my subaru died on me today. please help me diagnose the problem.

Vehicle: 97 legacy outback

started my car this morning and vehicle made some funny noises. drove around a bit and still making funny noise. don't know how to describe the noise. just more noise from under my hood.

when I tried to cut my car off, sounded like the car was trying to start back up. I turned key in off position and car was just cranking away. kept on cranking till I turned my key to on position. then car would start back up.

I tried to turn key in off position again and the car kept cranking. so I turned the key to on position and car started.

the car was already on, but I couldn't cut it off because everytime I would try to cut it off, the car would start cranking.

enentually, the car died.

I tried starting it up and nothing

sounds like it was an electrical problem with ignition or starter. so I tried pulling the ignition fuse when having the problem and nothing.

when the car died, tons of white smoke from under my hood.

I think my starter was having problems and eventually my starter seized and burnt up. does this sound right?

 

Sounds like the starter was stuck in the engaged position due to an electrical short that caused it to keep cranking.

 

Because it was the starter causing the car not to run, if it is your only car and you itemize taxes, you can deduct the repair expense.

 

a starter seizing up and burning out would cause a lot of white smoke?

 

sorry I have no idea man

 

The starter relay is stuck closed.

The smoke could be the starter, it could also be the starter wires that overheated and started burning the insulation off. Next time unhook the battery ASAP.

 

Yes, from wires burning.... or your car just elected a new pope. Remember, that starter is getting a lot of amps!

 

It's not JDM enough. Add some air freshners.

 

Or sell it and reinvest all your money in interiorless Nissans. (At least 12 with the current market value.)

 

problem is it's a subaru. should have stayed with a mitsubishi