2011 RX450h 12V battery - a possible solution

[Barry14UK]

Good to learn your Battery still serving well.

Interesting that Yuasa are now making the same Battery size and type S55D23L as the Panasonic Lexus fit.  (Can't claim credit for it but in discussing with Yuasa some months ago I suggested there could be a market for such a Battery as we were obliged to go to Panasonic for a like for like battery).  I see the price is high but perhaps at least in part is  because it is or will not be a big seller.  Nevertheless, it does mean that if you want a comparable Battery at short notice you don't have to rely only on Lexus being open and having one now.

I have also noticed other things.  The Yuasa Auxiliary Battery has increased Ah from the Panasonics 51 Ah to 57 Ah which is good.  One large seller lists only a one year warranty, others don't say that I could see.  Interestingly, it is twice the price of Halfords 027 AGM 60Ah (Yuasa) Battery which is heavier and has a 5 year warranty.  I fitted this Halfords Battery to my car a few months ago with a small modification to raise and secure it and it is working fine. (I did detail with pics in another thread.)  Being a common size Battery, it is available in other makes and more widely held.

[Herbie]

1 hour ago, Barry14UK said:

I fitted this Halfords battery to my car a few months ago with a small modification to raise and secure it and it is working fine. (I did detail with pics in another thread.) 

I missed the photos Barry, any chance you could link to them please?

[Barry14UK]

Hi Herbs,

Looks like I didn't bookmark it as I should have done so will do a search and give a link when hopefully found.

[Barry14UK]

OK, after searching through 149 pages in different ways I found it  Herbie.  (Does anybody else have trouble using the search facility?)

 

[Herbie]

Thanks Barry, that looks to be a great solution.

And yes, the search facility on this board is abysmal.

[penfolds_bin95]

Have read all the posts re 450h batteries and don't understand a word!

Can someone please advise alternative to current Battery for 2010 Lexus 450h reg PB03LEX as have been told a Yuassa HJ-S55D23L  or search 383745967499 and am now completely confused!!!!

Have just spent over a year in hospital and my 450h is kaput so would really appreciate help as can't afford £250 for another one

Many thanks 

[NemesisUK]

26 minutes ago, penfolds_bin95 said:

Have read all the posts re 450h batteries and don't understand a word!

Can someone please advise alternative to current battery for 2010 Lexus 450h reg PB03LEX as have been told a Yuassa HJ-S55D23L  or search 383745967499 and am now completely confused!!!!

Have just spent over a year in hospital and my 450h is kaput so would really appreciate help as can't afford £250 for another one

Many thanks 

Wow! Great you are now out of hospital, hopefully well on the way to full health.

After a year of no use I would think your traction Battery is also completely discharged?

[Herbie]

As Peter says, the traction Battery may be completely drained by now.

Best thing to do is to get a jump start from someone to see what happens.

The 12V Battery boots the computers and gets the hybrid system online, as shown by the green READY light. So, if you connect a set of jump leads (or use a jump start Battery pack) and attempt to start the car as normal, if you get the green READY light then that shows your traction Battery to be alright and all you need is a new 12V Battery. 

However, if you don't get the READY light, it's very likely that the traction Battery is flat and you'll need a Lexus dealer (or other hybrid specialist with the necessary equipment) to get it charged and running again, if possible. This Battery is approximately 288V and people like the AA, RAC, Green Flag et al can't deal with it.

[Barry14UK]

Hi Paul,

Herbs has has suggested the way forward, I would just add that when you do jump start all that is powered by the 12v Battery, you do it as detailed in the Owner's Manual.  I would also add that as the fuel has been in the car for over a year and so  past its best, it would be sensible to top it up with new asap. Hopefully, your traction Battery will not be flat!

If you want to stay with the same AGM Panasonic Battery the car came with your best bet is to get one from Lexus Parts Direct, who seem to have reduced the price for this, although it is still expensive.  Alternatively, you can get virtually the same spec Yuasa equivalent AGM Battery as you referenced from a factor.  However, if you want to do it the cheapest way and go for a free flowing lead acid Battery rather than the AGM type Lexus fitted, and some members have done this, there are models  that fit your Battery compartment from leading suppliers like, Yuasa, Bosch and Varta.(Ensure you get the terminals the correct way round). In fact they do a range in suitable sizes with cost relative to quality. A large and competitive  seller is Battery Megastore UK.

