 miles ago. I got part 12144 Ultima brand starter from O'Reilleys and it fixed the problem.

When I took the old one out, it looks like the previous owner installed the same Ultima brand one too, because the label was the same.

I've only had the new re-built starter for only 3,000 miles and its doing the same crap again!

Just get a used OEM one from a junkyard or craigslist or here or NASIOC or any other place. I'd never buy a rebuilt anything basically. Especially from an auto parts store. You can buy a couple starters used for the price of one from the autoparts store or you can go on ebay and get the contacts kit and attempt to fix it yourself. I did this once and it didn't last so I don't recommend it. Junkyard starters can be had for $20.

Almost Can't go wrong with oem used starter. Mine is the original one with over 500,000 and never changed the contacts. I've have changed contacts in my wife's, works flawless (13$ fix).

The aftermarket starters suck so bad its unbelievable. They can't spend more than $5 in parts rebuilding them, the solenoids they use are barely worth any money at all. To get a decent quality one you can spend upwards of $250. Or you can do as mentioned and get a used OEM one that's one billion percent better and ten time cheaper.

kimokalihi wrote:Just get a used OEM one from a junkyard or craigslist or here or NASIOC or any other place. I'd never buy a rebuilt anything basically. Especially from an auto parts store. You can buy a couple starters used for the price of one from the autoparts store or you can go on ebay and get the contacts kit and attempt to fix it yourself. I did this once and it didn't last so I don't recommend it. Junkyard starters can be had for $20.

I did too. It didn't really work out. I think the issue is getting the contacts to line up properly and getting them stay lined up.

Aren't these rebuilds rebuilt form OEMs? When I go find a used one, how do I go about locating an unmolested OEM one?

I bought a reman one from the dealership, it was $30 more than auto parts stores iirc. No issues after a year.

91Beater wrote:

kimokalihi wrote:Just get a used OEM one from a junkyard or craigslist or here or NASIOC or any other place. I'd never buy a rebuilt anything basically. Especially from an auto parts store. You can buy a couple starters used for the price of one from the autoparts store or you can go on ebay and get the contacts kit and attempt to fix it yourself. I did this once and it didn't last so I don't recommend it. Junkyard starters can be had for $20.

I did too. It didn't really work out. I think the issue is getting the contacts to line up properly and getting them stay lined up.

Aren't these rebuilds rebuilt form OEMs? When I go find a used one, how do I go about locating an unmolested OEM one?

Its gonna be hit or miss. With the money you spend on a rebuilt one buy a couple and have a spare. Try to find one with the lowest miles. You could take the caps off and inspect the contacts and get the least worn starter.

Dealer says rebuilt OEM is $250....
Napa premium rebuilt is $100. How's that? Better than O'Reilley Ultima?

Hmm, I don't remember there being that much of a gap. maybe I'm thinking alternator, cause there's no way I'd pay 250 for a stinkin starter.

If subaru is anything like honda the alternator will be up in the $600+ range.

hmmm... this one?
http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/Catal ... 0064061615

or this one?
http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/Catal ... 0226163848

The bottom one is for an auto trans equipped car. The top one is for a manual trans equipped car.

Bought a brand new NAPA premium. The materials used is visibly better.

Here's what O'Reilley Auto Parts look Ultima brand 12144 looked like after 4,000 miles/11mo of use:
Look at how the long contact is severely worn and wear is slanted. Note how the short electrode hardly wore. The direction of wear clearly shows that the contact twisted in the direction of mounting screw tightening and the the silly cardboard insulator failed to hold it in place. This means that the high side made pointy contacts with small surface area rather than spreading out over the whole area causing highly accelerated wear.

I called 'n Bi#ched and they took it back... but having to replace starters twice in 4,000 miles is aggravating!



Is that freaking card board that's insulating the contacts from the case? It doesn't look like it provides good support for the contacts and I wouldn't be surprised if contacts become misaligned and crooked with this.

The copper colored thing inside the housing is worn out bits of the contacts. Wait, this much wear in 4,000 miles? (and I drive about 60% highway). You'd think that it came out of a delivery truck that is restarted every minute and every 400ft of driving.



Now for brand new NAPA(~$114) . The support material is made of rigid fiberglass like material. The cover for solenoid assembly was attached with a gasket in between. Not on the O'Reilley Ultima 12144($80) rebuilt one.

The brand new NAPA was individually tested and mine came with actual test result showing torque curve and power output for the actual unit of starter, not generalized test data. This photo was taken before I ever applied power to it. The presence of small burn mark proves it was energized at factory for testing.

Yeah, I've had that problem when I replaced the contacts myself. Getting the contacts aligned properly so the plunger hits evenly can be kind of difficult.

Was it untampered OEM or was it a rebuild? I wonder what kind of supporting insulation material factory new OEMs use.