stephen_cheyne Posted October 30, 2006 Posted October 30, 2006 [:@] Getting fed up with this. Had battery problems for a while now. Car went to Subaru to investigate the problem with flat battery. Your battery's OK, it's your Tracker that's draining the battery. After a wee bit of hassle Tracker came and fitted new 1 hour sleep mode board instead of 6 hours. Common problem with Subaru's but that should be it now. Battery flat again after not using car for 5 days. Back to Subaru. It's still the Tracker, the battery back-up is draining your battery. Back onto Tracker and they came and fitted new battery back-up unit. That should be it now, nothing much more we can change. Battery flat again................ arrrrgggghhhh!!!!!!!!!..............after only 4 days. So it's back onto Subaru tomorrow. Anyone had as bad an experience as this. I know it's a common problem but I thought it would have been sorted by now. One bit of good news is all the work has all been done under warranty. Should I just buy a super duper heavy duty battery myself ........ would that possibly cure it. Surely Subaru have checked if my battery's been OK. Think I'll ask for a new battery to be fitted this time anyway as the car is still under warranty. Any thoughts very much appreciated. Stephen.
~ ~ Cal ~~ Posted October 30, 2006 Posted October 30, 2006 My uncle had this problem with a BRAND mew UK 300 recently. Not sure how he solved it but I'm sure Gav or Mako will know whats going on...... This any use too ? http://bbs.scoobynet.com/scoobynet-general...tracker+battery Good luck CGS
stephen_cheyne Posted October 30, 2006 Author Posted October 30, 2006 Thanks Cal that's a great post there, as I say I'll give Subaru a phone anyway tomorrow and see what they say this time. Stephen.
~ ~ Cal ~~ Posted October 30, 2006 Posted October 30, 2006 It must be a common issue ? I would imagine they would have a bulletin about it......... For what it's worth I have an RAC tracker and the battery has never died even after a 3 week period ? CGS
gus the bus Posted October 30, 2006 Posted October 30, 2006 Sounds like a real annoying one that[] I too have an RAC tracker fitted to my WRX300 often have it sitting for a week or two at a time and cant say (touch wood) I've had any problems with it. If the battery keeps draining then its not doing it any favours getting charged again and again (facks the battery cells) I myself would pursue a new battery along with replacing/ sorting the tracker. Gus[]
thewelsho Posted October 30, 2006 Posted October 30, 2006 Why don't you disable the tracker for a few days to see if the battery still drains. At least it iliminates it and points the finger at Subaru if the battery still drains. J
BriWRX Posted October 30, 2006 Posted October 30, 2006 Place an identifiable mark on the battery somewhere and get Subaru workshop to do the so called replace battery, and check that they are not just fobbing you off with lies, and check when you get out of the workshop to see if they are changing the battery, then you can pursue the matter of the car draining the battery and not just the original battery being left in place all this time.
AlanG Posted October 30, 2006 Posted October 30, 2006 It will probably be the back up battery in the alarm, not the tracker.
darryl_martin Posted October 30, 2006 Posted October 30, 2006 Sounds like a real annoying one that[] I too have an RAC tracker fitted to my WRX300 often have it sitting for a week or two at a time and cant say (touch wood) I've had any problems with it. If the battery keeps draining then its not doing it any favours getting charged again and again (facks the battery cells) I myself would pursue a new battery along with replacing/ sorting the tracker. Gus[] Yep. If the cells are facked then it wont hold charge too well, however long you charge it for. Plus I believe batteries can develop a memory and if they are only ever half charged, they start to think half charged is fully charged and that's all they'll hold, regardless.
Nelsdir Posted October 30, 2006 Posted October 30, 2006 I had a prob with mine a couple of mths ago. Alarm started to give the odd chirp when unlocking the car and was cranking slow until it was dead one morning. Got Subaru Assist out and had a chat with the guy. Seems that there have been a number of probs with the alternator not charging the battery. Guy said there is a "Smart" alternator on the new-age that only charges the battery when there is a load put on it. One possible reason for mine being flat is that during the summer I wasn't running the headlights, rear demist etc (don't know about the air-con). Anyway - told to run with the sidelights on and not a single prob since. Check out scoobynet for battery probs - a number of people have been told the same thing and it's worked for them Neil
Racing Snake Posted October 30, 2006 Posted October 30, 2006 Got fedup of my battery charging problems and bought a new Varta asia dynamic battery and have had no problems since.
stephen_cheyne Posted October 31, 2006 Author Posted October 31, 2006 I had a prob with mine a couple of mths ago. Alarm started to give the odd chirp when unlocking the car and was cranking slow until it was dead one morning. Got Subaru Assist out and had a chat with the guy. Seems that there have been a number of probs with the alternator not charging the battery. Guy said there is a "Smart" alternator on the new-age that only charges the battery when there is a load put on it. One possible reason for mine being flat is that during the summer I wasn't running the headlights, rear demist etc (don't know about the air-con). Anyway - told to run with the sidelights on and not a single prob since. Check out scoobynet for battery probs - a number of people have been told the same thing and it's worked for them Neil Thanks to everyone for the comments. As Neil says above I spoke to the mechanic at Subaru today and was told the same story, battery and alternator have both been checked OK however it's a 'smart' alternator and been advised to run with sidelights on all the time or at least have something on drawing a bit of current like the A/C or rear window demister to get the alternator to come on and keep the battery charging. So going to run with sidelights on from now on again. Had read about this before but kept switching them off on sunny days. I'll give it a try for a few weeks and leave the car sitting for 4 to 5 days later on and see if there's a difference. BTW you easily know me if you see me this winter I'll be the one with my lights blazing, thick wooly scarf and winter jacket on due to continually having my A/C on and my back window glowing rear with no snow on it. []
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