I have a 2022 Touring, and I just can’t get the battery to a full charge. Anyone else have this issue? I understand there have been some problems with the past Subaru batterIes.
2022 - Can’t get battery to a full charge?
('19+)
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@bman400,
You are most likely correct on the possible bad battery. It shows over 14 when running, It’s when I trying to give it a boost with a small charger/maintainer. Next time it’s in the dealership I’ll have them check it. The battery has a sticker “for start/stop” IS there a difference to this battery vs others?
You are most likely correct on the possible bad battery. It shows over 14 when running, It’s when I trying to give it a boost with a small charger/maintainer. Next time it’s in the dealership I’ll have them check it. The battery has a sticker “for start/stop” IS there a difference to this battery vs others?
My personal opinion: The factory batteries were crap. I had to replace one for a Crosstrek when the car just went out of warranty and I get a Walmart AGM for preventive measure especially with auto stop/start on the SK.
See the dealer, here is a thread on the battery issue: ('14-'18) - 2018 - Battery lawsuit - anyone...
Because your vehicle has A S/S, you need an EFB or AGM. Note that EFB after market are nearly impossible to find, but as @[email protected] suggested if you want to not deal with the dealership, you can buy AGM battery. I have been running AGM battery in my 2001 Forester, my 2014 ML 350 Bluetec came with AGM battery from factory, my 2013 Nissan Leaf came with a flooded Lead Acid, but it is now running an AGM, my 2010 BMW R1200RT also uses an AGM.
The European countries are further ahead than US/Canada regarding EFB because they cost less compared to AGM. AGM also require a slightly higher charging voltage to make them happy.
Have you tried the maintainer on another battery to check it's output?
What does the battery drop to after sitting for 30 minutes?
What does the battery drop to after sitting for 30 minutes?
Yes there is. Most automakers us an AGM battery for their start/stop implementations.
Subaru uses an EFB (enhanced flooded battery). Ignore the advice that some will provide and DO NOT run out and replace your EFB with an AGM. At least not as long as you are still under warranty.
Take it to the dealer and have them check it out. If your battery is bad they will replace it under warranty. As already posted, the EFB is hard to find and they are expensive.
I suggest that you read thru this thread. I related some charging experience beginning at post #174, and then brought a real live industry expert to the table to tell us a bit about Start-Stop systems, and EFB vs AGM batteries.
Interestingly, I have found that it's hard to get my OEM EFB to come up to and maintain the voltage level that I've come to expect from a 'regular' flooded cell battery. The EFB gives all of the indications of being 'bad' / 'damaged' / 'dying', and yet it solders on day after day whether I put a charger on it regularly, or just leave it alone and let the Forester manage/maintain it. The numbers tell a horrible story, and yet the Auto S/S system works just fine, and the cold weather doesn't seem to be having a negative impact. So maybe the real story is that we need to adjust our expectations, as long as it doesn't actually crap out on you. My battery is now 4 years old.
www.subaruforester.org
Interestingly, I have found that it's hard to get my OEM EFB to come up to and maintain the voltage level that I've come to expect from a 'regular' flooded cell battery. The EFB gives all of the indications of being 'bad' / 'damaged' / 'dying', and yet it solders on day after day whether I put a charger on it regularly, or just leave it alone and let the Forester manage/maintain it. The numbers tell a horrible story, and yet the Auto S/S system works just fine, and the cold weather doesn't seem to be having a negative impact. So maybe the real story is that we need to adjust our expectations, as long as it doesn't actually crap out on you. My battery is now 4 years old.
('19+) - 2019+ - Battery specs and replacement...
What about Torque APP? I am sure it displays voltage, can it log the data?
www.subaruforester.org
As much as I like AGMs over EFB's, since you are still under warranty I would suggest going the dealer if you need a new battery.
Did exactly the same thing. Not an issue and car cranks and turns over faster. Please note that I manually disable S/S each and every time I drive the car.
I am not clear what the problem is. Is it not accepting charge from the battery maintainer? Or is the problem that you expect it NOT to need further charging? If the latter, that's the nature of the system. My 4 year old battery has rarely finished the day at what I'd consider a 100% charged state, yet it soldiers on.
I have been watching various battery threads for just over three years.
The 2020 Sport has 6,000 miles and 36 months. The 2021 Touring has 5,800 miles and 18 months. I received the extended warranty on the Sport, but not the Touring.
