Starter motor Bosch or OEM Subaru

2008 Honda Civic +$100K miles, original starter died while the car was in my garage. Had it towed to a nearby mechanic who charged $500 total for parts/labor for a new starter (from Bosch). According to Google, this seemed correct.

I managed to accidentally break spade connector while testing and decided to replace the start with a brand new Bosch starter and the car started up first try!

There's nothing wrong with aftermarket, so long as it isn't a Chinesium special. I put a reman Bosch starter in mine three years ago, still trucking strong.

Every new starter will be smaller than the Bosch item, they have all gotten much smaller over the years. It will still crank faster than the old Bosch did.

Sounds like you just need a new starter. Best advice I can give you is to buy a new starter from a reputable brand, like Bosch.

Just had exactly the same problem on my '09, needs a starter. Well more accurately the solenoid that pushes and pulls the starter teeth onto the flywheel is underperforming, and when cold it doesn't get off the flywheel fast enough to keep from barking the starter motor against the faster spinning flywheel.

I bought a Bosch Reman for about $260 with a 5 year warranty, went in with a moderate amount of persuasion. The oil filter, dipstick, oil pressure sensor have to come out to do it. You being from Chicago might have to fight to get the dipstick holder out without breaking it.

I used to have a Bosch starter. Rock solid even well below freezing. Solenoid broke. My current starter is whatever generic garbage they put in, and it doesn’t catch the first time I start it in sub-20F weather.

It killed what is left of my soul but I mickey moused it. All the starters that match at the parts stores (bosch, ac delco etc) lack the correct plug. Used a couple ugly .250" flat connectors. how embarassing.

I installed a new (rebuilt) Bosch starter, and made sure to take the old copper bushing out and put the new one in with a little grease. Went to start the car and.. same exact thing. One click, battery gauge shows something pulling load, and no crank.

All of a sudden one day I started up my car just like normal, let the glowplugs heat then bump the key just long enough to get it started, but this time and every time after, the starter grinds right as the engine fires and as it disengages the starter makes a grinding sound just like i've held the key too long even though I havent. I took the (2 month old rebuilt bosch) starter off and checked everything and its all clean, I greased everything and re assembled. Still the same. The problem is still present on the old starter, we suspected it to be the sprag clutch at napa.