x10civ

Have read a few different comments online - ranging from:

it must be taken for a drive every week

Anybody have any accurate information please ?

(I guess when they ship from Japan - it is often "weeks" before they arrive )

jerryray

I left my RX400 for 30 days.
MY RX450, about 10 days, sure it would last at least 30 days as well.

x10civ

thanks Jerryray

Doubt I will be lucky enough to have more than 30 days holiday all at once..

UCSB

I bought a 450h for my wife. Unfortunately she hurt her back and I didn't want her to have to have problems getting into the 450h and operating the vehicle, so I bought her another smaller car that was easier for her to use. I like the 450h and so I keep it, but it gets very light usage. If you are just talking about going on vacation for a couple of weeks and your battery is in good shape there won't be any problems. If you are retired, like I am, and repeatedly taking vacations, you can kill the battery. Mine needed replacement after about nine months of light use. The car will not start unless the battery has a good charge. All of the lights on the dash will come on, but it will not start. You can use a portable jump start system to start it and once it is operating it operates off the hybrid battery ... there are no problems in operating the vehicle after it is jump started (even if the engine stops). If you think that your battery may discharge, you should study the manual before you find yourself in that situation. The battery is located under the floor in the back/liftgate area of the vehicle. You can jump start the vehicle under the hood area, but you need to know how Lexus set that up (it's in the manual).

The car has the smallest battery that I have ever had in any car that I have owned ... something to keep in mind.

I haven't tried them, but you can put the car on a trickle charger if it is at home or use a solar charge maintenance system if it is parked outside.

x10civ

Thankyou for the detailed reply UCSB - really appreciate it.

Evitzee

Buy a Battery Tender and your battery will be kept charged with no chance of overcharging. I keep my motorcycle and Lexus IS on them, often for weeks on end. Right now I'm away on a two month car trip......I'll get back home and they will be topped up and ready to go. And your batteries will last years longer. Best $50 you'll ever spend.....takes ten minutes to install. Even a caveman can do it.

LAMark

I second the recommendation of a battery tender. I live in two different places, have a Lexus in each (one a 450), and sometimes I'm away from one or other place for extended periods. I too have heard the dire warnings about what happens if the battery in the 450 dies, so I bought two units and had the dealer install the fittings for the charger (probably could have done it myself). The leads attached to the battery end in a small male+female plug, and the charger itself has a cable with a corresponding plug at the end. It's simple to plug and unplug, and I'm sure it has saved me some aggravation for both cars.

LeoDLion

Battery Tender and/or Smart Charger is the way to go. It will cut off when the proper charge is reach so you can leave it on without any problem. Mine only cost $35. When leaving the car for a long time just connect the tender and plug the socket to the wall.

tfischer

I put my SC on a battery tender for most of the winter, and it starts right up every time, even after several months of inactivity. Highly recommended, and readily available on line and at auto and battery stores.
Also, many motorcycles are stored this way, so I would think that most 'cycle stores and shops would carry this product as well. (I have one friend who owns 9 bikes, and each has its own Battery Tender, to which it is attached whenever it is in the garage. I don't know why he has 9 bikes, and he says he does not really know either.)

grt62

I've left mine running for over 12 hours without any problem(s)...