STEVECHAPS

Happened again to mine just now, 3 days unused & completely dead!
First time a new/better battery was fitted at the dealers which improved the general hesitant starting but this has gradually returned.
Car is 100% brilliant apart from this but it's a touch annoying!
Has there been a definitive answer as to how this can be put right? (If there is my dealer is unaware of it), otherwise might have to invest in one of those trickle charger things.
Steve

Houghton

iTrader: (1)

You may find this interesting reading, well some of it

http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/showthrea...ight=batteries

Harry_Boy

Steve - seems like it's perhaps a combination of a duff batch of batteries and/or the tracker continually drawing current....

STEVECHAPS

Mmmmmmmmm, couldn't access search function earlier, but it would seem that it's likely to be the alternator/tracker/battery, any one or a combo of all 3! The new(er) battery suggests the former 2 as the culprits maybe.
Is the trackstar testable? If so by whom - dealer or RAC?
Steve
PS, the rest of the car is spot on unlike Elmers!

bikerthou

mmmm more like it needs charging for 6 hrs at 1/10 of an amp before fitting then it may have a chance as the new charging system will never put in any more to the battery then was first there

davedipster

Try driving with your headlights on all the time

Dipster

p1doc

i got my battery replaced and no problems since then,dealer said it was a known problem due to batch of batteries-check code with dealer and get them to keep it for a few days and see if it is a charging problem
martin

Manners

i had the same prob on my 02 WRX dealer changed battery and alarm ecu just picked it up at Heathrow after 17 days on super lock and started first time!

corradoboy

Steve, there's been many theories about this problem as you can see. When mine went the most popular culprits were a dodgy batch of batteries, but as many people have had repeat occurances with higher spec units that one's ruled out. The alternator overcharging, suggested cure was to leave sidelights on to create a small continuous drain, which I have done ever since. A dodgy foglight relay, had mine done along with my new battery and so far so good (15th may 04).

Are you coming to the next WYIOC meet, or do you fancy a coffee in between ? Haven't seen you in a while.

Scooby-Mike

Ask the dealer to do a leak off test to see how much current is being drawn with the ignition off and the car locked.

simo

had mine changed and still flat if left for over 5 or so days . Suppose I could leave it on trickle charge if i wanted as I just jump start it at present.

davedipster

The tracker should go to sleep after 60 minutes and stop polling back, if not it will drain the battery.
Also running with the headlights on makes the alternator charge more.

Dipster

Floyd

iTrader: (9)

Or if you are a penny pinching miser like me then you could build this:
http://www.autospeed.com/cms/A_2112/article.html

F

ShyTot

Be real carefull jump starting from another car, especially if you do it with the donor cars engine running.

This is what can happen.....

The donor cars engine is running, and you start the car with the flat battery, thats all fine. Then you leave the jump leads connected for a while.
When you eventually come to disconnect them, if the donors car engine is still running, its alternator is working Very hard to charge the flat battery on the other car. Suddenly that load goes away and it takes a finite time for the donor cars alternator to react to the change. That spike can fry your ECU. I have even known it to fire off the Airbags on a Mercedes!

There are expensive surge protectors available to prevent this, but most jump leads don't include them. I believe if you follow the instructions provided with the leads exactly, you may also be OK

But, my advice would be to never jump start, or offer anyone a jump start from a modern car.
SteveW

picasso

just had the same problem, car left over x-mas & new year at airport carpark, tried to start it on our return - nothing completely dead.
its due a service this month so i,ll ask the dealer to check it out.
strange thing though the car park operators would only jump start, using a battery pack, the car after i signed a disclaimer to say that if it damaged the car in anyway they could not be held responsible

simo

Steve

the times I have jump started the car, I get it started & disconnect the leads straight away. Just leave the car running / take for a run then to charge the battery.

Cheers 4 the info thou, noted

Elmer Fudpucker

...as for my battery constantly discharging

My local main dealer(in the UK)reliably informed me that I had a Tracker problem.

in as much that when I garaged the car at night,the Tracker would then spend up to 7 hours trying to locate a sattlelite,constantly drawing so many amps an hour.

The fix was to contact the Tracker people,who will then come out to you and adjust the search time down to 1 hour.

Whether this is true or not,or if its whats causing your problem I don't know

Just relaying what I was informed,Jon

Manners

If you use the super lock option it stops the alarm scanning for a radio transmitter, thus saving the battery, it worked for me over a 17 day airport stay.

STEVECHAPS

OK, diagnosis from subaru assist is a duff battery, which has again been replaced FOC.
After speaking at length to trackstar technicians I reckon that whilst it's quite minimal, the drain from the tracker is probably compounding the 'smart' alternator inaction issue, with the battery being asked to supply power for that plus the ice, interior lighting etc etc. All small drains but none of which is enough to kick the alternator into life to replenish the battery.
The answer (for now) - drive with sidelights on all the time as a test at the dealers shows that this is enough to get the alternator active, so we'll see if that sorts it!
To be continued.......................?

Hol

iTrader: (1)

These sort of solar chargers could sort out the problem, but not the cause.

http://www.selectsolar.co.uk/gadget.html

http://www.m-99.co.uk/Electrical/12v...y_charger.html

W 12 X T C

you say you have an 03 sti. mine has a battery volt indicator in the alarm system. the little red light by the clock will flash to tell you what the volts are. try checking that to see when you are losing power.