Subaru Outback Won't Start | Battery Cable Replacement & Battery Upgrade

No video

Subaru Outback Won't Start | Battery Cable Replacement & Battery Upgrade | 2010-2014

Рет қаралды 11,142

Күн бұрын

In this video I troubleshoot a no start issue with the 2012 Subaru Outback 3.6 and end up replacing the negative (ground) battery cables and ultimately upgrade to a larger Group 34 AGM Battery from Odyssey while installing a sturdier steel battery tray.
0:00 Replacing the corroded negative battery cable
4:10 A sturdier battery mount
9:54 Group 34 Battery installation
Parts used:
Odyssey Battery amzn.to/3lpOZc5
Steel Battery Tray amzn.to/3oV3MO6
Stainless "J-Hook" bolts amzn.to/3lu5wvX
Battery Hold-Down amzn.to/3iNdaiZ
Battery Cable www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/...
5/16" Stainless Bolts, washers and lock washers (purchased at Lowes)
Blue Loctite amzn.to/3BzSaUA
Battery Terminal Corrosion Protectors amzn.to/2YzqVey
Over time the corrosion on my ground side of the battery was eating away at the cable causing resistance. It not only damaged the battery cable to the point it needed to be replaced, but it also was damaging the battery. Replacing the ground side of the cable is pretty simple and inexpensive ($30) but you’ll need to carefully separate the old cable from the harness by cutting away electrical tape. Take your time and be very careful not to cut into wires.
For a while I’ve wondered if I could fit a larger format battery. The stock Group 25 battery in these cars provides relatively low cranking amps and has limited reserve capacity. When the Optima 25 battery would not start the car after the cable replacement, I spent several days trying to revive it on the charger to no avail. It occurred to me that this was my chance to test fit a bigger battery that I borrowed from my Jeep XJ, and when it fit my focus shifted to finding a sturdy and affordable way to mount the larger battery. This turned out to be a fair amount of work as it required me to disconnect the washer bottle in order to be able to bolt the new steel battery tray into place from below the car. Overall I feel this is the battery replacement the Subaru Outback deserves, especially if you are using it as a platform for camping or travel.
A similar upgrade may fit other Subaru Outback years, and maybe other Subaru models, do your diligence measuring first if you don’t have a group 34 battery handy you can borrow from another car like I did ;)

Пікірлер: 17

@fubartotale3389 Жыл бұрын

Going to a group 34 or 24 AGM battery is a common mod on Subarus, but I have never heard of anyone having to upgrade the tray. There are some who upgrade the "big three" the wires to the starter, alternator and ground, but not the tray. The liner is plastic so as not to corrode if any acid contacts it, the base frame is steel and part of the unibody, plenty strong for any battery.

@MattsGarageMiscDIY Жыл бұрын

I could have run the old plastic tray, but I never liked how it held the battery. My battery moved around a lot. The plastic is very flimsy. Had it been more rigid and substantial I would have left it factory. For many that never leave the paved surface in their Outback this will be overkill, but it’s been a good mod for me.

@ranger178 Жыл бұрын

my dam ground wire the thin one was corroded off dangling down so i will have to look at the spots you showed to see where it fell off of.

@ghibliinu6616 2 жыл бұрын

Matt I am needing a new battery soon for my 2012 outback, 2.5 liter. It has BCI 25 flooded acid battery now, and always has had. Was thinking of getting a Optima or other AGM battery. There is a group 25 available by them. Will the alternator care if the battery is FLA or AGM? I wonder if AGM is more of a burden on alternator. Thanks for this!!!

@MattsGarageMiscDIY 2 жыл бұрын

Ghibli, I’ve been running AGM batteries in my cars for years and haven’t experienced them causing premature issues with other electrical components including alternators. in my 1949 Dodge I’m running parallel 6v Optima AGM’s with a generator, time will tell if this is a good pairing, but I’d say on your 2012 Outback you should be fine running a group 25 AGM. Do check that your alternator is good before replacing your battery!

@ghibliinu6616 2 жыл бұрын

@@MattsGarageMiscDIY Thanks much!

@mchammerbroke5473 2 жыл бұрын

Question, why did you decide to replace the whole cable? Could you have just replaced the terminal without replacing the whole cable? I’m just wondering because I’m currently dealing with corrosion on my positive terminal on my 2006 forester, and I’m looking to replace the terminal and hopefully NOT the entire cable itself.

@MattsGarageMiscDIY 2 жыл бұрын

The corrosion on my cable went a bit beyond just the end of the terminal, I didn't show this in the video. I would have had to cut a chunk of the cable out and then it would have been a bit short. For $30 I was quite happy to replace the ground side of the harness. I believe from Subaru you have to buy positive and negative together and it's around $200. If you can get by just crimping on a new terminal you'll save a few more bucks.

@mchammerbroke5473 2 жыл бұрын

@@MattsGarageMiscDIY okay got it, I thought that’s what might’ve happened in your case. Thank you for your input hopefully I can get by just crimping a new terminal hahah! Thanks again!

@MattsGarageMiscDIY 2 жыл бұрын

@@mchammerbroke5473 good luck!

@s007dhillon 2 жыл бұрын

can i do the same on 2017 OUTBACK ?

@MattsGarageMiscDIY 2 жыл бұрын

I couldn't say, for sure, you could pretty easily remove your existing battery and inspect to see if it looks the same as my 2012 and do some measuring. Good luck.

@toll90 Жыл бұрын

can i only replace my posetiv powecalbes on my car subaru outback 2007

@MattsGarageMiscDIY Жыл бұрын

Yes, assuming you can buy the positive replacement cable separately. Just like in my video I replaced only one half of the original pair. Make sure you test before removing wires that may still be good. Good luck!

@toll90 Жыл бұрын

@@MattsGarageMiscDIY so remove plus cable from altoneator and the fuse box?

@myyoutubechannel3161 Жыл бұрын

I heard optima batteries 🔋 are not a good choice

@MattsGarageMiscDIY Жыл бұрын

I’ve run Optima batteries for many years in several vehicles, generally without complaint. In this instance I was looking to go bigger battery (more capacity) and had also swapped to an Odyssey battery in my Jeep so had it handy for test fitting.