Battery from dealership?

[Fred Boer]

Hi all:

Just had my car in to the Subaru dealership and it was recommended that I
needed a new battery. I can't quite remember the price (I was dealing with
another issue at the time that was more worrying - see thread below...). I
decided to hold off on the battery. So...

1. Should I have just let them put one in (my wife's opinion.. I think it
would have been about $150.00 Canadian...)?
2. Is there any good reason to want a "Subaru" branded and installed
battery?
3. Assuming I *can* actually change the battery myself.. what should I buy?
Recommendations? Installation advice?

Thanks!!

 

[Ray]

1. Should I have just let them put one in (my wife's opinion.. I think it
would have been about $150.00 Canadian...)?
2. Is there any good reason to want a "Subaru" branded and installed
battery?
3. Assuming I *can* actually change the battery myself.. what should I buy?
Recommendations? Installation advice?

I've never worried about battery brand and never had one that didn't last
about as long as the warranty period. Most brands have several different
"grades" with corisponding prices, warranties, and CCAs (Cold Cranking
Amps). I usually try to stay away from the very bottom of the range but
otherwise I'm not picky and havn't been disapointed. You'll want one that's
"maintence free" which most are these days. Any store that carries
batteries will have a book/computer that can tell you which ones will work
with your car but it's a good idea to measure your existing one to make sure
it'll fit (sometimes the books/computer are wrong). Installation is easy,
the hardest part is probably re-setting your clock and radio stations when
you're done.

 

[StephenW]

NO, buy whatever brand you wish. I perfer "Interstate"


--
Steve
ASE Master Tech
L1 Diag
Currently residing at a Subaru Shop
4.5 years doing tires and alighnments

 

[Clifford Heath]

Recommendations? Installation advice?

Many Subarus have really bad earthing cable/strap. It's a good
idea to replace it, and the cable end on the starter cable +ve.
That also gives you more choice about what battery to fit, as
you aren't stuck with the dinky little terminals they seem to
use.

Clifford Heath.

 

[KLS]

I've never worried about battery brand and never had one that didn't last
about as long as the warranty period. Most brands have several different
"grades" with corisponding prices, warranties, and CCAs (Cold Cranking
Amps). I usually try to stay away from the very bottom of the range but
otherwise I'm not picky and havn't been disapointed. You'll want one that's
"maintence free" which most are these days. Any store that carries
batteries will have a book/computer that can tell you which ones will work
with your car but it's a good idea to measure your existing one to make sure
it'll fit (sometimes the books/computer are wrong). Installation is easy,
the hardest part is probably re-setting your clock and radio stations when
you're done.

We made the stupid decision to replace the factory battery in the 99
OBW with one of the Advance Auto batteries back in October, and that
thing died two months later. We took it back and got a full refund;
in its place we installed an Interstate (should be available in
Canada) battery and ran a test on the alternator to make sure it was
ok (it was, hence why we were able to get full refund) and fully
charged up the new battery before installation. All that cost $146 at
our trusted independent mechanic. No need to buy from the dealer.

 

[Dano58]

Hi all:

Just had my car in to the Subaru dealership and it was recommended that I
needed a new battery. I can't quite remember the price (I was dealing with
another issue at the time that was more worrying - see thread below...). I
decided to hold off on the battery. So...

1. Should I have just let them put one in (my wife's opinion.. I think it
would have been about $150.00 Canadian...)?
2. Is there any good reason to want a "Subaru" branded and installed
battery?
3. Assuming I *can* actually change the battery myself.. what should I buy?
Recommendations? Installation advice?

Thanks!!

Drive over to Sears, buy the correct battery for your car, replace in
the parking lot, then bring the old one back in for them to recycle.

Dan D
'99 Impreza 2.5 RS (son's)
Central NJ USA

 

[Fred Boer]

Thanks to all for the responses!

Drive over to Sears, buy the correct battery for your car, replace in
the parking lot, then bring the old one back in for them to recycle.

Dan D
'99 Impreza 2.5 RS (son's)
Central NJ USA

 

[turkey]

Just one additional suggestion. Take a good look at your battery
size and which terminal is where before you buy, so you can verify the
correct battery is being suggested. I have run into incorrect specs
in battery application books before and it's always easier to get the
right battery the first time.

 

[Chicobiker]

Just had my car in to the Subaru dealership and it was recommended that I
needed a new battery. I can't quite remember the price (I was dealing with

A couple of years ago, a shop told me my battery "failed a load
test." I did my own load test by timing the battery voltage with the
headlights on and it seemed to hold as well as my gf's car, so I took
a chance and waited. My car lasted through the winter no problem.
Morning temps can get as low as -20celcius here. My car has seen
colder, but not that winter. So maybe the mild winter helped.

In the summer, I was doing some other stuff anyway, so I bought a
battery. I bought the right "style" that had lots of CCA. Cold
Cranking Amps will do you more service than capacity. How often do
you run your battery down to empty, vs asking your battery to start a
cold car?

Anyway, even though I had the right "style", the terminals were not
centered along the top of the battery like the OEM battery, so I had
to stretch the cables by an inch or so. Talk about tight! I got it
to reach, but only after removing one of the cable holding brackets.
Maybe the extra pressure will ensure a better electrical connection!
Not a difficult job other than the reach issue.

Also, I measured the charging current on each battery before and after
the change. I can't remember the numbers, but I remember noticing
that my alternator was working harder on the old battery. The
internal resistance of a battery increases with age, and that acts
like extra load on the alternator. So don't be afraid to wait a
little, but don't wait too long or you'll be replacing the alternator
too!!

Good luck.
2003 OBS

 

[Fred Boer]

Thanks for the suggestions! I *do* intend to replace the battery - and fix
the broken windshield - and fix the burned out bulb on the dashboard that
prevents me from seeing the time... All I need is just 3 straight months of
cost-free driving. I've promised myself that if I don't have to pay for any
repairs for 3 months, then those repairs will be done.

Cheers!

 

[P T]

Two issues I would mention:

-Batteries usually come in several grades from very very powerful to
only moderately powerful. Here in Minnesota it can get very cold in the
winter, and sometimes the extra oomph from the very very powerful
version is necessary, when the cold saps the power of the battery.

-Another issue is how long will you keep the car? One year? Get a cheap
battery. Ten years? Get the most powerful battery.