RX 400h doesn't start after sitting one week
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: VA
Yup. I'm thinking it's fishy as well. I'm almost due for my next visit so I'm going to grill them this time. I'd really rather not deal with the same issue on our next vacation. Generally, I'd rather give folks compliments than complaints and am good about writing letters when people do a good job. But I'm just as good at raising a stink when things aren't right and I don't think they'd like that very much 
Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 123
Likes: 1
From: MI
Bad 12v battery
If you are still in warranty, go to the dealer, tell them what happened. They will test your 12v battery, find it is bad and give you a new one. Under warranty. Normal charge is $160.
The 12v batteries in these cars are undersized and JUNK. Toyota should be ashamed.
If out of warranty, buy an aftermarket. A better Advance battery will be about $80.
Our 2008 battery (3 year old RX400h) was just replaced under warranty. Dealer was out and got one from a Toyota dealer.
- nopcbs
The 12v batteries in these cars are undersized and JUNK. Toyota should be ashamed.
If out of warranty, buy an aftermarket. A better Advance battery will be about $80.
Our 2008 battery (3 year old RX400h) was just replaced under warranty. Dealer was out and got one from a Toyota dealer.
- nopcbs
I have a 2008 RX 400h (bought new in 2008). Two years ago, we vacationed for a week at the beach. When we got in the car to leave, it wouldn't start. Had the car jumped, drove home (straight to the dealer) who said the battery tested fine, charged it, and said we were good, not to worry about it. No problems starting the car for the next year so I figured we probably left an interior light on or something.
Last year we went to the beach again, parked the car for a week, and had a repeat scenario. This time, after the recharge, we were told we needed to buy a trickle charger and plug the car in during our vacation so the battery would stay charged (right--there's one outlet in the parking garage). This sounds a little fishy to me. If we left it one month, even three weeks, maybe. But one week?
We are planning to go back to the beach again this year--and I would really like to avoid a repeat performance (and park the car for a week). So what's the deal? Is there something wrong with the car or is this typical for an RX 400h?
Thanks much for any insights/advice!
Last year we went to the beach again, parked the car for a week, and had a repeat scenario. This time, after the recharge, we were told we needed to buy a trickle charger and plug the car in during our vacation so the battery would stay charged (right--there's one outlet in the parking garage). This sounds a little fishy to me. If we left it one month, even three weeks, maybe. But one week?
We are planning to go back to the beach again this year--and I would really like to avoid a repeat performance (and park the car for a week). So what's the deal? Is there something wrong with the car or is this typical for an RX 400h?
Thanks much for any insights/advice!
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: VA
Happy ending...
So I had the battery replaced as many of you suggested. We took the car on vacation a couple weeks ago and let it sit for a week. I fully expected a repeat of the last two years (when the car wouldn't start and we had to get it jumped before returning home) but when I hit the "unlock" button on the remote I heard "beep-beep" and the car unlocked. Got in, and it started immediately. 
So my conclusion is that it was indeed the original Lexus factory battery that was the problem. Unless, of course, they messed around with something else when replacing the battery and didn't tell me.
Anyway, thanks, all, for your help! We had a much more pleasant trip as a result.
So my conclusion is that it was indeed the original Lexus factory battery that was the problem. Unless, of course, they messed around with something else when replacing the battery and didn't tell me.
Anyway, thanks, all, for your help! We had a much more pleasant trip as a result.
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