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How do I turn off ALL power, not just ignition?

16K views 32 replies 19 participants last post by  markbc01  
#1 ·
Bought 2024 Crosstrek Limited yesterday. Love it! BUT — when I turned off the ignition, my Starlink multimedia screen stayed on and music continued to play. I turned it off by pushing and holding the volume button, but I am worried that other parts of the electrical system are still on and are going to drain my battery. I would just prefer to know that when I turn off the ignition I have turned off EVERYTHING (ignition plus all power). Is there a way to do that?

Related topic — what in the world is this “accessory” mode? It seems like sort of the opposite situation — I.e., when I might want to have the ignition off but I DO want to play the radio? Correct? Is that somehow related to my question above? Could I, somehow, when turning off the ignition, have turned it to accessory mode instead? And what does the brake pedal have to do with any of this?!?

Sorry for my ignorance! Worried about draining the battery! Thanks!
 
#2 ·
You can install a battery disconnect switch. It removes all power from the vehicle and prevents theft if you hide the switch. I assume you’ll be paying someone to do that though based on your questions. Expect a check engine light and to set your radio settings each startup as the car runs various emission checks several hours after it’s shut off.

You’re correct on the accessory mode question.
 
#3 ·
Had you opened the driver's door yet? It has a delayed power off feature for the radio that keeps it on after turning the ignition off for a few minutes or until the door is opened.
 
#13 · (Edited)
Sigh. . .Sorry to disagree, but this is what you DON"T want to have to do with any new car. .
"RTFM". . . how many times have we heard that with all sorts of high-tech equipment?

Well, this may be high tech, but It's a car, not a Large Hadron Collider :):unsure::unsure:

So, I may not be an expert on all things car/truck/motorcycle, but driving almost 50 years, I've owned, begged, borrowed, (but not stolen) a lot of cars/truck (1)/motorcycles -old and new.
** I can't think of any that really required "manual time" to get things going. Bad enough there are YouTube videos on "How to drive/unlock/wash/ walk toward your Surbaru whatever!"

I admit that the eyesight function does take some checking into -it's not quite hands off driving, and not quite always aware of where the hell it is on the road (in which cases, it just stops -any advanced road follow/lane functions until it decides to resume!). That kind of approach to functionality might require a bit of reading to guage how you would want to handle/trust it. . .

However, I also think my Crosstrek Limited 2022 does have some weird ways of doing things.
-like getting into accessories mode is simple, but not intuitive... unless you've had a "button car" before.
Just get in and push (hold) the power button (No Brake!) to get acc mode.

As other posters noted - when you power off -it doesn't believe you, and keeps the radio playing for a while (But not Android Auto!??? or the AC??? ) but then suddenly shuts off!
Of course the second you open the door it's dead
(except if you've
a) left your fob in the car
b) left the transmission in drive/reverse/ anything but park or
c) not REALLY turned the engine off! (yes that can happen!) .

I would say, just driving it for about a week and there won't be anything you don't "sort of" know. . . Oh. . .maybe you will have check out (manual/youtube/this forum) some situation-specific stuff: like taking your car into the car wash! (YES you need to press and deactivate two functions -they are roof buttons in my 2022 XT Limited (eyesight auto braking and the lane departure warning )! But other than that -just drive and enjoy. ;)

(Odd -my dealership called me about 3-5 days after we bought the 2022 Crosstrek Limited and offered a "hands on session" with one of their professional sales/customer assistence reps. At first I was going to waive that off, but I did it -I had to see what that was all about! They actually used a phone call to do everything --from starting the car to . . .yup disengaging the functions for the car wash!
I was on my cell phone (paired/speaker phone) sitting in my driveway with the car (sometimes) running! Kind of weird but I thought it was a nice touch. BMW, Toyota, Chevy, and Honda never did that for us! ;-)

So Good Luck and don't feel bad if you haven't "RTFM," because this is not a science class -it's a car; and should be designed for easy, intuitive use by drivers with at least a little experience!

(y)(y):)
 
#5 ·
Thanks, all!

cherrytrek, I think you answered my question! I don’t think I had opened the door yet.

RL Sanders, I actually love reading the manual and spent quite a bit of time with it this morning, including in the car! It is 500+ pages long, though, and here’s what I found in the part about stopping/starting with push button start:

Stopping Engine

1. Stop the vehicle completely.
2. Move the select lever to the “P”
position.
3. Press the push-button ignition switch.
The engine will stop, and the power will be switched off.

So — that was my confusion. The power did NOT seem to be off, because the music kept playing. But, as cherrytrek guessed, I had not opened the door.

Thanks for quick responses! Nice to know I can find helpful people here!
 
#6 ·
Thanks, all!

cherrytrek, I think you answered my question! I don’t think I had opened the door yet.

RL Sanders, I actually love reading the manual and spent quite a bit of time with it this morning, including in the car! It is 500+ pages long, though, and here’s what I found in the part about stopping/starting with push button start:

Stopping Engine

1. Stop the vehicle completely.
2. Move the select lever to the “P”
position.
3. Press the push-button ignition switch.
The engine will stop, and the power will be switched off.

