I have a 95 impreza will starts and runs fine but now and again it will turn over but not start push it a foot or two and it will bump start ok
not sure what to check now

 

Check the ground cables. You say it starts with a bump start?Maybe a problem with the starter motor as if its the original one , its 20 years old!A bump start bypasses the starter so i

 

Sos . I would look at a dodgy solenoid on the starter or the wiring to it

 

the starter motor turns the engine over but will not start but bump the car and it it fires up
it normally fires up straight away when its going ok it only plays up about 1 in 10 times you start the car

 

Ok. Could be cam sensor or the crankshaft sensor. Does it happen in damp or dry , cold engine or hot engine?

 

when cold it seams to be once it plays up and bump start it will start after that ok

 

You could try removing the 2 sensors and cleaning them, but theyre old, so might be better to replace

 

I had this problem on a car and got the exact symptoms as you are getting and so i convinced myself it was the starter motor but it turned out to be the battery? now explain that if you can but after fitting a new battery i had no more trouble.

 

Yes, suppose should have asked if the battery was turning over quick enough that would indicate a fairly good battery

 

turns over same speed if it starts or not

 

Thats what mine did.

 

How old is the battery? It may be worthwhile having it tested by a garage

 

Bear in mind that an average car can pull over 500Amps momentarily as the engine starts to turn over, so unless in decent condition, you may not have enough left for a decent spark?

When did you last clean/gap/replace the plugs?

 

next time it plays up ill boost it with another battery on jump leads and see what happens
I will inspect the plugs in the meantime will let you all know what happens

 

Did you sort it.

 

i have a similar problem with my 97/98 classic.
starts fine when its cold, but if you say go into petrol station to fill up, it wont start until you leave it for 20 or so minutes.
i was told it was my starter motor, so changed that, then told battery, so bought an upgraded one, told it was crank sensor, took that out and it was a bit dirty, so cleaned it, now im told it was the MAF sensor, so changed that too. ive also changed plugs, fuel filter, fuel pump.
only thing i havent changed yet is the cam sensor, but would this cause the problem?