These instructions apply to the Subaru Levorg Mk1 (VM) 2014-Present.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
Disconnecting the 12 V battery on a Subaru Levorg (2014–present) — the VM sports tourer — is a job most owners meet sooner or later. You might be renewing a battery that no longer holds charge, putting the car into storage for a long winter, freeing up room to work safely near the airbags or seat-belt pretensioners, or tidying up after a jump-start. It’s a simple task so long as you keep to the correct terminal order and let the car relearn its settings afterwards. This guide covers the whole procedure and spells out exactly what the Levorg forgets so you’re not caught out once it’s running again.
Where the 12 V Battery Is
On the Levorg the 12 V battery lives in the engine compartment, in a tray to one side of the turbocharged boxer engine, usually under a cover or trim panel that lifts or unclips off to expose the posts. Take a moment to identify them before you start: the negative (−) terminal is black and grounds to the body, while the positive (+) terminal is red and normally sits under a hinged plastic guard. Getting these clear in your mind is the key safety step, so don’t rush past it.
Getting Ready
- Switch the ignition fully off and move the keyless fob well away from the car so the system doesn’t wake.
- Turn off the lights, climate, radio and any accessories, and close the doors you don’t need open.
- Note down your radio presets and keep the head-unit security code to hand if the car uses one.
- Give it a couple of minutes after switching off for the modules to power down before loosening anything.
- Have the right spanner ready, along with gloves and eye protection.
Disconnecting the Battery
- Confirm everything electrical is switched off and the fob is away from the car.
- Loosen the clamp on the negative (−) terminal first, lift the lead clear and tuck it aside so it can’t spring back onto the post.
- Now loosen and remove the positive (+) lead, keeping it away from any bare metal.
- If you plan to work near the airbags or seat-belt pretensioners, wait a couple of minutes after disconnecting before starting that work.
Reconnecting the Battery
- Refit the positive (+) lead first and tighten its clamp so it can’t move.
- Reconnect the negative (−) lead last and tighten it the same way.
- Check both clamps are genuinely snug — a loose terminal causes flickering, no-starts and phantom faults — then refit the cover.
What You’ll Need to Reset Afterwards
Cutting the power wipes the Levorg’s short-term memory, so a handful of things settle back over the first drive or need a quick relearn:
- Clock and radio presets — re-enter the time, your stations and the security code if the head unit asks for one.
- Power windows — if one-touch and anti-pinch stop working, hold each switch fully up and then fully down at the limit for a second or two to relearn.
- Steering-angle and EyeSight assistance — the driver-assist systems recalibrate themselves after a short drive on a clear, well-marked road.
- Start-stop — on cars with idle-stop, the system may sit out the first drive or two while the battery-management resettles before it cycles again.
- A few warning lights may glow briefly and then clear themselves once the relearns finish.
If a Warning Light Stays On or the Car Feels Off
- Re-check that both clamps are tight and fully seated — a poor connection mimics all sorts of faults.
- Take the car for a steady drive so the steering-angle and EyeSight systems can finish relearning.
- Repeat the window one-touch relearn if the express up/down still isn’t behaving.
- Rule out a genuinely flat or worn-out battery, and fit a like-for-like replacement of the correct spec if needed.
- If a light won’t clear, it has stored a code — look it up on autodtcs.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the battery on a Subaru Levorg?
It’s in the engine compartment, in a tray to one side of the turbocharged boxer engine and usually under a cover or trim that lifts off. Identify the black negative (−) post and the red positive (+) post under its guard before you start.
Which terminal do I disconnect first?
Always the negative (−) terminal first when disconnecting. Reconnecting reverses the order: positive (+) on first, then negative last. This avoids a short if your spanner brushes bodywork.
What needs resetting afterwards?
The clock and radio presets, the window one-touch and anti-pinch, and the steering-angle and EyeSight assistance, which resettle over a short drive. On idle-stop cars the start-stop may pause for a drive or two while the battery-management resettles.
Does a new battery need coding on this Levorg?
A like-for-like 12 V battery of the correct size and type fits straight in without dealer coding. On start-stop cars the battery-management just relearns the new battery over the first few drives, so a standard swap needs no special tool.
Will disconnecting the battery clear fault codes or the service light?
It can clear some temporary trouble codes, but a genuine fault logs again as soon as the car detects it, so it’s not a real fix. The service reminder is a separate counter and normally isn’t reset by a battery disconnect.
Can I jump-start it instead of disconnecting?
Yes — if you only need to get moving after a flat battery, a jump-start avoids the relearns entirely. You only need to disconnect for a battery renewal, long storage, or work near the airbags and pretensioners.
If a warning light stays on after reconnecting, look up the code on autodtcs.com.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Subaru. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.