[penfolds_bin95]

OK thanks chaps. Have now had trickle charger on for 10 hours and lights all come on dash but also whole bunch of red ones. Have contacted Lexus  Canterbury who have serviced all my past cars and they have recently been taken over by Marshalls(?) who won't service it

Can't understand it as full is always over £600 so not who to contact next. 

Many thanks for the replies especially on a Sunday any suggestions gratefully received 

Regards 

[Barry14UK]

Unfortunately, Lexus Franchises are often few and far between so I guess Sidcup and Tumbridge Wells is too far.  However, Toyota have experience of the sort of systems Lexus use and are more widely represented.  As my nearest Lexus Dealership is some 50 miles from me, I contacted my local Toyota dealership (about 8 miles from me) and they said they were prepared to service my car if I wished.  So that may be another avenue you could follow.  

Just how long an old 12v AGM Battery will hold up having been flat for so long if not regularly charged is uncertain and if not working well can account for several faults.

[JS-RX450]

Hi new on here but can someone explain if the OEM Battery for the 2015 - 2018 RX450H Battery WILL WORK ON A 2011 RX450H?

IF YES WILL THERE BE ANY ISSUE WITH THE AMPS?

IF NOT, WHY?

Many thanks in advance ))

[Herbie]

3 hours ago, JS-RX450 said:

IF YES WILL THERE BE ANY ISSUE WITH THE AMPS?

No issue "with the amps" at all.

However, there could be an issue with physical size and terminal post orientation so check those carefully.

[Barry14UK]

Herbs is correct.  Dimensions mean you can't get the 4th Generation 12v Battery into the 3rd Generation Battery compartment.

The simplest and possibly the cheapest replacement way if you want to stay original as car manufacturers and Battery manufacturers recommend, is to buy from 'Lexus Direct'. and get the VRLA AGM one.  On the other hand leading companies do a free flow lead acid Battery giving 60Ah that can be accommodated in the 3rd Gen Battery compartment. These will not  be AGM so in the event  of a serious crash,, there is the possibility, albeit a small one, that acid from a damaged Battery could reach the occupants,  (It is avoided in an AGM Battery as the acid is absorbed by the glass matt.) There is some debate about whether this is technically best for this car but several people have gone for this cheaper route without reporting problems.  There is an alternative I used using another AGM Battery which provides 60Ah rather than the original 51Ah, and is less expensive but does involve modification - see my 3 posts of 21st December 2021 in this thread with link to post of 15th July 2021.  Incidentally, the Halfords (Yuasa) Battery I fitted continues to work well 2 years+ on and i have not needed to trickle charge it, even though only doing some very short runs some weeks..

[Illogan]

16 hours ago, Barry14UK said:

Herbs is correct.  Dimensions mean you can't get the 4th Generation 12v battery into the 3rd Generation battery compartment.

<<>>

very short runs some weeks..

Thank you, Barry - as ever - great advice and information.

[Notamech]

I have a Yuasa 3000 on my is300h and its great. It works fine and i primarily do short distances so not a lot of time in ready mode. Certainly not 30 mins every day. I went on vacation for 3 weeks and when I was back it booted the system right up. On the other hand i hear of original batteries dying after 2 weeks of no use. I am not sure how important it is to vent this Battery though because the venting tube doesn't fit the Battery and is just left hanging. 

[Barry14UK]

Both my E39 BMW and MY RX450h have vent tubes although the former came with free flowing lead acid and the later with AGM (Glass Absorbent Matt) Battery.  This tube carries away release of excess gas that can be produced under certain conditions and you wouldn't want in your car.  So where manufacturers have provided a vent tube, it should be connected to the Battery.  Suitable batteries usually come with one or sometimes two plugs for transportation.  When you install you should remove the most convenient one and attach  your vent tube for safety.  There is a big difference between a Battery being transported and being in use.

I found that the vent pipe connection on my RX450h did not fit my after market Battery, so I bought a standard connector off eBay, which was very cheap.  It came with a short clear plastic tube which was not needed, as I just needed the push fit to Battery connector to which I attached the Lexus vent tube.