3IS Battery Drain (merged threads)
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (10)
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 13,441
Likes: 1,076
From: Under an IS F since 2008
^^ It's becoming a bit too common... It's either a draw in power when the car's off or bad batteries from Panasonic...
The battery you got now should be a Lexus replacement via Intersate batteries..
~ Joe Z
The battery you got now should be a Lexus replacement via Intersate batteries..
~ Joe Z
I'm hoping its a bad batch of panasonic ones versus a wiring issue... =(
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,148
Likes: 1
From: NY
My battery died once for no apparent reason; had to jump it.
Does the car store the event / information?
If I tell the dealer it died once, would they give me a new battery?
Don't want it to happen again!
Does the car store the event / information?
If I tell the dealer it died once, would they give me a new battery?
Don't want it to happen again!
Driver
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
From: California
So tired of the dealership or anyone who gives an answer to this situation stating that we forgot to turn off any lights when the car itself automatically turns it off when the battery gets low. Even if what I said above is not true, I have OCD and I never forget to turn off any lights. The chances are 0.01%! It really irritates me how we bring this issue to the dealership and they have no clue of this unknown issue to them.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: NC
I have had this happen 3 times, I believe I posted that earlier. After the last time they installed a massive battery and we have not had the issue again yet. I am pleased to hear that Lexus has recognized this as an issue, hopefully they find the fix before it happens to me again. It really is beyond frustrating.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Guam
Battery just died on me as well...along with a clicking noise coming from the engine. Only 4K miles 
My car has been at the dealership for four days now and they still haven't given me an answer on what the issue is.
My car has been at the dealership for four days now and they still haven't given me an answer on what the issue is.
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Rookie
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 59
Likes: 1
From: Oregon
It might be better to have the car towed into Lexus with the dead battery for a few reasons:
1) The dealership cannot say the battery is good because it will be dead
2) The dealership can confirm that no light switches were left in the on position
3) There might be a chance whatever is draining the battery is still "on" and that would allow the dealership to trace down where the drain is coming from
4) The dealership would not be able to put down a "cannot duplicate concern" since the car will come in dead and will not restart on its own
By having roadside jump the car and then drive it to the dealer, the battery will recharge and you end up with a cannot duplicate situation. I would tell roadside on the phone that the car needs to be towed due to this current situation.
1) The dealership cannot say the battery is good because it will be dead
2) The dealership can confirm that no light switches were left in the on position
3) There might be a chance whatever is draining the battery is still "on" and that would allow the dealership to trace down where the drain is coming from
4) The dealership would not be able to put down a "cannot duplicate concern" since the car will come in dead and will not restart on its own
By having roadside jump the car and then drive it to the dealer, the battery will recharge and you end up with a cannot duplicate situation. I would tell roadside on the phone that the car needs to be towed due to this current situation.
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 285
Likes: 47
From: Hong Kong
Hi, I registered my account because I want to tell you what's happening on our side.
I'm from Hong Kong (China), we have a IS F SPORT club and MANY of our members are experiencing the problem described by cr41013, at least 20 of us are having the same issue!
There must be something wrong with the circuit design OR software design OR battery of the car causing this problem!! But LEXUS refused to face the truth!!
Legal action should be taken I think!!
I'm from Hong Kong (China), we have a IS F SPORT club and MANY of our members are experiencing the problem described by cr41013, at least 20 of us are having the same issue!
There must be something wrong with the circuit design OR software design OR battery of the car causing this problem!! But LEXUS refused to face the truth!!
Legal action should be taken I think!!
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 285
Likes: 47
From: Hong Kong
Lexus Master Technician here,
Lexus knows about the battery drain issues. It is currently under investigation for the IS/GS models. My dealer alone has seen several complaints about it. At first, we tried putting in high CCA rated batteries, but that did not fix it. It seems like every week, we have a Lexus field engineer at our dealer to examine another dead battery. Just yesterday, our diagnostic specialist had 3 different 4th gen IS models in the shop comparing parasitic draw. Hopefully soon there will be a TSB on the issue; until then i'm afraid there is no fix as of right now.
Lexus knows about the battery drain issues. It is currently under investigation for the IS/GS models. My dealer alone has seen several complaints about it. At first, we tried putting in high CCA rated batteries, but that did not fix it. It seems like every week, we have a Lexus field engineer at our dealer to examine another dead battery. Just yesterday, our diagnostic specialist had 3 different 4th gen IS models in the shop comparing parasitic draw. Hopefully soon there will be a TSB on the issue; until then i'm afraid there is no fix as of right now.
They even blame us for modifiying the cars which we didn't!!
Stock, nothing being changed!
Lead Lap
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 418
Likes: 2
From: CA
The pursuit of F
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,296
Likes: 303
From: Toronto, Canada