The battery on my Lexus is flat. I need to get into the boot/trunk to get to the battery. I've been told there is a key slot on the undesside of the reg. plate. mine has a plastic cover. I can feel the buttons to open and close electronically. Is it ok to remove the plastic?

Kind regards Bertie

 

Read the long sticky on batteries and came up with these 3 options below. Which battery did you use and where did you buy your battery from?

(not including any core charges as refundable or taxes or installation fees)

Advance Auto Parts - DieHard Platinum AGM Battery, Group Size 35, 650 CCA - $220

Pepboys - Champion AGM Battery, Group Size 35 - $175

Autozone - Duralast Platinum AGM Battery 35-AGM Group Size 35 650 - $200

 

I've not heard this. The only way I know to open the rear door if 12V is dead is to enter through the rear side door, fold the seat down and crawl to the back. There is an access port lower center part of the rear door. Pop the cover off and move the latch manually.

 

Hi, I'm helping a friend with a 2011 rx450h and a dead battery.
Wondering what the third small cable is for that plugs into the side of the 12V battery (case?)
Also, is it OK to charge the small battery using the terminals in front next to the fuse box? (This is the suv with the battery under the floor in the rear, next to the spare tire (!!??) Any reason for that? Not easy to open the rear hatch w/ dead battery... Thanks. Also, car acted weird when we tried putting a batt. charger on the terminals - lights flicker, then shuts down. Removed the cables - all 3 - and charging was fine. That's sort of behind my first question: if I don't remove the cables from the battery in the rear, can I charge on the under-the-hood terminals?

 

I believe you are referring to the battery vent tube. It simply exhausts gases from the battery externally. Normally the battery does not vent, but it does have a release valve in case internal pressure is high. The battery is in the back in most Toyota hybrids simply to save them from the heat of the engine. Heat kills batteries and since the 12V doesn't have to power a starter motor it is no longer forced to go in the worse place you could put a battery, next to a hot engine (although it is a bit more convenient to get at).

I think you can charge the battery from the boost points under the hood, but you should be able to do so directly on the battery terminals without removing the cables. Your lights may have flickered and such, but that's probably because the voltage was still too low, depending on the power of the charger (if it was just a trickle charger for example).

 

Thanks for info. My charger is 6 amp. It would charge for a while - 2 min. - tghen start flickering, then everything including charger would turn off. With the battery cables disconnected, the charger worked fine and we started the car.
Does it have the vapor tube perhaps b/c it's inside the passenger compartment?

 

Hi, Andy; I'm an English teacher so, sorry if a stupid question, but if the 12V is not used to power the starter motor, does it only run the accessories? I'm basing assumptions on my experience with my 2019 Camry hybrid. My impression was that the only reason to have the 12V battery is because all the accessories are already designed for 12 volts. Wouldn't that include the starter? (I've worked on cars for 45 years or so, but I don't know how much of my info has become obsolete, esp. with hybrids.)

 

Yea, the 12V basically runs the electronics and accessories only. And the reason the 12V battery does not power the starter motor is that, there is no starter motor. Engine is spun up when needed by one of the two high voltage AC drive motors powered by the hybrid battery pack via the inverter.

Vent is needed exactly as you say, because its inside the passenger area.

Maybe the initial draw from charging the battery and the vehicle load (any interior lights and other always on systems) is too much for the charger. It really shouldn't be, but it seems like the charger is saying "too much".

 

Although a few years old and demonstrated on a Prius, a lot of good information is given pertaining to your 12v auxiliary battery system that answers a bunch of your questions.

 

Message posted above but no responses - can someone please help (looking for 12v battery for RX450h (2013) in Northern Virginia.

 

Several days ago I had posted in the sticky thread but didn't receive a response.

I am really finding it tough to find an appropriate battery for my RX450h (2013) in Northern Virginia.

I identified a battery after putting in specs on batteries plus website but wanted to go in store to speak to someone knowledgeable first (having scanned this thread). They were not much help. When I went back to site to purchase - they don't have a 2013 option anymore. Pepboys has a battery but someone posted it is not reliable. Is my only option the $290+ battery from the dealer?

Also Pep boys out of stock, My local Advance Auto parts out of stock.

Any suggestions appreciated.

 

If going oem try calling different Toyota Parts Departments for the best prices. I'm 95% certain it's the same battery in the 2013 Hylander Hybrid.
If elsewheres I think Autozone had one for about $200 with old battery turn-in. Much cheaper than oem battery but not sure of the value when considering longevity. Hopefully, someone will post their experiences with the lonegevity of the aftermarket brands.

 

Was the battery from the dealer a Panasonic branded one, or a Toyota TruStart battery? Actually if me and made by Panasonic @ $290 then I would buy it if planning to keep the car let's say over 4 years. No telling how long the aftermarket ones will last. A friend who works at Toyota tells me that the TruStart is made by Interstate and is expected to have the same lifespan as those. My 2010 HS250 Panasonic lasted about 9 years and my 2013 RX450 is still keeping a charge (though I suspect a replacement soon). Other batteries generally last perhaps about half as long in my area. Only time will tell though.

Online doesn't work for me because of my location but it may be a better option for you if you can wait.

 

I believe the original Panasonic battery died. Maybe I will just go with the dealer one.

 

I had the battery replaced at Pepboys. It's a Champion AGM 35. On phone someone said 48 months warranty but the invoice says batteries are excluded from even limited warranty. Anyone else get a battery from Pepboys. Thoughts?