Battery died for no reason
12-15-12, 09:43 PM
#31
Lexus Fanatic
I wouldn't hold off. Its a small percentage of cars effected. Great deals out there right now.
12-18-12, 05:28 AM
#32
Driver School Candidate
Stinker - So far you are the only person that I've heard of who has been unlucky enough to have this occur twice. However, many of us have not had our vehicle as long as you have. I've only had my car since mid- July and have less than 3,500 miles on it. It really sucks that after purchasing a brand new luxury vehicle you have to be nervous as to whether or not the vehicle is going to start.
I'm going to have to start making sure I carry my cellphone whenever I use the car so i can call roadside assistance.
I'm going to have to start making sure I carry my cellphone whenever I use the car so i can call roadside assistance.
I have my 10K mile service tomorrow, (currently 9200 miles). I'm very interested to see if they find any issues with the car. I've had her since Feb and other than a few road trips, I very rarely drive her during the week (only on weekends)....That's if the weather is nice!
This car is awesome and I love driving her. I hope this issue resolves itself.
12-19-12, 08:55 AM
#33
Driver School Candidate
I have my 10K mile service tomorrow, (currently 9200 miles). I'm very interested to see if they find any issues with the car. I've had her since Feb and other than a few road trips, I very rarely drive her during the week (only on weekends)....That's if the weather is nice! This car is awesome and I love driving her. I hope this issue resolves itself.
This car is awesome and I love driving her. I hope this issue resolves itself.
He asked how often I drive the car and I told him only on weekends (weather permitting) and road trips. He informed me that even though the car sits for days at a time without driving it, the technology "stuff" within the car still pulls from the battery, eventually draining it. He went on to say that he has a car that he very rarely drives (had it 7 years with only 9K miles on it) and he had to replace the battery six times within the first year. He purchased a device called a "Battery Tender Plus" and he simply hooks this up to his car battery whenever it's going to sit for awhile and this device keeps the battery charged at optimal levels. He said he hasn't replace the battery in six years (since purcharsing the Battery Tender Plus). He recommended the same product for me.
SEARS has the Battery Tender Plus for about $50 and I'm going to stop by today and pick it up. Hopefully, this works and I hope this information is useful to those of you who are experiencing this issue.
12-19-12, 09:04 AM
#34
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FWIW, I had an identical dead battery problem with my 2013 GS. Happened about two weeks after delivery. (Bought it in February 2012. Right off the first boat from Japan.) Parked in the garage and found the car deader than Jimmy Hoffa the following morning. (6 volts on the battery.) The dealer was convinced that I left the ignition on overnight w/o the engine running. I had to remind them that the owners manual clearly states there are auto-off timers for both the accessory and ignition-on modes. All they could say was "oh". They replaced the battery and it hasn't happened since.
12-19-12, 12:25 PM
#35
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I have a Corvette which sits for weeks at a time and I have a battery tender for it. I know other Corvette owners who keep their car on a tender during the winter. I cannot believe you need a battery tender if you are using your car every weekend. Sounds like Lexus CYA to me.
12-19-12, 12:43 PM
#36
Lexus Fanatic
He asked how often I drive the car and I told him only on weekends (weather permitting) and road trips. He informed me that even though the car sits for days at a time without driving it, the technology "stuff" within the car still pulls from the battery, eventually draining it.
12-19-12, 07:02 PM
#37
Hey Guys,
I had the same issue last month. My GS sat for only 2 days while I drove my wife's car to work and on the 3rd morning, the battery was dead. Has about 6k on her, just sucks knowing your brand new car may not start. Fingers crossed, hasn't happened since.
I had the same issue last month. My GS sat for only 2 days while I drove my wife's car to work and on the 3rd morning, the battery was dead. Has about 6k on her, just sucks knowing your brand new car may not start. Fingers crossed, hasn't happened since.
12-23-12, 07:46 PM
#39
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This thread really makes me nervous... I asked the service manager at my dealership about this (he's a family friend) and he said he hasn't heard of the issue. Fingers crossed!
12-24-12, 07:00 PM
#40
Driver School Candidate
I also have a 2013 GS350 with 9000 miles, purchased late February 2012. The battery died for unexplained reasons twice now. Once in late September, while parked in a train station parking lot over a weekend, and the second time in my garage; also while parked over a weekend. Both times nothing was left on (headlight switch in AUTO, all doors and trunk closed). My dealer's best tech (he is really good) could not replicate the condition and could not find an obvious reason for this failure. Yet, he believes the problem is real and said that "finding the reason will be like chasing a ghost". I have escalated this problem to Lexus.
Last edited by lexusmavin; 12-25-12 at 07:45 PM.
12-24-12, 07:34 PM
#41
it's obviously an easy fix, however it is a PITA to get into your new car, just to find out that it doesn't start. maybe we should switch to the red or yellow top optima batteries... just a thought. i don't plug in anything to any of the outlets in the car.
12-30-12, 07:52 PM
#43
FWIW, I had an identical dead battery problem with my 2013 GS. Happened about two weeks after delivery. (Bought it in February 2012. Right off the first boat from Japan.) Parked in the garage and found the car deader than Jimmy Hoffa the following morning. (6 volts on the battery.) The dealer was convinced that I left the ignition on overnight w/o the engine running. I had to remind them that the owners manual clearly states there are auto-off timers for both the accessory and ignition-on modes. All they could say was "oh". They replaced the battery and it hasn't happened since.
12-31-12, 02:05 AM
#44
I have a Corvette which sits for weeks at a time and I have a battery tender for it. I know other Corvette owners who keep their car on a tender during the winter. I cannot believe you need a battery tender if you are using your car every weekend. Sounds like Lexus CYA to me.
It sounds like a possible 4GS issue. Even if it were indeed because of new types of electronics draining the battery more, clearly it would not be not acceptable. Hope it will be fixed soon and not becoming a common problem with 4GS.
01-06-13, 06:59 PM
#45
Update on 12/10 Battery Issue
Well, I went out this afternoon to start my 2013 GS350 and found the battery was dead. Yes we have another GS350 with a dead battery. There were no lights left on, no open doors and I didn't leave any keys in the vehicle. I last used the car Saturday night and it was fine. I called Lexus roadside assistance and they called AAA.
AAA told me I had 5.9 volts in the battery. They told me that the alternator was fine but the battery did not appear to be charging correctly and should be replaced. They also said I had a higher than normal draw on the battery.. Since it was too late to get to the dealership before it closed they are going to have to come back again tomorrow. to jump the vehicle again so I can drive it to the dealership.
We will see what the dealership says tomorrow..
AAA told me I had 5.9 volts in the battery. They told me that the alternator was fine but the battery did not appear to be charging correctly and should be replaced. They also said I had a higher than normal draw on the battery.. Since it was too late to get to the dealership before it closed they are going to have to come back again tomorrow. to jump the vehicle again so I can drive it to the dealership.
We will see what the dealership says tomorrow..
The only thing that Lexus came up with was that they have noticed that due to the type of technology used in the remote key that the key (and any spare keys) should be stored far from the vehicle because the key causes a significant draw on the battery when it interacts with the vehicle.
So after keeping the vehicle for a week, the dealer performed no actual repairs and returned the vehicle to me. Personally, I don't trust the vehicle. I also find the explanation Lexus gave to be strange becase my previous Infiniti had keyless ignition and I never had any battery issues with it. We'll see what happens.