So — that was my confusion. The power did NOT seem to be off, because the music kept playing. But, as cherrytrek guessed, I had not opened the door.

Thanks for quick responses! Nice to know I can find helpful people here!
first car, eh?
 
#10 · (Edited)
While I don't know of exact numbers, I'm pretty sure Subarus follow similar design configurations defining parasitic drain of vehicle batteries. That is, accepted auto industry manufacturers limit factory electronics and electrical systems to around 50 milliamps (0.050 amp). This value comes from expected power to memory; ecm emissions parameters learned during every drive cycle, radio presets, Starlink periodic 'call HOME' transmissions (bursts drawing possibly as much as 250 milliamps every 15 minutes?), and any other memory like remote program in another module. Battery life is often overlooked when leaving a vehicle parked, unused for a week or more without considering either disconnecting battery negative or plugging in a trickle charger (<3 amps) to maintain battery state of charge. Any larger drain simply adds to parasitic drain to eventually drain a battery. Doing simple math, 0.050 amp per hour suggests a drain of 1.2 amps per 24 hour period. Electrical/electronic mods drawing power add to battery drain if inadvertently left powered on via hard wired to electrical system or thru always on aux power outlets (cellphone charger, tablet/laptop adapter, portable gps device, mis wired aftermarket radio, etc).
 
#11 ·
While I don't know of exact numbers, I'm pretty sure Subarus follow similar design configurations defining parasitic drain of vehicle batteries. That is, accepted auto industry manufacturers limit factory electronics and electrical systems to around 50 milliamps (0.050 amp). This value comes from expected power to memory; ecm emissions parameters learned during every drive cycle, radio presets, Starlink periodic 'call HOME' transmissions (bursts drawing possibly as much as 250 milliamps every 15 minutes?), and any other memory like remote program in another module. Battery life is often overlooked when leaving a vehicle parked, unused for a week or more without considering either disconnecting battery negative or plugging in a trickle charger (<3 amps) to maintain battery state of charge. Any larger drain simply adds to parasitic drain to eventually drain a battery. Doing simple math, 0.050 amp per hour suggests a drain of 1.2 amps per 24 hour period. Electrical/electronic mods drawing power add to battery drain if inadvertently left powered on via hard wired to electrical system or thru always on aux power outlets (cellphone charger, tablet/laptop adapter, portable gps device, mis wired aftermarket radio, etc).
I leave my car at the airport for two weeks every year never given this a second thought. Watch it die on me this year!
 
#14 ·
Sigh. . .Sorry to disagree, but this is what you DON"T want to have to do with any new car.
"RTFM". . . how many times have we heard that with all sorts of high-tech equipment?

Well, this may be high tech, but It's a car, not a Large Hadron Collider :):unsure::unsure:
(Odd -my dealership called me about 3-5 days after we bought the 2022 Crosstrek Limited and offered a "hands on session" with one of their professional sales/customer assistence reps. At first I was going to waive that off, but I did it -I had to see what that was all about! They actually used a phone call to do everything --from starting the car to . . .yup disengaging the functions for the car wash!
I was on my cell phone (paired/speaker phone) sitting in my driveway with the car (sometimes) running! Kind of weird but I thought it was a nice touch. BMW, Toyota, Chevy, and Honda never did that for us! ;-)
Reciprocal SIGH ...
 
#16 ·
Many of us find it a very useful feature, I often might arrive at a service call a bit ahead of schedule so I turn my engine off but my Android auto keeps playing music which I like, plus I can look at my next coming stops on the map from my Google navigation. As for battery drain when parked for a long period of time, I have often left my car unused for 2 to 3 weeks at a time and never had a problem with it draining the battery until my OEM battery was just about 4 years old and lacking capacity. Just put a brand new Duracell AGM 60ah battery in it and that thing could probably sit for a month or more now without being started and still be fine.
 
#23 ·
Yes, I have done this!
Parked. . . opened/closed the door .... and then sat for the few minutes in the car (quiet!) as I waited for someone.
Surely, it's as easy (if not easier) to reach out and turn off the HU? I make that a habit now in order to minimise drain when I'm not using car (days at a time).

I also use a 10W solar panel via a small 5amp (the smallest capacity I could find) controller. I feel perhaps with the summer now going I might increase that to 20W. :)
 
#27 ·
Perhaps invest in a lithium power jump/booster pack that has outlets for charging cellphones, tablets, etc. My nephew (Beemer owner) gave me his GOOGLOO jump pack (backup to his previous ride, Cadillac CTS-V). It's the largest power pack and I just charged my tablet during my 4 mile walk. He used it once to jump start his Caddi and said the power ports cooked. Some discoloration but not damaged.

Keeping one in the trunk may be your backup go-to for C.
 
#32 ·
The longest our ‘18 sat and with the OEM battery was nearly 8 months and started up fine. Since new it sat a minimum of two months, twice a year. Are some suggesting a dead battery in as little as +/- a month?

The ‘24 will be sitting for a little over a month starting this week. While I do keep a jump starter in it, if I come back to a dead battery, it’s going to stay dead and replaced with the highest capacity, AGM that will fit.
 
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