BRZ battery warranty?

[Porsche]

I think the battery in my 2013 BRZ Limited is about dead.

This thing was feeble from the day I took delivery. I charged it on my Schumacher smart charger the day I took it home. But this thing has always been weak. Fortunately, my BRZ always starts within three seconds, because I don't think this battery could turn over the engine for ten seconds straight, never mind make repeated attempts.

Does anyone know if the battery is covered under warranty? My car has less than 7000 miles on it, and is 20 months old.

I cannot find any reference at all to the battery in my Warranty & Maintenance Booklet. Maybe I overlooked it. I was unsuccessful in searching for an electronic copy of this booklet, hoping to employ the text search feature.

So, can anyone help here?

And, while we're on the subject of Subaru battery life, has anyone else had a similar experience with a weak battery with poor life?

I've only replaced one battery in over 40 years and that was on an 8-year-old Mazda. My S2000 OEM battery is going strong and it's 8 years old, although, admittedly, it has spent much of its life connected to a battery tender.

[mav1178]

It would be covered under the standard 3-year/36K warranty.

-alex

[zinzan]

Is smart charging a battery a common practice? I used to keep a smart trickle charger on my car battery when I was consulting and would not drive my car for months at a time, but that was years ago. I think I still have that trickle charger, but haven't used it in probably 12 years.

I've never heard of using a "battery tender" or smart charger on a daily driver. Of course, I don't know if OP's BRZ is a DD.

-Z

[qqzj]

I think the battery is weak. I have lost power twice due to battery issues. Both times I used battery tender to resurrect it. It works fine, but I do not have much confidence in it. Hopefully it will die in three years and I can get a new one. BTW, my Acura's battery is still going strong after 7.5 years. I believe in the Jap brands, Honda>Sub>Toyota in terms of quality of products made.

[Porsche]

Originally Posted by qqzj

I think the battery is weak.

Yes, thanks, I know. I was wondering whether Subaru replaced the batteries under warranty. It could go either way, and I wouldn't be surprised. The thing is, they do not include the battery in the long list of items that ARE covered, and the battery is a pretty obvious component.

I haven't taken it in to the dealer, yet.

However, I did confirm today, after some tests, that it's on its last legs. After a full charge, and with no further load apart from the ECU and radio memories, etc., 16 hours later the battery registered a mere 12.4 volts. It's done.

It should have registered 12.7 volts, or higher. A few hours after removing the charger from my S2000 battery, it registered 13.1 volts. Ten minutes after a 100% charge, the Subaru battery had already dropped to a mere 12.5 volts.

This Subaru Panasonic(?) battery has been poor from day one.

I have lost power twice due to battery issues. Both times I used battery tender to resurrect it. It works fine, but I do not have much confidence in it.

I'll bet it does not work fine; I'll bet it tests at low voltage, and like mine, it just barely gets the job done. But, as you say, you cannot trust it. Just like mine, although yours might be a bit better than mine.

Your dealer can put a load tester on it and confirm that you need a new battery.

Hopefully it will die in three years and I can get a new one.

I would not wait. Take it in and have it tested. Tell them it failed already, twice.

When they give you a new battery, come back and thank me.

[zc06_kisstherain]

mine died completely from not driving for a week and due to cold weather.
I re-charged with battery charger for overnight and it brought life back.
yeah BRZ's stock battery seems very weak.

[AznBRZer]

I forgot my cabin light one night and the battery was still going strong the next morning. YMMV?

[Thorpedo]

Mine is in storage and has been started twice in the last 4 months. Always starts strong.

Check your load when everything is off. I never trusted mere static voltages to be a good indication of battery health.

[quark]

Mine was completely flat after 1 week without use.

No interior light, automatic inlock etc.

Only mod is android stereo, but this has been fine for a few weeks

1 hour charge at 4amps was enough to start.

Has anyone measured the power draw when the car is off?

[ZionsWrath]

Mine sat under a mountain of ice for at least a month and didnt hesitate to start.

[quark]

Originally Posted by ZionsWrath

Mine sat under a mountain of ice for at least a month and didnt hesitate to start.

Nice !!

[Scenic Driver]

Originally Posted by ZionsWrath

Mine sat under a mountain of ice for at least a month and didnt hesitate to start.

Mine sat under a similar mountain for 2 weeks and started fine

[ZionsWrath]

You win

[quark]

Update:

Turns out the issue was the boot/trunk wasn't closed properly and the battery drained after 48 hours

More info here:
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...=1#post1824379