Bad battery or bad alternator?

[edigeek]

Hi guys, so my 2014 BRZ keeps dying, even today, I drove it for 45 mins straight, parked and then tried starting it up right after, and the battery is completely dead. Not sure if related but my dashcam had been left plugged in (hotwired) for about a week, I don't drive my car too often so I jumpstarted it and ever since that day, i'm able to jump start the car, drive it but once the car is off, it won't start. Not sure if alternator is not charging the battery and the battery is not keeping it's charge. It's only got 19k miles. Any ideas?

Ps. I have nothing being left plugged in, no electrical mods or anything, I even removed the dash cam and still doing that.

[Tcoat]

Battery. The BRZ battery seems to have a very short life and is a well know issue. Grab a new one and all will be good.

[extrashaky]

Anybody have a suggestion for a good battery? (Not some stupid lightweight motorcycle battery not designed for this car, but a long-lasting, reliable battery for a daily driver.) I haven't seen a good battery discussion in a while, and I'm wondering if there's anything new (that isn't a stupid lightweight firestarter).

[krayzie]

Did you top up the battery with distilled water from time to time?

I've had a similar Panasonic battery in the EK Civic and we never topped it up cuz we didn't know, only lasted 3 years lol! Topped up occasionally should last forever.

Humm what about Optima AGM battery?

[edigeek]

Originally Posted by krayzie

Did you top up the battery with distilled water from time to time?

I've had a similar Panasonic battery in the EK Civic and we never topped it up cuz we didn't know, only lasted 3 years lol! Topped up occasionally should last forever.

Humm what about Optima AGM battery?

Yeah, I've read about them, I did call the dealer and they told me that my battery should be covered under warranty. I'll give that a try, and keep you guys updated.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by extrashaky

Anybody have a suggestion for a good battery? (Not some stupid lightweight motorcycle battery not designed for this car, but a long-lasting, reliable battery for a daily driver.) I haven't seen a good battery discussion in a while, and I'm wondering if there's anything new (that isn't a stupid lightweight firestarter).

Most of the batteries are made in the same 1/2 dozen plants and just have different labels stuck on the so there really hasn't been any big breakthroughs in standard tech in a long time. That said, any of the upper level ones are the best bet as they do use the higher quality materials. I am a diehard Diehard fan since I have had great service from them over the years. Batteries are one of those things that you truly get what you pay for.

Originally Posted by edigeek

Yeah, I've read about them, I did call the dealer and they told me that my battery should be covered under warranty. I'll give that a try, and keep you guys updated.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83885


http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=82887


http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1728041


http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2822872


http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2681746


I could go on for hours. The good news is that most were indeed covered by warranty.

[nikitopo]

I am using a Yuasa battery www.yuasabatteries.com or www.gs-yuasa.com

I have the 44B19L which is smaller and is considered an Auxiliary/Starter Battery. It is used as OEM battery in Lexus and Mercedes E & S class hybrids. It is one of the top brands.

They have also a catalog here: http://www.gs-yuasa.com/en/products/...adeinJapan.pdf

Better to call them and ask if they have a battery for your needs.

[lee1rbc]

charge your battery and hook a volt meter up to the battery while the car is running. If its over 13 volts then your alternator is working. If it shows under 12 and dropping then something is wrong with your charging system. You could have also blown a fuse with the dashcam.

[extrashaky]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I am a diehard Diehard fan since I have had great service from them over the years.

I'm running Diehard Advance Gold AGM batteries in my Jeeps and have had no complaints at all, but last time I checked Diehard didn't have the AGM battery in the BRZ's size. My battery usually does fine when I drive the car regularly, but I'd like a battery that doesn't need a jump if I leave the car parked for two weeks.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by extrashaky

I'm running Diehard Advance Gold AGM batteries in my Jeeps and have had no complaints at all, but last time I checked Diehard didn't have the AGM battery in the BRZ's size. My battery usually does fine when I drive the car regularly, but I'd like a battery that doesn't need a jump if I leave the car parked for two weeks.

So far I have had no issue with the stock one in the FRS and haven't even checked the Diehard sizes so that is good to know.
Following all the battery issue threads I see that the BRZs have issues at about a ten to one rate over the FRSs. When you consider there are far fewer BRZs to start with this number is significant even in the relatively small sample size of the forum. There is something about the BRZ that is creating a patristic draw and draining batteries faster than the FRS. I just don't know what that is.

[edigeek]

so went to the dealership today, guy told me it would about 1-2 hours to have my battery tested it, I waited on hour and my boss kept messaging me about getting some stuff done asap...so had to postpone it until Monday, not my day.

[demasrv]

My stock BRZ just started going bad recently. I couldn't listen to the radio with the car off for more than a few minutes and still start the car. Ended up just replacing it with an Optima red top but at the end of the day most batteries are the same. My truck has whatever brand they sell at Wal Mart and it holds a charge surprisingly well for how long I have to sit there cranking on it.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by demasrv

My stock BRZ just started going bad recently. I couldn't listen to the radio with the car off for more than a few minutes and still start the car. Ended up just replacing it with an Optima red top but at the end of the day most batteries are the same. My truck has whatever brand they sell at Wal Mart and it holds a charge surprisingly well for how long I have to sit there cranking on it.

Oh dude don't be sitting in your truck cranking on it. There is a time and place for such things!

[Vampyre]

I only got about 18 months out of my first battery. One day it just would hold a charge, and I had to get jump started to go anywhere. It was replaced under warranty. They are warrantied for 2 years.