My 2004 RX330 didn’t start last Friday and today but the headlights and power seats are working. Last week AAA guy told me it was a battery problem. Today the other AAA guy said it was alternator problem. They charged up the battery and measured 13.8 (last Fri) -14.1 (today). Who should I believe? My car has 35k miles and purchased in December 2003 and I still had the original battery. If I need to replace the battery, what brand should I get? DieHard (Sears)??

Thanks!

 

By age, I would say it is the battery. It is so easy to test and can be done at all places that sell a battery. They can even test out your alternator, but if you have not been getting the light in the dash, I would say dont bother, just get the battery.

When you go shopping for the battery, they will match it to ensure it has the minimum CCA and posts + size that fits. Price will some what depend upon the warranty and type of battery.

I would recommend "sealed type", but they will be expensive. If you search, you will see lots of recommendations and preferences.

You got good life out of your orignal.

Salim

 

Batteries should last 5 years. Check your warranty on the battery from Lexus, I think is is pro-rated after 4 years, does not hurt to ask.

 

When you say "didn't start", did it even crank? Can you give us a better description what it did, because it could also be the starter. Because it didn't drain since Frida, I would rule the alternator out.

5-years old battery is kind of old. If you need to replace one, start with Costco. They have good batteries, decent prices, excellent warranty.

 

I've never had a battery last more than 3 yrs in the high desert. 115 degrees plus in the summer, just below freezing in the winter. I've tried Diehard, Optima, Walmart etc. I've relegated to getting Walmart brand with full 3 year replacement since it dies reliably at the 2.5 yr mark and gets replaced for free...and Walmarts are everywhere. Just my $0.02

 

For the small price of a new battery and the great inconvenience of a dead one, I replace the batteries in my car at about the 4 year point, whether they appear to need it or not.

 

Good strategy. In my case, after 4 years, I really pay attention and actually do some tests on the battery. Then 1 sign of trouble, get a replacement, bring it home and switch!

 

The only flaw in your strategy is that sometimes, these days, you don't get even "1 sign of trouble." A few years ago my SC started fine one day, and the battery was dead the next. The service manager said that often, with all the electronics, modern cars don't give the signals of a weak battery that older cars would, such as slow cranking or lights dimming on starting, etc.
I may be buying early, but I'm not getting stuck in some mall parking lot on a cold and dark February night, surrounded by zombies.
I really hate zombies.

 

Yes, you could be right, fortunately here in Hotlanta, we do not have freezing-frozen temps..and as such, tell tale signs do come up signalling a trip to Costco...to get a fresh battery....

 

The R300's have clock reset to time midnight indication of weak battery.

Salim

 

Say that again Salim? The clock resets when it senses the drop in voltage?

 

So that's a signal that either your clock or your battery is bad, or both.
I like the old signals better.

 

Yes. The clock in RX300 has a sensitivity to min voltage. As the battery becomes weak, it can not keep the voltage under deep current draw (start) and the clock resets to midnight.

I seriously doubt that it was a design feature, but all RX300 owners have used this to identify dying battery.

Salim