I live in Texas, and don't feel I'm in any danger of a bad deal at this point. But, I would like to make a wise replacement decision when the time comes. Folks that bought a AGM seem to feel like that worked well for them.
We are considering one last trip to Germany, and I have no real faith in either car lasting 30+ days in an airport parking lot. I'll put my battery minder on one car, it should be able to jump start the other car. I'll use Uber for airport transportation. If sitting in the garage triggers a need for replacement, I'll just consider it part of the trip cost.
Like I said, both car batteries have performed to my expectations, so no tears if they fail. Maybe I should also consider a Subaru replacement EFB. They have worked well so far.
The 2020 Sport has 6,000 miles and 36 months. The 2021 Touring has 5,800 miles and 18 months. I received the extended warranty on the Sport, but not the Touring.
I live in Texas, and don't feel I'm in any danger of a bad deal at this point. But, I would like to make a wise replacement decision when the time comes. Folks that bought a AGM seem to feel like that worked well for them.
We are considering one last trip to Germany, and I have no real faith in either car lasting 30+ days in an airport parking lot. I'll put my battery minder on one car, it should be able to jump start the other car. I'll use Uber for airport transportation. If sitting in the garage triggers a need for replacement, I'll just consider it part of the trip cost.
Like I said, both car batteries have performed to my expectations, so no tears if they fail. Maybe I should also consider a Subaru replacement EFB. They have worked well so far.
@Old Man The cold in Dulles makes the battery work harder. It's the high heat in southern states that actually kill them, literally. You up north should expect 4-5 years from a car battery. Down here in the south it's 2-3 years.
We here in the south laugh when you say the car started in 20-40F weather.
We here in the south laugh when you say the car started in 20-40F weather.
Simple solution.
Take a small crescent wrench with you to the airport.
When you park, just remove the negative battery clamp from its post.
When you return, use your emergency key to manually open the driver's door, pop the hood, reconnect the negative cable, and start the car and go.
The whole procedure should take you less than 2 minutes on each end.
Why do you think every summer the local parts store parking lot is full of cars waiting for their batteries?
I used to live in Vancouver, BC. I took for granted batteries lasted 5-6 years until I got to TX. I went through 3 flooded lead acid batteries from 2001 till 2008. So that averages out to about 2 years each battery.
Ambient temperature here in TX is easily 40c/104f. We're talking about 1-2 months of that heat. Overnight rarely gets below 86f. The heat radiating off the ground adds to the under hood temperature. Any flooded lead acid battery in this heat causes the acid to boil. Necessitating biannual refill of distilled water. If you fail to do the drill, the battery dies in 2 years or less.
AGM battery do not have actual liquid!!! You can flip them upside down. Hence they last longer, ie 5-6 years. Nothing to boil.
It's all chemistry, heat speeds up the chemical reaction in the battery and evaporation dries the battery.
How will Subaru's EFB battery hold up in the heat? That's an open question, there's not enough owners on here that have owned them long enough in hot states to provide a good data sample.
You can believe what you want regarding ambient vs under hood temperature. Just telling you the facts about what happens to car batteries here in the heat. My own personal experience with my 2001 Forester and seeing what happens every summer.
My 2018 Forester resides in southern Arizona which is even hotter than bman400's Texas. I installed an AGM battery under the hood about 16 months ago. So far the AGM has performed flawlessly.
Remember that a 2018 does not have AS/S. The load conditions and recharge management is completely different. So comparison may not be valid to the OP's situation.
@Fibber2 @ForesterBill and I are not specifically talking about the AS/S. We're talking generally about battery technology and which ones work under high heat conditions vs those living up north that claim how great their batteries work at near freezing temperature and thinking the cold is what kills batteries. I'll repeat what I stated above:
The owners up north can ignore this spiel as high heat issues do not apply to them.
- Subaru has chosen to use EFB for their AS/S battery. Why? Cost and not requiring a special charge management system. Also more popular in countries outside of US/Canada due to said cost of making the battery.
- AGM - More popular in the US/Canada. But cost substantially more than EFB and also requires a slightly higher charging voltage to keep them happy. These DO NOT generate the wonderful white fuzz!.
- Lead Acid - Used by most car makers prior to AS/S. Why? Cost and available everywhere. But horrible for vehicle owners living in AZ, TX, NM and likely FL. See my above post regarding required maintenance that owners up north are not required to follow. Note these generate that wonderful white fuzz on the surface of battery terminals, etc...
The owners up north can ignore this spiel as high heat issues do not apply to them.
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