News and Reviews

Did a vehicle's enhancements impale a Subaru?

John Paul, aka "the Car Doctor,'' answers readers' car-related questions.

By John Paul

Q. Dismayed; disappointed; disgruntled. These are the feelings engendered by coming domicile from a two week trip only to find that the battery in our one calendar month one-time Subaru Forester had died while nosotros were abroad. The April issue of a consumer magazine convinced us that all the new safe and navigation technology innovations in the 2022 models would brand it worth our while to replace our 2007 Forester. Simply no reviewer mentioned that all those enhancements would drain the battery even when the car wasn't driven. When nosotros took the car back to Subaru, we were told it was our fault for leaving the automobile for two weeks. Subaru service also suggested we go a trickle charger and go on the motorcar plugged in when we're a mode for an extended menstruation of time. I Googled "Subaru bombardment drainage upshot'' and discovered that the problem was non unique to our vehicle, nor fifty-fifty merely to Subaru. Apparently Hondas and Fords are similarly afflicted. These facts were further substantiated past the AAA technician who came to recharge our battery. She fields many calls like to ours. A setting comparable to airplane mode on a phone that shuts downwardly some of the background functions would be a wise and welcome fix. What is not clear why in that location'due south so little written virtually this consequence in the automotive press. My husband and I feel doubly burned by Subaru for its inept engineering and by the consumer gurus who should know better.

A. Today'southward vehicles accept higher electric demands than e'er and over time the batteries can become discharged. I don't believe the problem is specific to Subaru but a event of high electrical demand of today'south vehicles. Most vehicles do have systems which allow power hungry accessories to get into a "slumber'' style to prevent battery drain. Too if your motorcar has keyless-showtime the key-fob needs to be at to the lowest degree ten feet away from the car for the automobile's electric organisation to become into the sleep fashion. Leaving your auto in the garage with the keys nearby will guarantee a dead battery. Subaru like most manufacturers has very specific procedure to test for "dark-electric current'' or parasitic drain. The maximum commanded current drain is lxx milliamps. Even at the maximum commanded parasitic describe past my adding bombardment should be able to start the car fifty-fifty after sitting idle for three weeks. 1 possible issue with your car was the battery was never fully charged. It is disquisitional that a battery needs to be fully charged before putting information technology in service. If the battery was slightly discharged and much of your driving is very curt trips this could exist function of the cause of the dead battery. Readers are you have a problem with your new Subaru, allow me know. Email me.

Q. I had always owned a iv-wheel-drive truck only now own a 2-wheel bulldoze Honda Odyssey. I actually like the vehicle just after last winter because of where I drive I feel the need for AWD. I am trying to determine between a Canyon/Colorado or AWD Sienna. Are they about equal in bad weather?

A. Both of these vehicles perform quite well in winter weather, in fact the Coulee and Sienna both won their categories in the New England Motor Printing Wintertime Vehicle awards. Before you consider purchasing a new vehicle, have you thought about snow tires? I have plant that winter vehicle operation tin can be improved dramatically with four snow tires.

Q. My son recently purchased a 2022 Toyota Sienna from a reputable GMC dealer. After he got the machine home he looked at all the paperwork. The official looking odometer printout had 22,505. The car'southward odometer had 21,980 miles on it. I fooled with adjusting the trip meter on the car and the mileage was correct. He called the dealer, told them of the trouble. They basically said 'no large deal'. Is information technology a big deal? It is only a difference of 500 miles. Or, is something fishy going on?

A. The trouble could be every bit simple as someone writing down the wrong mileage. Y'all did say that the selling dealer was very reputable. It has been my experience that any reputable dealer will never accept a chance with ruining their reputation with odometer fraud.

Q. I but purchased a 2022 Subaru Crosstrek and just later I picked it up we had that really bad hail storm. The roof alone has 90 golf ball sized dents. I received the gauge and they want to replace the outer roof console and the hood. What are your thoughts on this and how practice you recall it will touch the value of my new car?

A. In theory if the car is put dorsum into the same condition every bit it was before the hail damage the value of the car shouldn't change. The outcome of repair really depends on the skill of the body store and the quality of the repaint. Ane option you might consider is "paintless'' paring removal. Technicians apply specialized tools to manipulate the dents from the within out. I recently had ane small parking lot paring in my married woman's new Volkswagen removed using this method and information technology came out perfect. The visitor I used was Dent Concepts (at that place are many others) and they have a fully equipped tractor trailer that follows hail storms repairing damaged vehicles.

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