Just went through this headache with my 2013 RX450h. Local Autozone, Advance Auto Parts and Battery World shops all said they couldn't even order a replacement. Even my local mechanic couldn't find any through his sources. Finally was helped by a local Toyota dealer (closest Lexus dealer is 80 miles away) who figured out it was the same battery as is used on the hybrid Highlanders. He said the batteries are special because of all of the engine starting and stopping in a hybrid. Anyway, $700 later, I'm back running.

 

There is misinformation here from well meaning Toyota dealer. In hybrid the starter has nothing to do with the 12v battery. High voltage battery spins the electric motor and that spins the engine.

Salim

 

I didn't take this as the 12 volt battery is starting the engine, just that the start/stop nature means the battery goes through charge/discharge cycles more aggressively. Either way any AGM battery in the correct form factor will work in a hybrid.

 

There is nothing special about these batteries for hybrid, apart from having a venting outlet for gases to discharge outside the cabin, and leak proof casing in case of a car overturn. Hence why AGM is normally a safer choice as you don't have hydrochloric acid leaking out inside the cabin in case of a crash or rollover. But its not $700 even with OEM AGM batteries.

 

just to clarify - the battery I spoke of is the regular 12V that sits in the rear cargo area behind the driver side and under the cargo floor. I was NOT referring to any of the batteries in the hybrid array. I think the last poster is misunderstanding because there's no way a regular 12V would cost $700. Mine was $139 from Walmart. Works and fits perfectly.

 

Yes, I too was referring to my 12V battery, located in the rear compartment, not the hybrid batteries. Maybe I got ripped off paying over $700 (that did include a small installation charge). I admit, my initial reaction was also, "$700 for a lousy 12V battery ? Are you crazy?" But my car was dead. The usual auto parts and battery shops in the area claimed they couldn't even order one for me. My closest Lexus dealer was 80 miles away. So in desperation, I accepted what the local Toyota service dept told me about why 12V batteries for hybrids were special and how much it would cost. It did sort of explain why none of the other places carried any compatible batteries. I even checked multiple eBay listings for RX 450h 12v batteries but the online "Battery Compatibility Tools" all came back and said "this battery is not compatible with your vehicle", same result the online AutoZone and Advance Auto Parts tools gave me. I was over a barrel with no negotiating power.

 

I get where you're coming from. When two parts store chains both told me "no can do" but the local Lexus dealer was telling my (by phone) "this is just a regular battery" I went the Walmart route another forum member details here. I guess until someone can convince me otherwise, I'll stick with the OTC Walmart battery and hope it lasts as long as the first one did. BTW - my response to the auto parts guys was "so you're telling me that if I lived 200 miles from the nearest Lexus/Toyota dealer I'd have to tow the car there?" No response.

One question - why couldn't you just jump start it to drive it to the dealer? A dead battery doesn't have to mean not going anywhere.

BTW2 - I bought a portable jump start battery off Amazon for like $60. It started my car immediately with zero effort besides connecting the two cables to the battery posts. I keep one in the car and one in my boat. This one is no longer on AMZ but there are many like it.

ger

 

Didn't trust jumping the battery and showing up unannounced at that Lexus dealer. Never have been thrilled with them. Or possibly having it die again halfway there, in the middle of nowhere. From the other posts, I guess I got taken. Oh well. Won't be the last time

 

Holy Cow ! $700 for a 12v battery that is nothing more, or less, than a standard 12v AGM ("Absorbed Glass Mat") battery. LINK
You can find them all day and all night. As far as I know (former Camry Hybrid owner) computer doesn't care if that battery is new or old.
It's sole purpose in life is to keep the cars electronics alive when the car's just sitting there overnight, or for a few days.
If you just let the car sit for a week or three, the 12v battery *will* go dead, because there is a constant drain from electronics, "Use it or Lose it".
When you "jump start" Toyota/Lexus hybrid, the juice from main traction battery is what turns you hybrid's electric motor, which spins the gasoline engine and starts it. There is no separate starter motor.
When the 12v battery is dead (per the Car-Care-Nut) apparently the jump just wakes up the car's electronics, and which then sends commands to the "traction battery" . If the traction battery is also dead/flat/no juice, the car will not start, but I'm told you will rarely find a hybrid with traction battery that far gone.
Interestingly per car care nut, ...if you're running a Toyota / Lexus hybrid with a really dead traction battery, it'll drive forward fine, but it won't move if you put it in reverse.

You might want to speak or better, write to Owner/Management at that nice Toyota dealer about the gross overcharge for that battery.
A good position to start from (let's them save face) might be that someone inadvertently charged you for two batteries since they typically sell for around $300-$350.
Here's a current link for the 12v battery from Lexus: Lexus 12v battery for a 2013 RX-450h ..... Ooops, link doesn't work see screen grab below
Good Luck !

 

You're probably right that I got ripped off. But I'm not motivated to fight about it. I just want to keep the vehicle running until the summer when I have time to test drive new cars. Then I'll get rid of it and be done with Toyota products. First and last Toyota product I've ever owned. This battery incident was just the last in a long line of disappointments with this vehicle.

 

I'd say under some circumstances its not worth the fight, but in this case...$700 for a battery you can buy at Walmart for $168 is beyond your typical rip-off. It's wholly unethical. If it were me, I'd go after them for at least 50% back or inform them they can make a really bad business decision, and think about all the business they stand to lose after you post all over the internet your experience.

 

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“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

 

what message ?

 

awesome
Is it this one ?

 

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