How To Replace Battery Subaru Impreza
How To Replace Battery Subaru Impreza: Batteries as everything else have a limited lifespan and need replacing every few years. Usually a battery will last anywhere between 4 to 7 years depending on battery quality, usage, environment or climate.
Vehicle is a 2015 Subaru Impreza, 2.0 liter flat engine. However, most newer or older Subaru models have either similar or identical battery replacement procedure.
Diagnosing a Bad Battery
Battery on this car is about 5 years old and was getting slow at cold starts, mornings or when car been sitting for a while. Stater motor was operating slowly than usual. Voltage with engine off was 11,7 volts meaning a weak of failing battery in need of replacement. Voltage when measured at crank also dropped at 9.3 volts which also is an indicator of weak battery. Might as well test alternator too, to make sure is working properly How to Test Battery and Alternator.
Tools: 10mm socket and ratchet or 10mm wrench will do too, flat screwdriver and grease.
Battery Removal Subaru Impreza
Battery on Subaru Impreza is located under the hood on drivers side. Remove keys from ignition and open the hood. All bolts associated with removal and installation of battery on Impreza are 10mm. Start by removing 10mm plastic bolt or screw which holds negative wire to battery bracket (image below). Unscrew it and lift it up to release battery cable.
How To Remove Battery Bracket
Battery is secured in place with a top bracket and two hooks which are inserted on car chassis. Most Japanese and Korean cars use this design and are very similar or identical to each other. Remove front and rear battery bracket 10mm bolts.
Remove top bracket and then remove bracket hooks, you have to twist them to remove. Anyways, if you prefer you can leave hooks in place too, it can be done either way.
Always remove negative/ground battery connection first when removing a battery. If you remove power/positive wire and it touches anything metal on engine bay, you will a short and sparks all over the place. Battery electrical short can cause damage to electronic modules or fuses. Removing negative/ground terminal first eliminates possibility of electrical shorting.
After negative battery connection is removed proceed to remove positive battery terminal. Remove positive terminal protective cover (red color), loosen 10mm bolt and remove clamp from battery post. Twist battery clamp or use flat screwdriver as a lever if battery clamps are hard to remove.
Battery is all free now, lift old battery out of its place and put it aside, careful its heavy. Use water and brush to clean battery terminal posts and battery tray. While there, notice where battery hooks holes are located on car chassis, it will come handy latter on when installing new battery.
Installation of New Battery Subaru Impreza
Place new battery on battery tray. Notice polarity, positive/power terminal goes on your left. Make 100% sure you do not mix polarity when installing new battery. If that happens, its guaranteed you are going to blow up something, hopefully just a fuse and not an electronic module.
Positive/power battery cable clamp (+) should be connected to positive battery terminal (+). Negative/ground battery cable clamp (-) should be connected to negative/ground battery terminal (-).
Once battery is properly positioned on battery tray install battery bracket hooks. There are small holes on sides of battery on vehicle chassis. Insert both hooks and install top battery bracket. Install and tighten top battery bracket 10mm bolts.
Be careful to not short battery when installing battery bracket by accident. If metal bracket (or other metal things, tools or whatever) touch both battery terminal posts simultaneously, you will short battery and will get an explosion. Simple as that.
Always connect positive/power terminal first when installing a battery. Place positive clamp on battery post, press it in and tighten clamp 10mm bolt. Next, connect negative/ground battery terminal clamp. Install negative battery clamp on battery terminal and tighten clamp bolt. Ground wire has a 10mm plastic bolt securing it on battery bracket. Install negative wire plastic bolt and tighten it.
Apply grease on both terminal posts and clamps. Grease will protect terminal from corrosion and extend battery operating life. Install positive terminal protective cover and your done.
Make sure everything is where is supposed to be and start the car to check battery operation.
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