help - how to sort a flat battery?

[Croc]

Hi - hoping someone has some experience of this - I've searched on forum, but everyone seems to be able to plug their battery in. Luxury of having a garage...

problem

2003 STI. Left for 10 days. Battery flat. Started OK with jump leads - but a right pain with the alarm going off until got it sorted.

Ran it for a few days, than had to leave it again for only 4 days this time, and got back to a flat battery again !

I don't have a garage - so have to leave it on drive and can't plug it in to mains

I tried to work the keypad to get the LED to tell me how many volts were in the battery - but it didn;t seem to want to recognise it (according to alarm manual you can turn ignition on, click transmitter, press 8, then turn ignition off - is supposed to tell you voltage)

attempted solution so far?

I've booked into Subaru next week to look at - alhtough I'm not hopeful as I believe this is a standard problem with the battery being drained by the alarm.

I also bought one of those solar trickly chargers that you plug into the lighter socket - however, I now discover they need the lighter socket to be active with the igniotiion turned off - and guess what - Scooby's is not active when ignition off!.

Instruction on solar trickle charger say I need to hard wire it to the battery - but I wonder what that would do to the warranty on the car.

any helpful members got thoughts on

1. solar charger knackering warranty?

2. if not - how is best way to put wire through to the battery from the inside?

3. is there a solution that subaru has come up with?

4. what gives with the battery voltage check not working?

[wrxmania]

You should at least get a new battery under warranty. After it has been discharged a few times, it will not be as good anyway.

Don't know what the solution is - some people seem to have linked it to the drain from the tracker unit?

Good luck though,

Brian

[dave_morgan]

I suspect your battery is past it's best to be honest, as it should hold a charge for more than 10 days, even with alarm/tracker etc. That's asuuming it's gettig a good charge in between starts of course. If it's under warranty I'd ask the dealer for advice. It could be :

- Tired battery.

- Alternator not charging as it should.

- You're not driving far enough in between starts to allow the battery to charge fully (particularly if you're driving a lot at night with lights on).

Dealer should be able to check the battery for you and I wouldn't have thought they'd charge (no pun intended) you for it. Be VERY carful with your warranty though as it seems they will find any reason to invalidate it these days!!

Dave

[dave_morgan]

p.s. Might be worth nipping down to Macro and picking up one of those booster/starter things. They're only about 20 quid and means you can start your car anywhere, even if there's not other cars or mains supply nearby.

[Croc]

yeh - think you're right about the booster battery. Yet another thing to rattle around in the boot when I'm going around corners !

I'll certainly be aiming for the garage to do something about it anyway.

been contemplating buying the extra 2 yr extended warranty, seems like becoming better value every week...

p

[Croc]

ps. I put on 50 miles in one run with no electrics running in between flats. Should have thought would have made a difference like...

[AlanG]

I suspect the back up battery in the siren for the alarm is what has drained the battery...

[dave_morgan]

<< been contemplating buying the extra 2 yr extended warranty, seems like becoming better value every week... >>

Hmmm, well make sure you have absolutely NOTHING changed from standard trim then!! I extended mine a year ago and have just found out that a set of samco hoses and a dump valve has invalidated the warranty (for a head gasket failure). Not a happy bunny taking into account how much I've spent on the warranty and dealer servicing to retain the warranty (or so I thought) !

[Croc]

thanks for the tip on that one - thankfully, I haven't done anything to it, and I don;t think the guy before me had either (apart from a different exhaust for a while - which he changed back before selling it to me - think he said from WR1)

anyway. fingers crossed the local grease monkeys sort the battery out for me. New one please Mr Subaru...

[karps]

i had the same problem with mine (03STI) went on holiday for 2 weeks and battery went flat. apparently a common fault, (something to do with them all running flat on the boat over) and subaru had no hesitation changing it.

Only problem is that it STILL does it even with the new battery so i have to get someone to turn the car over if im going away for more than a week

[wrxmania]

That'll be the weight in the boot

[sma01]

verify karps' comments, this is a common fault with them mate, best bet is to change the battery, not the most expensive of changes for a scoob, but well worth doing. if you want someone to sort it out for you give Dunc @ Hypertech a phone on 01324 812212, he has a wide range of batteries at competitive prices

scott

[Croc]

I'm hoping it should be covered under the warranty - rather than being seen as a 'fair wear and tear' item....

[karps]

got mine under warranty with no hassle

[Croc]

car was into Subaru yesterday.

they say

- system generally OK

- battery being drained by tracker

- they are to get in touch with Trackstar who will contact me to arrange a time to come out and see my car to make an - amendent to the tracker to sort the problem

- 'never heard of battery drain being common on Imprezas' (I nearly chocked when he said that one to me !)

- don't know if connecting the solar charger direct to the battery would invalidate warranty (not the most helpful answer)

- they don;t know about the keypad and if it doesn;t work, then I need to contact alarm people

- yes, the battery might have been damaged by the drain from being discharged completely twice,

- but no, they are not going to replace it

Useless would be too kind a word to say about them. Those of you in the Aberdeen area will know exactly which garage I'm talking about.

I wait the call from Trackstar and wonder if the car will start next time I come home from a trip.

p

[karps]

- 'never heard of battery drain being common on Imprezas' (I nearly chocked when he said that one to me !)

its a common fault on STI8 only as far as i know

[dipsy]

Hello croc does your car still have subaru or extended warranty on it.If it the extended warranty the people you phone about a problem with car are rubbish.I have my2000 classic had problems with alarm i found out this was to do with police mast being same mhz as the m30 so i phoned the warranty company 83pound for alarm ecu and they would fit it for free.So i said i am not paying 83pound when cars still under warranty so i still got same alarm ecu just need to watch where i park it.It should be easy to connect the solar trickly charger to battery just need to watch when you close bonnet