OEM battery not too bad? - Page 4 - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

krayzie · 06-03-2016, 01:56 AM

2.5 years owning this car and I've never once thought I would need to add water to a car battery in 2016.

Took some finesse to get those 6 vent plugs off. The vent plugs along with the rim of the holes were so filthy with sand and dirt, no matter how good I got them cleaned I can still see some dirt floating on top of the electrolytes ugh!

It's topped up now with distilled water hopefully it'll do another 2.5 years of service.

Ultramaroon · 06-03-2016, 12:46 PM

Those recessed caps do suck the big one.

DarkSunrise · 06-03-2016, 01:01 PM

With my FR-S I'm on the original battery (purchased car in 2012) with no problems. Always starts up strong even when it's been sitting a while.

My GTI might need to have its battery replaced though (purchased in 2011). Going to keep an eye on it as winter approaches.

krayzie · 06-06-2016, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

With my FR-S I'm on the original battery (purchased car in 2012) with no problems. Always starts up strong even when it's been sitting a while.

My GTI might need to have its battery replaced though (purchased in 2011). Going to keep an eye on it as winter approaches.

The first sign I knew my old GTI needed a new battery was when my side windows needed to be reset as they would no longer auto up/down everytime I went to start the car. The original Varta German made sealed battery lasted 4.5 years. The dealer replaced it with a Mexican variant that was smaller but never had a problem.

SquadRon · 06-06-2016, 07:32 PM

I'm glad you mention this because I was about to go to the dealership and get the warranty on my battery because it is very faulty.
Every time I start my car the lights inside the dash of my speedometer are just dimmer than what they were before.

DarkSunrise · 06-06-2016, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krayzie

The first sign I knew my old GTI needed a new battery was when my side windows needed to be reset as they would no longer auto up/down everytime I went to start the car. The original Varta German made sealed battery lasted 4.5 years. The dealer replaced it with a Mexican variant that was smaller but never had a problem.

Interesting - thanks for the info! I haven't had any issues with the auto up/down function, but I noticed the engine sometimes takes an extra second or two to turn over. The battery is 5 yo now so I'm expecting it's days are numbered.

krayzie · 06-06-2016, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Interesting - thanks for the info! I haven't had any issues with the auto up/down function, but I noticed the engine sometimes takes an extra second or two to turn over. The battery is 5 yo now so I'm expecting it's days are numbered.

Interesting as I've had that issue too since new and would happen maybe 2 to 3 times a year, and the replacement coilpacks from the VW recall didn't help either.

The section about maintaining the battery in the Subaru manual was vague, so I went to YouTube to figure out that the vent caps are screwed on for the Panasonic battery.

Interesting that for batteries like the Varta even tho it reads "sealed", you can actually peel the long sticker off the top and pry open a cover to expose the 6 service ports for adding water. Talk about planned obsolescence.

chaoskaze · 06-06-2016, 11:24 PM

My oem battery was so bad, there were some battery fluid came out& corroded the paint near it.... Subaru replace mine for the American black Subaru battery & now it's all good.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

krayzie · 06-09-2016, 11:06 PM

Anyone have one of these installed? It's a battery monitor called Panasonic LifeWINK.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yjHoCuHEFY"]æ¾ä¸‹é›»ç“¶æ¸¬è©¦å™¨.flv - YouTube[/ame]

http://panasonic.jp/car/battery/lifewink/

Ultramaroon · 06-10-2016, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaoskaze

My oem battery was so bad, there were some battery fluid came out& corroded the paint near it.... Subaru replace mine for the American black Subaru battery & now it's all good.

Once you go black...

chaoskaze · 06-10-2016, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Once you go black...

Lol

Nevermore · 06-10-2016, 07:47 AM

Huh...

I've had the car more than 3 and a half years now and this has never been an issue for me, though mine gets driven just about every day. I think they check the battery as part of their inspection every time it goes in for an oil change and I've never seen "Replaced battery" as one of the items performed.

p1l0t · 06-10-2016, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Dude! That is not what they mean when they say "do acid".

