# 2017 Subaru Outback - Battery terminal switch works great **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** batteries, subaru\ **Created:** [April 2, 2025, 2:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2017-subaru-outback-battery-terminal-switch-works-great/199708 "2025-04-02T02:37:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rstrick97](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@rstrick97](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rstrick97)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 2:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2017-subaru-outback-battery-terminal-switch-works-great/199708/1 "2025-04-02T02:37:32Z")
Dealer recommended a kill switch device to switch off battery negative terminal when not driven. Working so far. ---
**Author:** ![oldnotdeadyet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a6a055/32.png) [@oldnotdeadyet](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldnotdeadyet)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 12:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2017-subaru-outback-battery-terminal-switch-works-great/199708/2 "2025-04-02T12:47:51Z")
What problem did this solve? ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 5:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2017-subaru-outback-battery-terminal-switch-works-great/199708/3 "2025-04-03T17:01:03Z")
Your dealer is an idiot. > **[Battery Disconnect Problems](https://www.aa1car.com/library/battery_disconnect_problems.htm)** Tester ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 5:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2017-subaru-outback-battery-terminal-switch-works-great/199708/4 "2025-04-03T17:10:53Z")
+1 > [@rstrick97](#): > > Dealer recommended a kill switch device to switch off battery negative terminal when not driven. Working so far. Was this a Subaru new car dealer, or a buy here pay here (tote the note) dealer??? ---
**Author:** ![rstrick97](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@rstrick97](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rstrick97)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 5:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2017-subaru-outback-battery-terminal-switch-works-great/199708/5 "2025-04-03T17:55:18Z")
this was a Subaru new car dealer. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 6:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2017-subaru-outback-battery-terminal-switch-works-great/199708/6 "2025-04-03T18:07:36Z")
So, the guy at the dealership told you that the security system would be deactivated, and things like the clock, the settings for the power seats and power mirrors, & the pre-set stations on your audio system would lose their memory, but you didn’t care? Or, did they not mention these problems to you? ---
**Author:** ![rstrick97](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@rstrick97](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rstrick97)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 6:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2017-subaru-outback-battery-terminal-switch-works-great/199708/7 "2025-04-03T18:27:30Z")
Did not mention preset issues. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 6:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2017-subaru-outback-battery-terminal-switch-works-great/199708/8 "2025-04-03T18:29:03Z")
Why do it? ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 6:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2017-subaru-outback-battery-terminal-switch-works-great/199708/9 "2025-04-03T18:30:17Z")
> [@rstrick97](#): > > Did not mention preset issues. Then, I have to question the competence of that person at the dealership. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 7:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2017-subaru-outback-battery-terminal-switch-works-great/199708/10 "2025-04-03T19:04:17Z")
> [@rstrick97](#): > > this was a Subaru new car dealer. Just what was this persons job title as I can’t see an actual mechanic giving this advice. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 7:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2017-subaru-outback-battery-terminal-switch-works-great/199708/11 "2025-04-03T19:31:25Z")
I disconnect my car batteries to prevent them from discharging. I have a clock on my phone, I have no problem remembering the radio stations I listen to, power mirrors stay right where I left them. People worry too much. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 8:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2017-subaru-outback-battery-terminal-switch-works-great/199708/12 "2025-04-03T20:17:21Z")
Your car is out of warranty. Take it to someone that knows what they are doing. Finding the parasitic current draw may take some time (cost a bit) but the problem will be solved. Maybe you had this discussion with the dealer already and you don’t want to pay for solving the problem, and they suggested an alternative.