After standing for a couple of days once again the damn battery was flat this morning. I usually plug in the AccuMate charger when I anticipate not using the car for two days or more, especially as my journeys at this time of the year are infrequent and short. This time I didn't and paid the price! All this in spite of having the replacement 60Ah battery due to previous similar experiences, and drive as a matter of course with the sidelights on. The initial drag of cold 10/50 oil certainly doesn't help, so thats coming out and 5/40 going in! OK so it's got the drain of the Tracker, but even so this is a poor show in this day and age.

JohnD

 

You need to pop down to halfords and get one of these>>>>
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...tegoryId=31335

Tony

 

My housemates got one of those, coming in very handy at the mo.....

 

Bit tricky plugging equipment into the mains if your parked in Gatwick airport for a few days .......... poxy jap rubbish, should be able to get a battery to work for gods sake.


Gary

edited to say you shouldnt have to buy something like that Tony. Subaru should supply them with the car if it isnt capable of sitting a couple of days on it own.

Does it get lonely and give up the will to live?

 

Either that or I know our shop sells Solar power trickle chargers which plug into the cigarette lighter, only a tenner so could be worth a try.

 

I can leave my car for a week or two without any problems starting. Perhaps there is something wrong with your alternator?

 

I used to say that too. Its a problem with the new age impreza's. Very very frustrating when it happens and believe me it will.

Gary

 

oh yes third battery at moment my old p1 was great left it for 3 weeks at edinburgh while on honeymoon started first time appears to be cheap batteries each time replaced foc with not even a question asked
martin

 

The same unit but in black plastic can be had occasionally from Netto's for £19.99

Sits back and waits to be called a chav

 

I would never trust mine in an airport carpark for 2 weeks. Mind you saying that at least there is no chance it could be stolen either

 

Bad news John!

I have left mine for two weeks at a time on a number of occasions and it has always fired-up first time! Still got the original battery too!

As said before....we really shouldn't have to buy these things, especially not on a car that was built in the 21st Century....Subaru really need to sort this! You just don't expect to have to plug the damn car in everynight to charge it!

 

I'm sure this must be common knowledge but I was shown a tech bulletin by the dealer which shows this as a known issue caused by the Tracker not going into a low power sleep mode

 

I'm told there is an upgrade for the Trackstar that turns down the movement sensitivity and puts it into sleep mode in 1hr instead of 6. Apparantly when parked in a place where there is constant or regular vibration, the system never goes to sleep as the 6hr timer is constantly being reset by the vibrations, thus it is always scanning for it's satelite position. That's what I've been told anyway. Contact RAC Trackstar for confirmation.

 

Mine is garged in a place where there is no movement what so ever so I cant get my head round that im afraid.

Gary

 

same here,a subaru tech told me it is cheaper for them to use s**t quality batteries and just replace ones that fail rather than put quality battery in first place!
martin

 

My subaru dealer arranged for the trackstar upgrade to be done on mine. I think that the problem was due to trackstar not the battery itself. Luckily I have another car to park at airport carparks.

 

Don't forget that the cig. lighter only has a circuit when the key is in the accessory posn. or ignition!

As I mentioned, I have an AccuMate automatic trickle charger which is excellent but didn't use it this week!
Alternator is fine. I have a voltage monitoring facility (SECS unit) and I get 14.5v following a start.

JohnD

 

Gary

I think your problem may be that the car is garaged, the Tracker can't find the satellites to get a location fix and keeps looking. If you were to put the car straight into the garage that seems to be fine but stopping the engine first seems to give the problems. The system hasn't had time to get it's 'fix' before it loses the reception. A similar thing may happen if the car is parked outside but close to something that affects satellite reception such as trees or buildings.

Not an 'Official' answer but we have had the same problems here. Cars parked in or around the workshop can get flat batteries if left for a time. Cars parked in our compound which is away from the buildings have less problems, even if left for longer periods.

Plugging a trickle charger into the ligher socket won't help either as it's disconnected when the ignition is off, it would need to be connected to the battery or something that's permanently live.

Mike

 

As far as im concerned if its a tracker problem its a subaru problem. If the CD player plays up I dont call Sony,JVC,Matsui

 

My tracker was turned off over a year ago, so if its still searching its going to be looking for a long long time

Edited to say you really have to laugh at this Mike. While I dont disagree with what your saying it does appear ludicrous. I have to keep the engine running while opening the garage and if I want to park outside i have to leave it in the middle of a football pitch sized area so as not to be too close to a tree or building

 

Yep any charger plugged into the cig lighter will not work unless you leave the key turned!
Halfords do a great draper trickle charger and its cheap <£20

dipster

 

Well I don't have an STi, but I do have an MY01 with a Trackstar fitted.

Last year I was getting lots of flat batteries after leaving the car in garage for a week, so I replaced the battery with a new one from Halfords.

Problem sorted, and I don't do any of this jiggery pokery with getting satelite fixes

 

Gary

I don't disagree, just reporting what we've found as well.

If it is a Tracker problem, Subaru only fit such a system because Thatcham make them do it. Thatcham only make them do it so that the cars can be tracked if they are stolen. Blame the ******* that want to nick them if you have to blame someone

Mike

 

Surely its down to Subaru to ensure the product thats fitted to our cars is up to the task. If this one isnt they should be hammering the supplier for a better solution and retro fitting customer cars.

 

Once again, if that's the problem, I'm not disagreeing

Mike

 

Subaru,well my local dealer at least,are aware of the problem.

If you are subscribed to Tracker,then it is a free fix.If not then there will be a £70 fee

I had this problem 18 months ago,Tracker 'claimed' to have never heard of such a thing!!

Untill the dealer called them on my behalf

 

my p1 had trackstar on but no issues re battery and i had that for 2 years!
martin

 

Is this a Tracker or Trackstar problem or both?

 

Yep had this upgrade done to my WRX , told it's common on Subaru because of the 'smart charge' alternator ...I'll find out if the upgrade worked next summer at Gatwick I guess

 

RAC Trackstar as far as I'm aware