New 12V battery, RX450h

darrude · November 14, 2018

Just been quoted £320 by lexus to replace a 12V. I know from reading a few posts that the Battery in these aren't standard (Gel / AGM is needed).

Anyone have any recommendations for an after market Battery that will fit without having to mess around with the breather pipe and is safe?

Many Thanks,

Darren.

st4 · November 14, 2018

One might recommend you pay the £320 and have it done properly.

That way, should the very worst happen, they’d have no reason not to warrant a warranty claim or give good will if something more serious was to go wrong.

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BachelorDays · November 14, 2018

11 hours ago, darrude said:

Just been quoted £320 by lexus to replace a 12V. I know from reading a few posts that the battery in these aren't standard (Gel / AGM is needed).

Anyone have any recommendations for an after market battery that will fit without having to mess around with the breather pipe and is safe?

Many Thanks,

Darren.

I would definitely wait for some more opinions.

For starters, I'd want to know why my Gel/AGM Battery requires a change after only 3 years, when a normal acid Battery will give more.

Unless it's doing something unique, the 12v batteries in Lexus hybrids normally only help transfer the electrics of the car to the hybrid. Nothing special needed for that.

BachelorDays · November 14, 2018

2 minutes ago, BachelorDays said:

I would definitely wait for some more opinions.

For starters, I'd want to know why my Gel/AGM battery requires a change after only 3 years, when a normal acid battery will give more.

Unless it's doing something unique, the 12v batteries in Lexus hybrids normally only help transfer the electrics of the car to the hybrid. Nothing special needed for that.

OOPS! Just realised the header says RX450h. I was looking at your details that list the IS300h, hence my comment about age of Battery. The other comments stand.

Herbie · November 15, 2018

2 hours ago, st4 said:

One might recommend you pay the £320 and have it done properly.

That way, should the very worst happen, they’d have no reason not to warrant a warranty claim or give good will if something more serious was to go wrong.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

With the greatest of respect - that's a silly statement and if you genuinely would pay that then one might say that you have too much money burning a hole in your pocket. It's not like you'd even be getting a 'genuine Lexus battery' for that extortionate amount because Lexus don't make batteries!

It's a 12V Battery, nothing more, nothing less and it's an easy 10 minute job to DIY. Even if you don't want to DIY there's still no need to pay such a ridiculous amount, as the screengrab below from another topic on this very forum shows:

rich1068 · November 15, 2018

I did wonder. When I read this yesterday I looked on the Euro Car Parts site and prices weren't anything like. Even before you add the silly promotion discount.

st4 · November 15, 2018

With the greatest of respect - that's a silly statement and if you genuinely would pay that then one might say that you have too much money burning a hole in your pocket. It's not like you'd even be getting a 'genuine Lexus battery' for that extortionate amount because Lexus don't make batteries!
It's a 12V battery, nothing more, nothing less and it's an easy 10 minute job to DIY. Even if you don't want to DIY there's still no need to pay such a ridiculous amount, as the screengrab below from another topic on this very forum shows:

I’m not sure you can ever have too much money ;)

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fezman · November 17, 2018

the cost on the lexus website is £235. So don't accept the quote and ask them why it's £100 more? It was £185 on the website last year when I had mine done. I was quoted £235 (coincidently) and got them to price match the lexus web site. I went to Lexus Sheffield.

darrude · November 17, 2018

That's interesting, didn't know they put prices online. I've ordered a Battery online for £125 which I'm assured is a direct replacement AGM type Battery. Will post details if it's a straight forward swap.

Well I'm happy to make and shame, it was Lexus Leeds that quoted me. I'd have let them do it for £235 cost.

darrude · November 17, 2018

Just found the details on the Lexus website including prices for other items thanks for that.

Interesting just seen Leeds and Birmingham are owned by the same group and my experience of Birmingham with my IS left little to be desired (I actually complained to Lexus UK it was that bad).

granadaman · November 18, 2018

19 hours ago, darrude said:

That's interesting, didn't know they put prices online. I've ordered a battery online for £125 which I'm assured is a direct replacement AGM type battery. Will post details if it's a straight forward swap.

Well I'm happy to make and shame, it was Lexus Leeds that quoted me. I'd have let them do it for £235 cost.

Found Lexus in Leeds to be a little over priced to say the least, when I got the car from another garage it needed some work doing, Lexus Leeds wanted another £1000 over another Lexus dealer in Stockton, guess where it went.

Lydiamight · November 19, 2018

Euro car Parts are quoting £118.99 for a new Battery with a three year warranty

Farnham Dave · November 19, 2018

2 hours ago, Lydiamight said:

Euro car Parts are quoting £118.99 for a new battery with a three year warranty

That still sounds a tad expensive, especially since you don't need the cranking amps that a conventional car requires.

stringbender · November 20, 2018

On 11/19/2018 at 1:31 PM, Farnham Dave said:

That still sounds a tad expensive, especially since you don't need the cranking amps that a conventional car requires.

