The battery of my 2017 Impreza has been depleted twice in the past couple of months. (December 2023 and yesterday.)
As far as I know, everything was turned off in the car when not being driven. However, the dealer told me that the car has 21 computers in it (probably meaning systems controlled by electronics). Also, the car has Bluetooth. Is it possible that the electronics is activated by my home electronics (such as my CPAP machine) when the car is turned off?
Thoughts?
Wendy
Just a couple of suggestions.
1st- Might want to get your battery checked. Batteries don’t like to be completely drained.
2nd- Check if you can shut down the electronics in the car after use instead of leaving them shut down by them self. (can take 10-15 minutes in some cars).
I lock my door and that shuts down the electronics in my car.
Paul
If it’s the original battery then it’s probably toast. You get 5-7 years out of a battery, then it’s time to replace. (They are recycled.)
There could be phantom drain, it happens, but if it’s near the end of its life then even just the daily loss due to cold weather or just sitting could be enough to drop it below the threshold of usability.
Yes, Goofy is on point; and most Subaru sites (along with most car battery sites in general) indicate that the battery life is “3-5 years, but can last longer.”
Pete
I had a friend who dealt with this problem by disconnecting the battery when he parked in the airport for an extended trip. Not sure how todays computers would react. Would they all reset? Or wipe their programming?
It worked in the good old days.
If original battery, probably past its lifetime. Every time I’ve had a “5 year battery”, I’ve been lucky to get 4. And nothing is ever totally off. Many years ago I kept an old sports car for fun and drove mainly on weekends. Only thing it had that was on all the time was a clock. That was enough to run the battery down if I didn’t take it out for a regular spin. No telling with all the computer chips, bluetooth, wifi connections today.
It’s unlikely that your home electronics are causing the problem with your car’s battery; most modern automobiles with complex electronics have many systems operating even when the car is turned off, which can deplete the battery over time. Things like the car’s security system, Bluetooth, and onboard computers can still draw electricity. It may be worthwhile to have a mechanic check for parasitic drains or malfunctioning components that are causing the battery to decrease. Also, ensure that your battery is in good condition and that your charging method is functioning properly.
Thank you for your comments.
Subaru issued a recall to reprogram one of their computers since they received many complaints about this.
Wendy
Yeah, happened to me too. My old Hyundai had a 4 year old battery, and it was trapped in a garage for 5 weeks because the alley was blocked by snow and ice. Little things remain on, and the Hyundai was worse than most. I had to call around to see who could sell me a battery for it, get AAA to jump start the car, and drive across town to get the battery.
Wendy if this is the original battery then it is 100% lived its lifetime. Todays vehicles are barely good for 3-4 years on battery life.