Jump to content

Time for a new battery?


Recommended Posts

Posted

Question for the technical bods. 

04 WRX.

Had no issues with this till Nov despite regularly working from home and not touching the car from one weekend till the next. 

Back in Nov went out to start her after 4 days working from home to go into the office and the battery was as flat as Keira Knightley's chest.

Charged it up and no problem. Since then been out at least a couple of times a week so regular charge until last week.

Not driven her since last Monday, but planned on popping into the office tomorrow so thought I'd turn her over. Same again. Not even enough charge to de-activate the central locking.

Had the car from new. Cat 1 Toad Alarm fitted just after I got it (Euro import) with no issues until November so can't see it's the alarm draining the battery.

Is it likely it's just the battery is fecked?

(and yes - I've checked that daft little switch on top of the steering wheel!) There's nothing to explain the drain.

Posted

Car's use power sitting there with nothing on.

 

Stuff like your clock, or the wee red light that flashes for your immobiliser, will always drain your battery and at this time of the year, most people jump into their car, turn the stereo on, turn the blower on full, turn the heated rear window on, turn the lights on and expect the battery to be charged for the next time....no.

 

Get out into the car during the day, take it for a 40 minute drive, then go to Kwickfit or the likes and ask them to do a full battery check on it. It shouldn't cost you anything and they will soon be able to tell you if it's knacked.

 

Batteries last 4-5 years on average, so i'd think it's just not getting used enough to charge it up properly.

Posted

Hi Andy.

sounds like the battery is fecked, tommy t cut had to replace his last night for the same reason. also treat yourself to a draper 12v battery master,designed to be left connected to automotive- type batteries for extended periods of time. It will maintain the battery in charged ready to go state, ensuring, for example, that a vehicle's alarm current does not drain the battery. Fitted with crocodile clips, in line fuse and 4m of cable. Halfords £ 21.00

 

Brian[H]

Posted

Andy, do yourself a favour and get it checked first!

 

I do this stuff for a living people and a lot of the time i go out to non-starts it is the battery, but all is well when it's properly charged!

Posted

Cheers guys. I'll get it checked, but probably get a new one regardless. She's been left for 2 weeks previously with no problems.

Posted

Andy if you need to jump start it i have a set of leads in the back of mines as we speak and i am off the rest of the week so just give me a shout if you need a hand.

Posted
  Quote
Andy if you need to jump start it i have a set of leads in the back of mines as we speak and i am off the rest of the week so just give me a shout if you need a hand.

Cheers mate, but no problemo. She wouldn't turn over last night, but set the alarm for 6 this morning, gave her a couple of hours on charge and she was fine. 

BTW, why do we naturally refer to cars in the female context? Is it because they're stubborn, give constant problems and cost us loads or (awwwww) because we love them [:$]
 

Posted
  Quote

  Quote
Andy if you need to jump start it i have a set of leads in the back of mines as we speak and i am off the rest of the week so just give me a shout if you need a hand.

Cheers mate, but no problemo. She wouldn't turn over last night, but set the alarm for 6 this morning, gave her a couple of hours on charge and she was fine. 

BTW, why do we naturally refer to cars in the female context? Is it because they're stubborn, give constant problems and cost us loads or (awwwww) because we love them [:$]

 

lol...we love them

Posted

I got a new battery just over a month ago, as T&C picked up that my battery was poorly whilst in for a service. I'd never had any problems with it starting at all.

I phoned around a few places to see what they had in stock, and there wasn't much choice. Eventually got one from my local breakers yard (all Subaru batteries are exactly the same regardless of model!) for the princely sum of £10.

Car now turns over even better than before.

John

  • 4 weeks later...
Posted

I've had some problems with my battery today...

Not been using the car much over the last 2-3 weeks (maybe 3 times and all short local trips) - each time the car has been a wee bit reluctant to start & I get a chirp from the alarm when turning over but it does catch.

Today, however, it started (just) outside the house but when I went to start it again outside the shops in Whitburn "she" wasn't having any of it. Phoned George Orr down at Xtreme motorsport (01501 741548 - top blokes by the way) and he came up and gave me a jump start.

Looks like i'm needing a new battery (car is 4 years old now) - so where is the best place to get one?

Don't mind paying a wee bit extra for the best of gear (instead of paying pennies for a no-name battery that might last a week)

All opinions welcomed - cheers

Posted
hi andy 2 small points no 1 never leave a battery charging on your car with the batt conected  subarus  dont  have over load protection, you could fry your alternator as well as some control units no2 AS A RULE NEVER JUMP START A MODERN CAR UNLESS YOUR JUMP LEADS ARE VOLTAGE PROTECTED ///////SURGE PROTECTED better go by this method for safety recharge battery or change battery, make sure you have all things switched off in car to prevent voltage surge damaging alternator ,lights, again control units .i see damage every day in my job with mercedes you cant be too careful . remember to  check that polarity is correct if charging out  or in car  if you charge it with wrong pol/ when you conect it up BANG fried every thing. seen this done before it costs loads of money to repair lastly get battery  tested  m8 hope this helps  geo

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...