Sorry to sound a bit dim but I've only ever been used to an engine starting by cranking with a starter motor. How does the engine on the 450h start if it isn't cranked by a starter motor ?

Herbie · November 20, 2018

3 hours ago, stringbender said:

Sorry to sound a bit dim but I've only ever been used to an engine starting by cranking with a starter motor. How does the engine on the 450h start if it isn't cranked by a starter motor ?

In a hybrid car the 12V Battery only powers the entry/exit system and it boots up the computers that are required to get the hybrid system into the READY state. Once there, the traction Battery takes on all starter motor and alternator duties.

NemesisUK · November 20, 2018

4 hours ago, stringbender said:

Sorry to sound a bit dim but I've only ever been used to an engine starting by cranking with a starter motor. How does the engine on the 450h start if it isn't cranked by a starter motor ?

The engine is spun up by one of the electric motors (MG1?) powered by the traction Battery. Massively more powerful than a traditional starter motor. IIRC it spins the engine up to the correct revs before the ignition actually starts.

BachelorDays · November 20, 2018

2 hours ago, NemesisUK said:

IIRC it spins the engine up to the correct revs before the ignition actually starts.

That's a neat way of doing it. I've never been in a hybrid, but this would make the combustion engine cutting in very smooth. I've noticed the stop-start engines on other cars ignite very smoothly (most of them diesels). Technology these days!

Kate1985 · June 29, 2020

hi, wonder if anyone can help what did you order from euro car parts? I've put my reg in and they say they have no batteries for it I've been sent to Lexus by all the local companies as it's "specialist" lexus are quoting £203 which I didn't think was unreasonable but due to a backlog there is a mid july delivery. Car wont start and I've only had it a month lol. It starts of a bump start fine but my partner works I'm trying to work from home and I'm 28 weeks pregnant so don't have time for him to bump start it everytime I need to go anywhere so running out of options other than phoning AA every morning. I'm assuming you managed to order the make from euro car parts but I've got nothing coming up on the panasonic reference on my Battery lol kkx

malcolmw · June 29, 2020

For the next few weeks I should buy a cheap jump start pack and use this on the underbonnet terminals to start the car. You don't need much current to boot up the computers and ABS and fuel pumps - say 30A max. This will let you start the car easily and requires little technical skill (no offence intended). The engine actually starts from the main traction Battery. Take a look in the manual as the process is described in detail.

Herbie · June 29, 2020

This is the sort of thing that Malcolm is talking about although there are cheaper ones.

Takes just a couple of minutes to do, doesn't need another car to jump from, and will always be ready for future use if needed.

I see that you've got a 2010 car and if it's a Panasonic Battery, it's very likely to be the original so it's done very well up to now.

Thackeray · June 29, 2020

47 minutes ago, Kate1985 said:

hi, wonder if anyone can help what did you order from euro car parts? I've put my reg in and they say they have no batteries for it I've been sent to Lexus by all the local companies as it's "specialist" lexus are quoting £203 which I didn't think was unreasonable but due to a backlog there is a mid july delivery.

There's also Lexus Parts Direct. Is this the battery you need?

Buliztik described the Battery he bought from them for an IS in this thread . He said they were very helpful and their website doesn't say the batteries are out of stock.

I wondered how reputable Lexus Parts Direct might be because I hadn't heard of them. But they seem to be the online arm of a longstanding group of dealerships in Swindon called Fish Brothers. You could phone them and see if they have the Battery you need. (Don't rely on the link I included above!)

Kate1985 · June 29, 2020

thanks everyone really appreciate all your help. Malcolm yes am investing in a new charger pack I have one which is rather old and it just isn't cutting the mustard so will need a new one. Battery is located in the boot so bit of a faff to get to it as boot wont open lol but anyway should solve the problem. of getting the Battery charged up, no offence taken whatsoever it was a rather desperate plea for help I can appreciate that 🙂 .

Thanks herbie was going to ask actually I suspected it might be the original and I know normally batteries have a 7 to 10 year life so thought that could be the reason but wasn't sure as I've never had a Hybrid before 🙂

Thanks Thackeray thats great I will give them a call tomorrow and see what they can do for me

kkx

Herbie · June 29, 2020

5 minutes ago, Kate1985 said:

Battery is located in the boot so bit of a faff to get to it as boot wont open

There's a more convenient jump start terminal in the engine bay fusebox. The positive lead connects to the terminal under the red cover and the negative lead would connect to any unpainted nut, bolt or screw: