Ls430 Battery Replacement

[DaKa]

I ordered a Battery for my old LS430 Lexus 2001 'Y' plate from eBay (£76 free delivery). I've used the asme company before 'Tanya' and their service is excellent.

The Tanya website that I purchased the Battery from did not require me to select a Battery. It listed the car model/year and then selected the Battery required.

I'm working abroad at the moment and can't check things for myself. The old/existing Battery has the terminal connections towards the front of the car.

I have someone fitting the new Battery for me, however, they have advised me that compared to the old Battery the terminals are the wrong way around e.g. looking at the front of the Battery with the terminals nearest to you, the +/ve needs to be on the left hand side, but it is on the right!

Are there 2 standard for LS430?

Either Tanya have supplied the wrong Battery or someone in the past has switched the Battery 180 degrees and then stretched the leads?

Unfortunately, the person fitting my new Battery didn't think to check whether the leads would still reach if it was turned 180, so I'm asking whether you could tell me on your car how your Battery terminals are connected?

Should I get the Battery returned even if the leads do reach, or get them to send an alternative for my vehicle with the +/-ve sides switched?

Any photo images would be welcome.

Thxs

[steve2006]

Yes I have had the same problem in the past, the terminals are reversed as standard but aftermarket suppliers seem oblivious to this.

I always buy the OEM Toyota replacement batteries which are correct in their terminal positions and therefore a straight fit and in the UK around the same price as aftermarket.

[DaKa]

^{Thanks, I did a bit of independent research and found that indeed, the +/ve should be front left nearest to the centre of the car.}

^{Unfortunately, I'm not at home to check for myself, but it appears the leads will reach if flipped 180 - but I prefer to get a replacement instead.}

^{The Battery suppliers own website offers 5 choices of batteries all correctly showing the +/ve from left. Why their offering for the same model lexus on eBay had it the other way around I can only guess. They probably have the left hand drive specification.}

[Colin M]

I bought a Tanya Battery about 15 months ago for my LS400 and mistakenly bought one with the terminals the wrong way round - it was my mistake, not Tanya's.

I thought about returning it and asking them to send the correct one but would have had to pay the return costs so I decided against this in the end. I found that fitting it with the terminals switched 180 degrees did not cause any significant stretching of the negative terminal lead but it did with the positive terminal lead. The positive lead could be made to fit but I felt it was being overstretched to do so.

What I did instead was to leave the positive Battery clamp in the position that it should be and removed the clamp nut and bolt. Next I connected a spare positive Battery clamp (minus clamp nut and bolt) that I had to the Battery positive terminal. Then I fitted a long bolt and nut to connect the two clamps together with a piece a plastic tube over the section of the bolt between the two clamps (to keep the two clamps apart and to enable the nut to be tightened).

This might sound as though it is a 'Heath Robinson' arrangement but it has worked fine without any problems. I have covered both terminals with covers. I can post up a picture of the Battery as connected if this will help.

Obviously when I next replace the Battery I will make sure that I order the correct one ...

[DaKa]

Thanks for the confirmation that a 180 swap would work. However, although I feel Tanya's website was wrong and at best mis-leading, I have agreed to pay the replacement cost £14 because 1) Even with the extra cost it is still £20 cheaper than going to ATS/KwikFit and 2) When I ordered the Battery I was abraad and relied on the provider getting it right, rather than getting someone to check under the bonnet which was not the right thing to do.

I've told Tanya to update their website as all LS430 (and by the sound of it LS400) should have the +/ve front left.

Seemingly, they had sold 'one' Battery with the +/ve front right and as it was not returned they assumed it was the correct polarity for the car. Maybe it was the Battery you bought? ;-)

Rgds

[Colin M]

Yes, I expect it must have been the Battery I bought!

Will get it right next time ...