Battery, special or not?

[mporfido]

My 2021 Outback has the automatic start feature. My question is if this feature is disabled do I still need to purchase the recommended battery or will an ordinary one work?

 

[piste]

I recommend the one that is recommended.

BTW...care to share with the audience a bit more color?? As in...why are you asking? Is there a cost savings here? What is your consideration? And will you have a second post?

 

[mporfido]

Of course. The reason I ask is I recently had to have it replaced because it just died suddenly after having driven it over 1100 miles. The very next morning it was dead.
Because I was near a dealership I had them replace it. The cost staggered me but I was pressed for time, it was a weekend, and I had many more miles to cover to my destination and I wasn't entirely sure it was just the battery.
Getting back to my concern of frequent starts bc of the auto start feature I assumed the battery had features that took this into consideration. But after researching various batteries I find this is not necessarily the case. The dealership was just gouging me on parts. And I could have gone to any parts store for the battery.

 

[piste]

Of course. The reason I ask is I recently had to have it replaced because it just died suddenly after having driven it over 1100 miles. The very next morning it was dead.
Because I was near a dealership I had them replace it. The cost staggered me but I was pressed for time, it was a weekend, and I had many more miles to cover to my destination and I wasn't entirely sure it was just the battery.
Getting back to my concern of frequent starts bc of the auto start feature I assumed the battery had features that took this into consideration. But after researching various batteries I find this is not necessarily the case. The dealership was just gouging me on parts. And I could have gone to any parts store for the battery.

Understandable and I think you got to the right conclusion on your own. I have never heard of any correlation between battery type and the start stop feature. But bottom line...two things you should never buy from a dealer are batteries and tires. Best bet is a shop like Adv Auto, Autozone, O'reillys etc.

 

[mporfido]

Roger that. Thanks for your response piste.

 

[Raymond3006]

My 2021 Outback has the automatic start feature. My question is if this feature is disabled do I still need to purchase the recommended battery or will an ordinary one work?

When it comes to SUBARU's , the BIGGER the Battery that you can Stuff into the Battery Tray .... THE BETTER FOR YOU !

It will pay Big-Time in a couple years, as "S" Vehicles tend to destroy all batteries faster than any other vehicle ever sold !

 

[Golfer74]

there is a way to disable to autostart feature , at least after initial start up (so it doesnt stop/restart each time you stop car), that way there should be a lot less demand on the battery (and starter). instructions are probably posted somewhere on the internet. my son disabled the function entirely-including at initial startup, he must have found the instructions to do so (he's an engineer) . the so called AGM batteries that are recommended for such cars as pretty expensive. My ascent doesn't even have the autostart, but the dealer quoted me about $700 for a replacement ,i told them i didn't have that feature, but they just said all Subarus require these batteries- not true!

 

[Raymond3006]

there is a way to disable to autostart feature , at least after initial start up (so it doesnt stop/restart each time you stop car), that way there should be a lot less demand on the battery (and starter). instructions are probably posted somewhere on the internet. my son disabled the function entirely-including at initial startup, he must have found the instructions to do so (he's an engineer) . the so called AGM batteries that are recommended for such cars as pretty expensive. My ascent doesn't even have the autostart, but the dealer quoted me about $700 for a replacement ,i told them i didn't have that feature, but they just said all Subarus require these batteries- not true!

This Battery REALLY WORKS .... : (click on it anyway : will show Product intended ) ;

Advance Auto Parts - Down for Maintenance

WalMart also markets a similiar MAXX-START Battery ... !

In spite of what "S" hustlers say , this fits , but there is an ANTI-CONSUMER Wire on the back-side of the Battery-Holder that needs to be "BENT-OUT-OF-THE-WAY" to reinstall the Hold-Down Bracket : I repeatedly BENT mine till it separated from the System , and then threw it into the TRASH ! Unless it it pointed out to them , even Subaru "experts" never notice it is missing .... ! Not so important after ALL !!!!!!!!!!!!

Just like a lot of things under-the-hood : "S" designs these Vehicles to keep consumers fingers away from our Vehicles : this is a "Right-To-Repair" constitutional issue , that Congress has already taken a Stand on : it is only a matter of Time before this also goes to the Federal Courts ... !

 

[mporfido]

there is a way to disable to autostart feature , at least after initial start up (so it doesnt stop/restart each time you stop car), that way there should be a lot less demand on the battery (and starter). instructions are probably posted somewhere on the internet. my son disabled the function entirely-including at initial startup, he must have found the instructions to do so (he's an engineer) . the so called AGM batteries that are recommended for such cars as pretty expensive. My ascent doesn't even have the autostart, but the dealer quoted me about $700 for a replacement ,i told them i didn't have that feature, but they just said all Subarus require these batteries- not true!

Sure, one can simply switch the feature off every time the vehicle is started but that becomes an "aw shucks I forgot again" issue. I did come across a $99 kit that permanently disables the feature but am somewhat leery of it as it doesn't have very clear installation info.

 

[@outback 2017]

Understandable and I think you got to the right conclusion on your own. I have never heard of any correlation between battery type and the start stop feature. But bottom line...two things you should never buy from a dealer are batteries and tires. Best bet is a shop like Adv Auto, Autozone, O'reillys etc.

I had to get a new battery, which I bought from the dealer. Turned out, shortly after it was recalled so I was sent a credit for it from the dealer.

 

[Matt42]

Sure, one can simply switch the feature off every time the vehicle is started but that becomes an "aw shucks I forgot again" issue. I did come across a $99 kit that permanently disables the feature but am somewhat leery of it as it doesn't have very clear installation info.

I bought and installed one in our Forester SK. The instructions, aided by those online, were perfectly clear to me. And it works just great.