2014 Subarun Forester - New Battery, No Power at all

[KSS]

I installed a new Optima Red battery in my Forester. Before I installed it, I confirmed that the battery was healthy and had a good charge.

However when I got into the cabin to start the car, there was no evidence of power in the system. There were no bells, no lights etc. There was also no sound of the system initializing when you turn the key to the ON position.

I checked all the fuses and nothing was blown. Did not check the relays as I have no experience (or equipment) for testing them.

Has anyone ever experienced this? Any ideas?

 

[Dick Foster]

Re check your connections.
Since Optima moved production to Mexico, they aren't the product they used to be. Reports of early failure are all too common.
Odyssey batteries are still a US made product and superior in several ways, beginning with energy density. More energy stored in less space.

 

[KSS]

I'll have to check those out when I'm in the market for another battery.

 

[bmart]

Probably not...but I've seen many people connect the cables over the plastic connectors on the battery so that there was no electrical connection.