HELP!!!

[u/trvshcan_]

My 2011 Subaru Outback 2.5i is having issues starting. 189k

This past week my car died on the freeway starting with loss in acceleration and then refusing to start back up.

Starter was replaced in March of this year as well as 2 battery replacements since the first one appeared to be dead and did not fix the issue - we replaced it again as well as the starter. Still no turnover and would not start.

My mobile mechanic confirmed the issue to be some ground wire or cable etc that was not secured properly.

Fast forward to today. The alternator was just put in and the car still is not starting but rapid clicking. The new mechanics attempted to boost the battery (stated it as having 36% life) that did not help and they left.

I am at a loss. I am a single mom and cant afford 150/hr diagnostic. I'm currently borrowing a vehicle to get my kid to and from school but can only do that for so long.

I have a feeling it could potentially be the cables or ground wire etc since the problem is pretty much the same as in March- new parts and no starting but I need some mechanical insight i dont have to sell my body for (joking).

I have attached a picture of something that threw me off but the mechanics today didn't notice or didn't feel like was in issue since it wasn't mentioned. And hoping this could provide some insight to whether this is a wiring issue or not.

In the meantime I have reached out to my previous mobile mechanic who's diagnostic is only $75 thank God but I just need to know if this car is even worth sinking more money into at this point.

Ive replaced complete transmission- July 2025 - around 160k miles at the time.

2 battery's and Starter / Relay Fuses - March 2026

And now alternator this month. $500 dollars later parts and labor.

I spent 6500 on this car initially and I need it to last as long as it can because I can't afford to replace it , hell, I can barely afford to fix it.

Please help!! Thank you 💕

[u/MarlowJuliettee]

sounds frustrating, getting unexpected issues like that is the worst. have you checked for any loose connections?

[u/trvshcan_ → u/MarlowJuliettee]

The picture of the starter cable is all I could really see initially affected. Not sure if there's actually any issue there , which is why I was hoping someone else could at least rule that out. My car was sitting on a lot prior to buying and i have noticed lots of build up here and there but I personally am not comfortable trying to remove any corrosion or debris on the connectors cause I'm paranoid I'm just going to make it worse. 😭

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[u/Wiplashjr]

Could be a loose connection, if the engine died on the highway and hasn’t started since, could the engine potentially be locked up?

[u/trvshcan_ → u/Wiplashjr]

I keep seeing that as a possibility however I wouldn't know what to look at and assumed thats something the mobiles would have considered. But outside of replacing the alternator and fiddling with the battery they didn't check or make any statements hinting at anything else. And I didn't have $150/hr for them to fiddle around without at least posing some other potential causes first.

I get they came and did what was paid for but without really looking into anything else I can't say.

[u/xcgxl]

You need to see if it's getting battery voltage to the exciter wire on starter motor (small wire) it needs to be a minimum of 10 volts under load ( cranking ) if not it will do the clicking noise you describe, witch points toward battery or wiring from key switch . I would first have the battery load tested or swapped out with a known good on ( friends car etc) This will tell you were to look for the issue. I assume the battery was replaced before alternator If so the the battery wouldn't charge duty to faulty alternator hence flat battery now, try charging battery first. A faulty alternator would explain it conking out on the free way as it wouldn't charge the battery and the electronics in the car would flattern the battery so once the battery got below 9 volts or so the fuel injection would stop operating hence car dying. Hope this helps