When I try to start my Subaru Legacy it makes a clicking noise but won't start. The dash lights and the headlights turn on. Is it the battery or something else

May want to check the starter.

NO! The starter's fine. It's most definitely the battery or its cable connections. Start by removing and thoroughly cleaning both terminal clamps and posts (esp the positive). Then jumpstart the car and drive a half hour. If it won't retart get a new battery. Easy peasey.

Had to jump start 2005 Outback w/105,000 mi 3 prev times. Ran for next day but now can't even start it. Shows: all doors open, when not, needs oil - just had an oil change, shows all warnings but no blinking. Is this much more than just a new battery?

OK folks - I NEVER do this but have had the same wont start issue with my 2015 crosstrek and found my solution and have to share! My car is only 3.5 years old and started having random minor issues a couple of years ago (unacceptable). For example, listening to radio with engine off and wont start after 10 minutes of play time, cd player not responding (yes, I still use mine), leave doors open for short period and no start!, then no start after random 30 mile drive across town at 80 mph, cool weather. So random. Couldn't jump without bleeding for some time from another car battery at continuous high rpms. I read all of your blogs, checked my fuse (not bad), added distilled water to my battery cells, etc. but got another no start while on my bluetooth in my car in my garage for 4 minutes!!!! what???? Clearly the juice was getting worse. Trickle charged for 2+ hours and got a start. Finally chocked it up to subaru being cheap and using poor batteries. Researched batteries and went with the slightly pricey but beefy Optima Red Top (group 35). I JUST finished installing it myself and, no surprise, it started (yay me) but more surprising is the fact that now my cd player works! I feel like the integrity of the original battery was not a longer term battery designed for the new mobile office needs of today's drivers (bluetooth, music, usb's, gps, etc.) Hopefully, this will help anyone else, especially those with less tools, time, and desire to diagnose the random, intermittent problems. happy driving and cd listening everyone! amibaby

Your OE battery had a shorted cell...simple as that. A fine $80 Interstate battery at Costco is an easy fix now that Costco is stocking them.

necro post: my 1996 subaru legacy was just rebuilt by my dad and I... we drove it around for a bit, and then parked it in the garage. I later started it again, revved it a couple times and turned it off. everything was good. then, 3 hours later I tried starting it again and it would give one singular click. no crank, no start. i dont know what went wrong.