Ahhhgghh Battery...

alpine · January 15, 2010

Came to start my 14month old GS300 today. Last used 3 days ago. No joy, just the symptoms of a Battery with insufficient power to turn the engine over!!!

I'm not sure whether the roadside assistance covers starts from home, so I've put it on charge...

Mike_B · January 15, 2010

Hehehe. At least you're at home. Last time that happened to me I was in the long-stay at Heathrow.

Left any lights on? Mine was caused by the interior light being left on for 5 days...

alpine · January 15, 2010

Hehehe. At least you're at home. Last time that happened to me I was in the long-stay at Heathrow.
Left any lights on? Mine was caused by the interior light being left on for 5 days...

No, car was locked and off for 3 days in the snow and prior to that wasn't used that much over Christmas of course. Really, when we get winters like the current one, we need to get back to a situation where cars have heavier duty batteries, as fitted in production for 'colder' countries. There is a lot left powered up all of the time on a GS, the proximity detectors for the key system, the non key ignition system itself, the alarm etc. And as soon as you power it up, the aircon, MFD and sound system, sat nav, parking sensors go on...

Half an hour's charge at 3 amps sorted it but I shall be visiting Lexus to get them to check the charging is OK and there isn't a faulty cell. I've driven it everywhere round town this am in 2nd, to help the charge rate!

dave1 · January 16, 2010

No, car was locked and off for 3 days in the snow and prior to that wasn't used that much over Christmas of course. Really, when we get winters like the current one, we need to get back to a situation where cars have heavier duty batteries, as fitted in production for 'colder' countries. There is a lot left powered up all of the time on a GS, the proximity detectors for the key system, the non key ignition system itself, the alarm etc. And as soon as you power it up, the aircon, MFD and sound system, sat nav, parking sensors go on...
Half an hour's charge at 3 amps sorted it but I shall be visiting Lexus to get them to check the charging is OK and there isn't a faulty cell. I've driven it everywhere round town this am in 2nd, to help the charge rate!

If the breakdown cover is through Lexus then it covers homestart. No need to drive in 2nd though. So long as the revs are over around 1500 then that is perfectly adequate for the alternator to recharge the Battery so anything above is pointless.