2015 Outback Battery Issues (keyless entry

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2105 Outback 2.5 I Limited had a battery issue at about 28,000 miles:  One day it hesitantly started but ran very rough for the first few minutes and the next day it wouldn't start at all. AAA jump started it in my garage at home.  I decided to drive straight to the Subaru dealership... the car sputtered and stumbled the whole 6 miles to the dealership!   At the dealership I was told that if the battery dies and you get it jumped you should let it idle for 15 to 20 minutes while the car re-learns itself (all the computerized stuff) I believe. They did a full check of the battery and charging system and said I was good to go/no problems! I was also told by the dealership that when I park the car for the evening that I should store the FOB far away from the car so it won't try to communicate with it and run the battery down.  I haven't had a battery issue since then, thank God.

  Now 10 months later or so it's about 5 degrees here and I'm concerned about the battery... I looked under the hood and the battery is a size 25 with only 356 cold cranking amps and I'm wondering if I should just go ahead and replace it?  I think something larger with a lot more cold cranking amps would be good.   I have read numerous stories of dead batteries with 2015s and 2016s.   Feel free to share your stories and recommendations.   I really figured I'd have no issues for many years with a $34k vehicle .... but for the most part I really enjoy my Outback!

[gbhrps]

backout,

 

Welcome to the present where the modern automobile is filled to the brim with battery killers. I'm going through this same scenario with my wife's 6 year old Lexus. She was still working when it was purchased, but now retired, we're finding it might get an hour's useage once a week or so. And its not sufficient to keep the battery completely charged (new battery/charging system fully checks out). I'm finding that about every 6 weeks I have to trickle charge the car overnight, in order to keep the car dependable at starting.

 

As for the cold's affect on the battery level, you could go for a larger battery, but maybe a better solution is a block heater. I know that I'm installing one in my 2017 OutBack Premier as soon as possible. I've owned 4 OBW LTD's before this present one, the first 3 of which came with factory block heaters installed. Why my last 2012 and this new 2017 don't is puzzling. Maybe subie is cutting back on costs.

 

I also own a 2016 Nissan 370z Roadster which will never in its lifetime be winter driven. Guess what I found in the wiring harness under the hood ... yup, a block heater right from the factory. Go figure.

[Fairtax4me]

Factory batteries almost always die in the first 2-3 years. Used to work at a dealer and we replaced batteries in cars that were fresh off the transport truck. Was totally normal to replace a battery in a 6-12 month old car.

To meet demand for the new model year, early model year production vehicles tend to sit in storage lots for several months before they are released and shipped to dealers. Keys in them.

Some mid year models will do the same if not allocated to a certain dealer during production or custom ordered.

Then they are started for about 5 minutes and parked on a train, then moved off and parked in another storage lot for several weeks sometimes. Then started again for 5 minutes and moved onto a truck, then spend a few days on the truck, then parked in the lot at the dealer. Then started for 30 seconds and driven into the shop, then back out, then again to the detail bay, then again to the gas pump, then to its first spot in the lot, then moved to another spot, then somebody just wants to see that color car so the salesman drives it around for 45 seconds so they can look at it... On and off and on and off and on running for maybe a few minutes at a time and turned right back off. Lots of starting, and never enough run time to recharge the battery, until it's purchased. By then the damage is already done. Lead acid batteries do not react well to being stored in a partially discharged state.

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Hello Fellow Subies, Update on my situation:   Took the car to Subaru this morning and the verdict was Bad Battery, replaced under warranty; Happy Dance here!

As previously stated, CCA on the old battery was 356.  The new battery part number is SOA821B400 and there's no specs data on the top of the installed battery.  I've searched high and low on the net and could not find specs on the battery... it's tucked in a nice Subaru case so I can't see the sides for info.  On an Outback forum complaining about batteries, one member states it's 550 CCA so I'm happy with that.  Funny stuff: in my research, many of the sites said this battery was not suited to fit my Outback... it's kinda hilarious, the info that's out there.  One more thing: I called a dealership in Duluth Minnesota (very cold up there) and the service advisor up there said they would replace my battery with one @ 550 CCA so I guess it all fits together.

  Thanks Guys, for your input on this topic.  

[Numbchux]

I wonder which one of my coworkers you spoke to....

 

 

 

Yep, factory battery was 356cca, they're finally puttying 490cca ones in them for 2018.

 

Subaru replacement batteries come from Interstate, and are 550cca (That SOA part number you listed).

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​I strolled around the New Car showroom while I waited for my car and all the hoods were open so I easily checked the CCA and for sure, 490 was the lowest figure I saw.   

Now, about the Voice to Nav system... complete joke in Subarus... at least through 2015.  I was able to get a sweet SAS plan through Subaru because the unit would not work as advertised even after being replaced once.  I suppose this should be a different thread but was just in the mood to yack.

​  Hoping this new battery will last a good while since it won't experience the repeated Start/Stop stuff that Sooberoo spoke of.