Chip

Twice in the last four days I have had to call out Subaru Assistance as my battery has run flat. Car is only 19 months old and is kept in the garage when not on the road. Temp never getting below 4-5 degrees.Gave the car a good run on Boxing day (50 miles)but it would not start this morning due to the battery again. Anyone had same sort of problem. And no I did not leave any lights or anything on.

Chip.

Happy New Year.

sunilp

Sounds like the battery is past its useful life and will not hold charge for more than a few hours.

I would have expected replacement batteries now adays to last, on average, 3 years.

Best to replace it mate.

Sunil

Chip

I dont think a battery should die after less than two years. Nowadays some batteries are supposed top last the lifetime of the car.

Anyway if it needs replacing it should surely be covered under warranty.

Chip.

DocJock

Chip

I know of two people who had similar problem with a short in the alarm circuit.
Hope it helps.

DJ

sunilp

Chip, i merely suggested that you replace the battery as you asked for advice, whether you knick one, do it under warranty or pay for one is up to you mate.

AFAIK the Subaru battery isnt a lifetime jobby and i dont know enough about these gimmicks anyhow.

Remember the cold weather will highlight these problems more readily so. Most batteries fail in the colder seasons.

Take it up with your dealer (if you can drive there)

Dave T-S

Agree with me old M8 Sunlip (DAMN )

Batteries do last a long time these days but occasionally you get a rogue.

Think you will find it is classed as a "consumable" and will not be warranted (can't be arsed to look in my warranty docs).

Could of course be something else draining the battery - had any mods done recently??

[This message has been edited by Dave T-S (edited 30 December 2000).]

sunilp

Yeah i was going to add that batteries are probably excluded as being a consumable but wasnt entirely sure so left it out.

Remember last 4 days has been the last 4 days of colder than normal weather!

Sunil

[This message has been edited by sunilp (edited 30 December 2000).]

Dave T-S

Sometit

Quote
Remember last 4 days has been the last 4 days of cold weather
Unquote

Ever thought of being a weather forecaster....you couldn't be worse than Michael Fish - or maybe you could....

[This message has been edited by Dave T-S (edited 30 December 2000).]

boomer

Chip,

are any lights stuck on, such as your boot (or bonnet) lights?

mb

sunilp

Wow, what a great idea, the first Indian weather forecaster here. I would be the equivalent Trevor McDonut?

Sunil

Dave T-S

No, Trevor McDonut is intelligent and credible.....

pslewis

Chip, stick an AVO meter in the line of the battery to see if anything more than a minimal drain is occuring. Should be a very small trickle from the clock - anything high, say over 250mAmps,indicates that there is a drain and the battery is probably ok

Does anyone know if the alarm goes off should the battery be disconnected?? My Primera GT had a coded key to allow servicing or the alarm would sound.

19 months for a battery is not right unless it IS a rogue battery - therefore Subaru surely is liable for fitting a defective battery - 10 years is easy for modern batteries.

Pete

by the way - Happy New Year everyone!!!!!

pslewis

Also the alternator could not be charging the battery - put the AVO ACROSS the battery and measure the Volts DC - should be about 12.7Volts.
Start the car any carry out the same test holding an RPM of around 2000 - the voltage should now read about 14Volts

Pete

Boost II

iTrader: (1)

I'd definately suggest a new battery as in my experience when a battery has been completely drained once, it never seems to be the same ever again. This seems to apply to modern ones more than old ones.

Incidentally my Subaru battery is now starting an Impreza and an Escort in the cold mornings!!

johnfelstead

showing your age pete with your obsesion for AVO's

The battery volts should be between 14.4 V and 14.7 V when charging.

Bateries can also die by being overcharged so check its not going over 15 V

Surely Subaru Assist checked your charge Voltage after jumping your car? Or am i asking too much for a bit of inteligence to be applied.

Chip

Looks like I better dig deep in the garage for my voltmeter then. Ta for the advice.

As I said the car is always garaged and as its an itegral garage never gets that cold so I wouldn't have it would be the weather.

Cheers

Chip

Chip

Subaru Assist guy merely turned up in his road car and started car from a portable battery pack. Didn't even have a pair of overalls or tools with him. This was the same on both occasions. Good job he didn't have to get under the car out on the wet road somewhere.

Chip.

Chip

Tested voltage across battery terminals.Got 12v then 14.7v with engine running. Where do I put the terminals of the voltmeter to see if there is a drain. Any help appreciated.

chip.

johnfelstead

only 12V when not running. Thats too low, sounds like a knackered battery. You should have around 12.7 volts with no load.

I would take the battery off the car and have it load tested at a car accessory shop, that will tell you if its knackered or not.

pretty useless mechanic if he didnt even check to see if you had a charging issue.

sunilp

Gor blimey, if there is a drain, why would it have only developed in the last 4 days?

The battery is kanckered, and for all the friggin about i bet you could have changed it and been sorted by now.

Sunil

Chip

John, battery is 12.47v when not running. Does that sound right.

SuniI, I cant see the point in replacing the battery if;
a) I can get it replaced under warranty b) I dont know that the battery is the problem.

My two local dealers are closed til Tuesday so Ill wait to see what they say, in the meantime I was just trying to find out what was wrong as I was curious as to what the problem is.

Cheers

Chip.

sunilp

Perhaps you could try borrowing another local Scooby owners battery for one night to see what happens?

Sunil

DJB

I kept getting a flat battery in my last scoob when it was left unused for more than a few days. It turned out that the incompetent t***s who repaired my car after an accident had clamped one of the wires leading to the boot light so that it was on all the time, irrespective of the switch position.

In your case, my money would be on a slow power drain such as a light on or a faulty alarm - although its easy to get the battery checked.

D.

DIGGY

Chip,

Did you try turning the engine over when battery was getting flat, ie it turned slowly, if you did then you have knackered one of the cells in the battery which would explain your 12.4 Volts, time for a new battery regardless of if you find the cause of drain.

To test for current drain disconnect earth terminal on battery put red lead of meter on to now loose battery cable, and black lead of meter to earth terminal on battery. these readings need to be done with a CURRENT meter not a voltmeter, check you have the leads put in the right holes on the meter as well the number of times I have seen someone testing for current with leads in the voltage sockets is shocking!!!!!!HEE HEE.


Possible causes include

Amp for stereo permanently on (if fitted)ie not being switched on by head unit
Boot light stuck on
Relay wired incorrectly for fog light (or other accessories) replacement (PIAA etc), seen it done, quite common!

Mark

mal

Could be a duff cell,get it tested too see if its gassing up.mine was changed under warranty 30 months old no hassle from dealer. MAL.

Chip

Solved it!

The switch for the boot light has been stuck on. Checked this previously and it was OK. So the fault must be intermittent. Anyway car booked in on Friday.

I reckon my Mrs has worn out the switch whilst loading all the shopping she seems to have done in the last few weeks.

Anyway thanks everyone for your help.

Chip.

boomer

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by boomer:
<B>Chip,

are any lights stuck on, such as your boot (or bonnet) lights?

mb[/quote]

deja vu?