I have a 98 outabck that has had a consistent battery drain going on for almost a year. I have had numerous mechanic's activity and free testing as well as a new battery put in yet it still drains.???

Asked by tomatogirl Jan 27, 2017 at 01:04 PM about the 2000 Subaru Outback Base Wagon

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I bought this outback a year ago and after a few months I had to start jumping it every so often. Seemingly random draining. After a jump only got me halfway to work and I got another jump I heard clanking around in the engine, limped it until it died a 1/2 mile from there and had to get it towed to my mechanic. They said head gask. blew and put in a new used engine. Got it, parked it, 2 weeks later no juice, again. New battery...same problem. Fuses, fine. Autozone test most recently, alternator not charging. How did my mechanics not know that? I am thinking electrical short from staying locked longer than overnight? Woke up thinking is it my lights phantom draining--I rarely turn them on or off as the engine does that for me...??? Help!

2 Answers

Use a multi-tester to find the battery drain ------ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYUoXApI89Q

48,660

90's Subies alternators' internal voltage regulators are infamous for becoming intermittent, and "forgetting" to charge at idle. Highest incidence of failure is during a hot summer inner-city crawl with the AC on...yech. A rebuilt alt is only just north of $100 and a 1/2 hr install, so go for it. Subsequent re-failure rate is still high, however. These alts didn't get fairly bulletproof until the mid-noughts.

Your Answer:

CarGurus Experts

  • #1
    Mark Weiner
    Reputation
    33,490
  • #2
    TheSubaruGuruBoston
    Reputation
    28,650
  • #3
    Keith Cahalan
    Reputation
    3,380
View All

Find great deals from top-rated dealers

Search

Related Models For Sale

Used Subaru Forester
26 Great Deals out of 1,027 listings starting at $2,000
Used Toyota RAV4
91 Great Deals out of 2,055 listings starting at $3,499
Used Honda CR-V
90 Great Deals out of 3,817 listings starting at $1,995
Used Toyota 4Runner
13 Great Deals out of 337 listings starting at $9,900
Used Subaru Legacy
5 Great Deals out of 159 listings starting at $4,999
Used Subaru Impreza
19 Great Deals out of 458 listings starting at $3,999
Used Toyota Highlander
31 Great Deals out of 718 listings starting at $2,495
Used Toyota Camry
49 Great Deals out of 940 listings starting at $2,212
Used Toyota Tacoma
54 Great Deals out of 1,033 listings starting at $8,708
Used Subaru WRX
27 Great Deals out of 512 listings starting at $10,781
Used Ford F-150
299 Great Deals out of 15,725 listings starting at $1,712

Content submitted by Users is not endorsed by CarGurus, does not express the opinions of CarGurus, and should not be considered reviewed, screened, or approved by CarGurus. Please refer to CarGurus Terms of Use. Content will be removed if CarGurus becomes aware that it violates our policies.