It. Just. Keeps. Going....

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

bcj · 06-10-2016, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krayzie

Anyone have one of these installed? It's a battery monitor called Panasonic LifeWINK.

Get a multi meter. $10. Can use it anywhere. AAA C 9V useful.

06-03-2016, 12:46 PM	#44
Ultramaroon not playing cards Join Date: Sep 2014 Drives: a 13 e8h frs Location: vantucky, wa Posts: 32,392 Thanks: 53,053 Thanked 37,228 Times in 19,308 Posts Mentioned: 1118 Post(s)	Those recessed caps do suck the big one. __________________ service manuals

06-03-2016, 01:01 PM	#45
DarkSunrise Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Drives: 22 BRZ (Previously 13 FR-S) Location: USA Posts: 5,798 Thanks: 2,187 Thanked 4,243 Times in 2,221 Posts Mentioned: 48 Post(s)	With my FR-S I'm on the original battery (purchased car in 2012) with no problems. Always starts up strong even when it's been sitting a while. My GTI might need to have its battery replaced though (purchased in 2011). Going to keep an eye on it as winter approaches. __________________ "Never run out of real estate, traction, and ideas at the same time." 2022 BRZ Build 2013 FR-S Build

06-09-2016, 11:06 PM	#51
krayzie Drive From Home Join Date: Dec 2013 Drives: BRZ STI Performance Location: Filth City Posts: 4,912 Thanks: 2,368 Thanked 3,111 Times in 2,007 Posts Mentioned: 30 Post(s)	Anyone have one of these installed? It's a battery monitor called Panasonic LifeWINK. [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yjHoCuHEFY"]æ¾ä¸‹é›»ç“¶æ¸¬è©¦å™¨.flv - YouTube[/ame] http://panasonic.jp/car/battery/lifewink/ Last edited by krayzie; 06-09-2016 at 11:19 PM.

06-10-2016, 07:47 AM	#54
Nevermore Wayward Member Join Date: May 2012 Drives: Hot Lava 86 Location: Bust of Pallas Posts: 3,336 Thanks: 1,669 Thanked 2,312 Times in 1,386 Posts Mentioned: 50 Post(s)	Huh... I've had the car more than 3 and a half years now and this has never been an issue for me, though mine gets driven just about every day. I think they check the battery as part of their inspection every time it goes in for an oil change and I've never seen "Replaced battery" as one of the items performed. __________________

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06-03-2016, 01:56 AM	#43
krayzie Drive From Home Join Date: Dec 2013 Drives: BRZ STI Performance Location: Filth City Posts: 4,912 Thanks: 2,368 Thanked 3,111 Times in 2,007 Posts Mentioned: 30 Post(s)	2.5 years owning this car and I've never once thought I would need to add water to a car battery in 2016. Took some finesse to get those 6 vent plugs off. The vent plugs along with the rim of the holes were so filthy with sand and dirt, no matter how good I got them cleaned I can still see some dirt floating on top of the electrolytes ugh! It's topped up now with distilled water hopefully it'll do another 2.5 years of service.

06-06-2016, 07:32 PM	#47
SquadRon Banned Join Date: Apr 2016 Drives: Steel FR-S 2015 Location: Ohigho Posts: 180 Thanks: 29 Thanked 34 Times in 29 Posts Mentioned: 5 Post(s)	I'm glad you mention this because I was about to go to the dealership and get the warranty on my battery because it is very faulty. Every time I start my car the lights inside the dash of my speedometer are just dimmer than what they were before.

06-06-2016, 11:24 PM	#50
chaoskaze The Fail Boat Join Date: Aug 2011 Drives: CWP S.B. Location: LasVegas Posts: 3,027 Thanks: 4,720 Thanked 1,294 Times in 874 Posts Mentioned: 19 Post(s)	My oem battery was so bad, there were some battery fluid came out& corroded the paint near it.... Subaru replace mine for the American black Subaru battery & now it's all good. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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