A step-by-step DIY video I did on alternator replacement in my 1995 Subaru Legacy. This is an easy job. This video should apply to multiple Subarus. Hope thi…
1995 Subaru Legacy – alternator replacement
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1995, Alternator, Legacy, Replacement, Subaru
- Categories: Subaru
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Glad it helped. Next time (and I hope there won’t be a next time – I hope your new alternator lasts for you), yu should be able to do the job even faster.
Great tutorial, thanks so much. Took me an hour.
thanks for the quick reply
I don’t know offhand. I’d need to see the cars, and even if the plugs are the same, the only way to be 100% sure it would work would be to compare wiring diagrams. Of course, I SUSPECT they’d be the same.
I have a JDM 2.0L forester. Would the alternator output/harness be the same as an american one?
Great job! Swapped out my own alternator with this video.
Ouch. That’s pretty late to have to be doing that job. Glad it worked out for you.
Thanks man took me an hour at 1am in the morning first time ever replacing the alternator.
That’s what I like to hear. Thanks for watching.
Thanks, worked just as described. My car is back up and running.
I’ve had numerous warranty replacements from Advance Auto. Usually, I go through 2 or 3 before lucking into one that works properly. For safety, I picked up a spare alternator from the junkyard.
I meant one day alternator is toast and next day it is fine. Drives around like no problem.
And it was going out about 1-2 times a year, but the last one I put on lasted less than a week. I managed to get it to Subaru twice and they said it was fine. Left last time and only made it 2 miles down the road. One moment it acts like the alternator is toast then the next day it dies. Subaru says intermittent alternator problem. A friend helped me check all connections/wires today. All great, but alternator indicates it is going out.
I have changed the alternator on my ’98 Subaru 5 times now. I keep getting the warrantied reman part from O’Reilly because it is free. I’m sick of this. I do everything you show here. The Subaru dealer just says its because I need the actual Subaru part. Thoughts?
Actually the 13.6 is spot on. But 14 is way to high…but if he’s losing a volt every 4 seconds he needs to check the altinator. It’s probably dead. no car electrical system runs with 14 volts. It’s amps that changes…
I’m very glad it helped. Thanks for the feedback!
AWESOME thanks, watched this and went to go change my own alt. took only 20 minutes with your help.
Keep It UP!
13.6 sounds a bit low. I think you’d be OK at 13.8, but 14 is generally the accepted number. It might be a bad rebuild. I see a lot of those.
How many volts should the battery be showing when running? I replaced the alternator, new battery, and when running its only pulling 13.6 volts. Before the new alternator, it would drop about a volt every 4 seconds.
Glad to hear it. And glad I don’t need to deal with immobilizer issues on my ’95 Legacy.
I was so proud of myself for changing my own alternator in my 98 legacy gt! Thanks to your vid! Tho when I went to start it, nothing happened…every time the battery is disconnected the alarm system is tripped-you have to leave it disconnected for 30 secs then turn the key into the “on” position, reconnect the battery and it started right up! Thanks! Ps. 291k miles on it and its still going and I LOVE It!
Is the SOHC EJ25 an interference engine? I thought it was.
I think the all the EJ’s are basically the same block with just different bores and strokes. The ones you have to watch out for are the engines with DOHC. I say this cause you can swap the SOHC head onto an EJ25 and it’d be just as easy as a SOHC EJ22 and Vice versa
You’re welcome. I’m always happy to hear people find these useful.
This was a great step by step video.. it really helped mi.. thanks and I will follow more of ur videos.. hehe..
Are you perhaps more familiar with the EJ25 engines? I’ve worked on a good number of EJ22 and EJ18 engines, and I would most definitely call spark plugs and valve cover gaskets an easy DIY job. I think those are more complex on the EJ25, or at least the early EJ25.
I would say.. easy up to an extent. IE: totally not easy if you’re changing spark plugs or worst even, changing the valve cover gaskets. The steps are the same as an inline-4 cyl. engine.. but it’s a bitchin’ job for flat fours 🙁
That, my friend, is quite a score. Congrats on the car. $350 is below scrap price for that. Enjoy it!
I drive a tow truck in CT.A guy drove from Boston,Mass to Bridgeport,CT to visit his parents.On his way back, his alternator went.He was buying a new car in two days.He only had the 5 mile Triple A.He didn’t wan’t to put any money into this car..To make a long story short,I got a 1995 Subaru Legacy for $350…The thing is mint even though it has 186,000..He had receipts for a ton of work..This thing is also mint inside with a couple flaws on the outside.So lucky..!!Now I can park my Mustang!
Very glad to be able to help. These are easy cars to work on. I like helping people discover that.
Just used your video today to replace an alternator in my 2000 Subaru Outback. The experience was virtually identical to yours (except my replacement alternator had the bushing). A local mechanic quoted $383 for parts and labor to do the job. After an online discount, I paid a little over $100 for the part and did it myself. My past experience with cars only involved replacing a tire and changing the oil. Thanks! Great video.
That is the best review I ever had of one of my videos. Thanks, and best of luck with your new job, Don.
My alternator died at 11:00 p.m. on a Sunday night before a Monday on which I was to start a new job. Thanks to your vid, I got the confidence to do the job. I made it to work only 15 minutes late. (I’d called in.) Fantastic first day. Thanks a million for taking the time to do this.
Glad it helped. These cars are designed to be very easy to work on. If I can help people with that, all the better.
Thank you so much for your very clear and easy to understand video. I am a 50 year old mom of a teenage daughter, who’s alternator died in her 95 Subaru Legacy. I was able to remove the old one and take it to the auto parts store where I purchased the rebuilt one and installed it, no problem. The car runs again and my girl is very happy and grateful. Thanks again for saving my a bundle of money.
Only if the battery is dead. If it’ll still take a charge, and tests healthy, then there’s no need to replace it, too.
thanks for posting this video. I think my son killed his battery because after we finished with the alternator we had no power. Your video gave us the confidence to change out this part and save 150 in labor.
I think you have the 2.5L engine. The process should be basically the same, but I can’t say 100% for sure.
Thanks for posting this video. I was driving home from work and the car died right on my way past a gas station. Luckily I got jumped and could get home. I have a 98 outback limited. Any reason to think this video wouldn’t work for that? Thanks!
They’re definitely worth keeping around.
Very helpful! Just changed the alternator on my ’96 Legacy after watching your short film, never done an alternator before and appreciated the walk through. Just wish I had some of those blue nitrile gloves!
You’re welcome.