EyeKutr

iTrader: (5)

Hey fellas
I know this is quite an easy task but I found it kind of confusing to find the correct battery for the 3gs. I am swapping the 6.75 year old battery out before it leaves me stranded. I know you can just buy Lexus battery and be done with it, but for the sake of DIY, and a cheaper alternative, I wanted to share my experience. I called around Sams Club, etc, I was told it calls for a group 24 but they would use a 25S, because it was an easier fit but smaller. I dont like using smaller batteries than needed and dont like things not looking right in fit. So I found this battery, its a Duralast Gold 24 DLG from Autozone for $95. It has a 3 year replacement warranty and decent CCAs.




Tools needed, 10mm wrench




I removed the cover off the old battery and you can easily toss this and just mount the battery but again for maintaining the OEM look, I wanted to reuse it. It also has a metal clip on the side to hold the battery harness on the side of the battery.

As you can see the battery has this bulge that keeps the cover from going on flush.




So get your saw or dremel and cut a piece, it is thin plastic and cuts easily. Dont worry it is just a cover, go at it.



Piece fitted on the battery:



Installed look....



Dont forget to reprogram the sunroof and the windows

For windows, you basically roll them up and down from the dedicated door swicth, like go back to the rear seats and use the doors window swicth then the main switch at the driver door will work. Also the moonroof, you open it and close it with the CLOSE button for a full cycle and then auto functions work again

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...p-or-down.html

passnu2

iTrader: (33)

Yea that plastic holder can be a PITA. I know when I took my battery out to pass the positive wire for the amp its pretty tight in that spot. That's great that you still had life and the battery lasted. I had to replace mine about a year before I sold it. I think with my car since it was a garage queen and the constant self check the car does it just dried up my battery.

jtrue28

so are we able to get the Panasonic batteries made in Honolulu here as replacements, once our OEM battery dies?

sprtent

iTrader: (1)

i've been using the exact same battery in my MDX for the last 10 months now and have nothing but good to say about it.

BinaryJay

I like reviews like this a lot. So a new battery starts your car? :P

worker

Does your car start with the first crank or it take a few cranks to start the engine?

EyeKutr

iTrader: (5)

it starts almost immediately and has done this since new - the start button has to be pressed once

Bavaria

I recently replaced the original battery with an OEM from my Lexus dealer - around $120 with an 84 month sliding scale warranty. The original lasted over 4 years in the AZ desert, so I had no concerns. I've historically replaced batteries in as little as 2 years here.

stvincent

iTrader: (5)

not on GS, but had a same dilemma when i replaced the battery for 05 LS.. couldn't find the same size battery other than the dealership. opted for a smaller one but, with that plastic casing and battery tie down, it is still pretty secure. i like how you cut the piece for maintaining the oem look.. thx for sharing.

EyeKutr

iTrader: (5)

I called the dealership for comparison, Longo had a OEM battery for 149 plus tax, really not too bad considering its OEM and there is no messing around. I must say I think this DL has more Cold cranking amps.

jtrue28

So for whatever reason, our OEM batteries say Hawaii as place of origin. I emailed Servco Lexus (Honolulu) about getting an OEM Panasonic battery. He said we can get them through our local dealers but the price it is showing him is $1,729. WTF is that? He said they're manufactured in Japan. (makes sense, but not sure why place of origin is Hawaii).

BinaryJay

Yep, the Japanese batteries are priced in a way that pretty much ensures nobody will ever buy them.

worker

I mean crank as in crank of the starter, not the pressing button... anyway, my GS cranks a few time like in this video... it's a bit hard to hear the starter cranking cause the guy is NOISY.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...m9l8EO0A#t=66s

I'm suspecting the electrical cables maybe a bit thin to deliver all the power to the starter.

this video you can hear better the crank took a few turn to get the engine going...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...SR93JRw#t=133s

SilverSprt

I wish this thread was created last week. My battery went out last week. Lasted about 5 years. Not bad, eh? And you are totally right about the window reset. I was wondering why the windows weren't functioning from the driver side window control panel. Good stuff. Two thumbs up!

GS430GS430

The original battery lasted 6 years. Had to change it because of a small crack by the battery negative terminal causing acid vapor to leak out. The battery was still good, but it was time to change it.