# 1996 Subaru Legacy won’t start after new timing belt

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-subaru-legacy-won-t-start-after-new-timing-belt/129238>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** legacy, subaru\
**Created:** [November 20, 2018, 4:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-subaru-legacy-won-t-start-after-new-timing-belt/129238 "2018-11-20T16:54:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![johnnypierce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6f9a4e/32.png) [@johnnypierce](https://community.cartalk.com/u/johnnypierce)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2018, 4:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-subaru-legacy-won-t-start-after-new-timing-belt/129238/1 "2018-11-20T16:54:01Z")

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i recently changed just the timing belt ( forgetting to disconnect the battery ) and now i can’t get it to start. the belt broke as i was accelerating. what could the problem be?

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**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2018, 5:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-subaru-legacy-won-t-start-after-new-timing-belt/129238/2 "2018-11-20T17:41:47Z")

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My understanding is that the 2.5L is an interference motor. The engine may have suffered severe damage when the belt broke.  
The 2.2L is non-interference, no start condition might be the timing is off.  
I have only changed one timing belt, did not disconnect the battery, not that I recommend that practice.