storing my 2015 ES Hybrid while on vacation
 

Seeking input from other (2015) ES 300h owners...

I am going on a 2+ week vacation this summer. I am new to Hybrids and this will be the longest that I will leave my ES without driving it (I did leave it for just under a week in my garage 2 months ago, in the depths of a Canadian winter, without problem).

Is there anything I should (or could) do to prepare it? I am concerned that the 12-volt battery may die in that time if the car is not started every so often.

Is it OK to just leave it in the garage and then boost it when I return (if it needs it)? Can I boost it with one of those self-contained (lithium-ion) battery boosters, or is it better to call Lexus roadside assistance?

Or should I hook up a battery maintainer? Is it safe to hook up the maintainer and leave it running unattended for 3 weeks, and in a closed single-car garage?

Or should I have someone come in every few days and start it and leave it running for a little bit (how long?)?

Thanks in advance for your help!

You could have somebody come and start it and let it run for about 10-15 minutes at least 1 time per week. That should be fine. I'd ask your local Lexus dealer about a battery tender. We sell them at my dealership for $99.00, and have many customers leave them plugged in for 4-6 months while they vacation somewhere warm for the winter.

I've left my 300h for 2+ weeks without any problem. I wouldn't worry about it even for up to 3 weeks.

You don't need someone to come and start your car and run it for "10-15 minutes each time". That is actually not advised and wasteful. For a 2 - 3 week period your car should start right up. Any longer than that I'd attach a battery tender. The battery tender can be left on for months in a closed garage with nothing to worry about. I use two BT every year on two cars for about 5 continuous months. You can buy a BT just about anywhere - not at your Lexus dealer - for about $50.00.

Thanks!

So 2 to 3 weeks sitting should not run down my 12-volt battery? And if the battery does die, I just call for a boost from roadside assistance?

I will look at a battery tender (I will look at my dealer but not necessarily buy one there).

Thanks again!

You'll be fine, even without the battery tender. If it was the middle of winter with -30c and you keep it outside I'd expect a dead battery... given it's spring now, you have nothing to fear.

If this was was approaching, 7-8years [typical batt. life], then I'd expect to come back to a dead car.

Your car is virtually brand new. Leave it, it'll be fine.
Just park it, and enjoy the vacation!

Thanks! And thanks also to everyone else who responded. You have all given me great confidence that I should have no problem leaving my (almost new) Hybrid in the garage for 2-3 weeks this summer.

We once owned a 1997 Camry, and once left the country overseas for 10 months. Car sat in the garage for 10 months.

Came home in the middle of winter, inserted the key, fired right up.

But this was back in the days where cars didn't have much "brain", 2+ weeks, 3 maybe pushing it, should be safe.

Today's cars are like moving computers and need juice to keep them going. For the 300h, I'm not sure if it's just the accessory battery in the trunk or the traction batteries are a concern for long term storage and startup. Maybe someone here has experience?

We have an RX with the same keyless entry and have routinely left it for up to a month at a time with no problems at all. I understand the keyless systems have an active receiver to "listen" for the key so they do use some power even when sitting idle. Anyway, never had a problem with the 12V battery running down. We have left our Priuses idle for two week vacations, and the hybrid battery takes a day or two to get back to normal, but otherwise no problems with the 12V battery.

It's hit or miss. I bought a tender after mine wouldn't start after sitting for a couple weeks. Now it starts every time. :)

Good luck!

The now-usual remote locking feature means the car is constantly listening for a signal from the keyfob.

I understand that the keyless entry / keyless start feature on the car (like on this generation of ES) actually transmits a signal AND listens for a response from the keyfob. They tell you not to store the keyfob near any transmitting radio sources (including AM/FM radio and remote garage door openers) to maintain the life of the keyfob battery, since the keyfob is constantly listening.

The problem with the 12-volt battery in hybrids is that is it a lower capacity battery than on normal cars, so it will drain faster.

How old was yours when this started happening?

When you put in on the tender, you plug it in and leave it for the 2+ weeks you are gone? Do you leave it in a garage during that time?

Just about a year old when it happened. I probably took a bunch of short trips prior to the first issue. I moved and it seems everything is within a mile of my house. :) I now take he train in, so the car can sit for weeks at a time, especially during the winter. My wife has a CR-V we drive consistently.

Always been garage kept. The tender is always plugged in, unless I plan on taking the car a couple days in a row.

Not sure how it is on the ES, but on both my IS and RX, there is a battery saving function to prevent this draining from happening. This is from my RX manual: