Barry14UK

Picture of plugs could have been better. Replacement plugs seems overdue! Blow by on oily one. Service history/mileage? What does it look like beneath oil cap - dirty indicating inferior oil/ overlong periods between servicing?

£60 is a good price for the Yuasa YBX3005 but unless your Pan battery was indeed a Flooded Lead Acid rather than a VRLA (Valve Regulated Lead Acid AGM one), which I doubt, you have not fitted a compatible battery. Flooded Lead Acid allows the acid to move about freely. The VRLA (AGM) battery contains glass mat which absorbs/holds the acid. The latter has a safety advantage where the battery is located in the boot of an RX450h upturned in an accident if you don't want to risk being sprayed with acid. Even where it is under the hood the VRLA AGM battery is also more suited to the special 12v battery requirements of a hybrid. Batteries are supposed to be replaced with the same type (not necessarily size as originals). The technical information on the Yuasa YBX3005 states that more plates have been inserted to assist Cranking but this is the opposite of what you want with a hybrid which calls for fewer plates and a deep cycling AGM battery. I contacted Yuasa as part of my research and was told they didn't have a suitable battery for the 3rd Gen RX450h I believe what you have purchased will serve but not as well as an AGM battery for the reasons given above. I spent over two full days searching for a suitable alternative to the VRLA AGM original battery in my 2015RX both in the UK and abroad. The only one of suitable size I could find was the HANKOOK AXS55D23L as previously reported in this thread. Unfortunately, the UK main importer for HANKOOK was not interested unless there was an order for 100 of this particular model. I have as yet not received a reply to emails from a main distributor in Belgium who list it but I believe they are affected by lockdown at present.

You have sought advice here and fro somebody who worked for LV for 12 years (not an office junior) and the overall opinion is that you were not refused insurance. What are you going to say in future if the insurers say they see it as a refusal? By asking them you could be inviting the 'wrong' answer in the circumstances. Insurance companies can interpret things differently, for example, I received a NIP for doing 36mph in a 30mph area but this was not proceeded with as I opted for an awareness course offered as an alternative. On renewing my insurance, one company I asked informally about this stated this should nevertheless be recorded against me whereas another company said this was not necessary so they didn't need to know.

Very nice wheels and finish. Some claim this kind of shape is to aid cooling.

That's strange, my CTEK 5 starts with with the last setting used. Could mine be faulty even though it does the job fine and I can cycle through modes if required? I know that some people have had a problem with the mode button but I think this was because the mode button didn't change mode when depressed.

Had Anthracite on my silver Opel Monza GSE many years ago, it being the factory finish. It went quite well although I prefer silver. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder so go with what you like rather than what others think. If you might sell the car before long remember that any modification from standard can reduce the value and desirability of it in general.

One recommendation that has been made when using CETEK and possibly other smart chargers is to avoid using the RECON mode when charging AGM batteries.

Well from what I have read Lexus cars are generally as, if not more reliable than any others on the road but surveys have also shown that when something major goes wrong are among the most expensive to repair. If you don't have warranty cover (which is just a form of insurance) it therefore makes sense to me to put a sum aside for repairs. I have never had an extended warranty on any of my cars over many years of driving. Certainly, I have had problems from time to time but overall must have saved a lot and that includes running the much maligned BMW ! I take a similar view with domestic appliances even Medical Insurance. Some medical treatment abroad did cost me but probably less than premiums which would not have covered the specialized treatment anyway. I have stopped at carrying my risk on the house though LOL! A lot depends on your attitude towards risk and ability to put aside for possible need.

OK, understand your situation. I don't think the solar charger referenced would help much at 3.3W Others have said they needed far more powerful ones than that. Then unless sunny you won't get rated output anyway. Unfortunately, anything readily on view can be tempting for thieves in road. too. I wonder why manufacturers don't fit a thin smart solar panel beneath a fixed section of glass roof- hardly ever open my glass roof. (A fixed one would obviate the need for sun roof drains and potential problems these cause) But perhaps this has been considered and rejected so academic).

They have gone downhill then!

In view of lack of response from Megastore, (battery importers for Hankook in the UK), I chased them today about the possibility of importing the Hankook AXS55D23L for us. They said due to lack of demand for this unusual size they would not consider it unless an order was placed for at least 100, so it looks like that they won't help us which is disappointing. I have emailed the Belgian battery company to see whether they or one of their branches would be prepared to ship to a UK address and if so at what cost and when and whether at a group price to individual addresses. I will post when I get a reply.

Although the Traction battery supplies charge to the 12v battery once car is operational, the process requires that there is sufficient charge in the 12v battery to initiate this which means as a prerequisite the 12v battery is good enough to sufficiently hold a level of charge. Even a new 12v battery will not do this for months without use or by being charged from another source and as the battery ages it will require the car to be used more often or charged another way to A insure car can be used when required without adopting an emergency start and B to help prolong the life of the 12v battery which will last longer if not allowed to go flat.

I think you would have done better to have bought a reasonably priced multimeter and used with tables which would also have also served other modes. Although providing temporary power will get you out of trouble, it is better to try to keep the charge in a battery above the level that it won't start because the more often it needs emergency starts the more likely it is that the life of the battery will be shortened. So a smart charger or similar source keeping the battery charged to an appropriate level pro actively is advisable when car is not being used for a couple of weeks or more. Of course as a battery ages it becomes necessary to check more frequently if the charger is not left in place. I am having to do this weekly now on my RX as it is needing replacement soon and my CTEK is also used on another car's battery.

Several people have raised the matter of having this socket permanently live for various reasons, so I am sure will be interested in how you get on. I have in mind to use it in need for a portable tyre pump (although not for long periods) in view of depleting the 12v battery. When at home I use the pump on AC as it also provides this option.

Might be more of a problem to use solar in the winter. I have pv Solar Panels on my roof and there is a tremendous difference between what these output in summer and winter. Perhaps a possibility for countries in Africa that enjoy a more constant amount of sunshine?

A situation many motorists are finding due to infrequent use at present. I am one of them but by using smart charger once a week am able to soldier on for a time until I fit a replacement, shortly.

Agree very much with this. Choice may reflect your mood and how severely you had been affected over the time. I like classical music and singing, popular songs by leading singers who have almost all passed away now, generally something far removed from the raucous over amplified twangy, repetitive poorly enunciated stuff of recent years! In other words, what I listen to normally.

It would also be interesting to learn whether Lexus charge by the hour or if you wanted a job done that took them 25 mins whether they would say charge for half an hour minimum or for say an hour and a half if the job took 80 mins. I must say that when Lexus Cheltenham serviced my car last year they made no additional charge for custom reprogramming a couple of things I asked to be done at the same time. If I had gone to them just to have this done I am pretty sure they would have charged for the job. Another aspect is whether being a 'Gold Member' might affect the going rate. I think it unlikely that for non standard work all Lexus dealerships would charge a set rate regardless of location. Other 'Premium' car manufactures also charge an eye watering amount!

Herbs, You were right about chair type scooters needing deep discharge batteries as they are not intermittently charged during use, that is unless they are like this guy who wanted something that would produce more power lol.

Can't see one on my RX450H. There is something connected next to the positive terminal with some fins. I remember my very old Camry had some fuses in that position but not fins, so will lift the flap and take a look as it might be to help disperse heat or be some sort of regulator.

What great condition from what we can see. I wonder how cost of parts would compare with Lexus - I bet the Lexus headlights would be more expensive!

Herbs, See what Professor Kelly says in the video link William gave from point 4 on about the deep cycling battery in the Prius (same technology as RX450h). This is what reminded me of what I had read elsewhere.

The Pan battery is 51 Amp hour and the Hankook 50. I don't think this will make any significant difference. My preference would be for the AXS55D23L about which I am waiting further information from Megastore. It might be that if they had to specially get this in it would A take more time to obtain and B take time to even get a price because of it not being a battery they normally supply. (They are advertising the larger AXS65D26L 75Ah version for £106.97 but this is too long although perhaps an indicator of price). I got the impression when I spoke with Megastore that they were very busy and didn't want to spend time over the phone discussing battery technicalities hence asking me to email details which I did and have not yet had a reply If this battery is not stocked in the UK as seems to be the case, perhaps the wait could be too long for you. So I leave it with you as to whether you wish to pursue with Megastore whether the SA55020L which they stock is suitable checking the point I made about vents and accepting you might need a longer earth strap. Due to the fact that your battery is in urgent need of replacement it might be better in your case to bite the bullet and buy the Pan one from Lexus if the SA55020L is not suitable. Please let us know which way you go.

An interesting video and well explained. It reminds me I did not mention that greater deep cycling of these batteries, moreso than the heavy cranking ability characteristic of batteries to start engines in cars that are not hybrids. As regards not using a non AGM battery, there are people in the UK and USA who have run on a non AGM battery for a time but this is a bit chancy both from a safety aspect where the battery is in the boot and possibly causing problems with the electrical systems as explained in the video. I would only fit a deep cycling AGM Valve Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA) battery of the type fitted by Lexus in the RX450h and the battery I am enquiring about meets this demand with Prius being specifically mentioned, although this would be the smaller 45Ah version for that car rather than the 50Ah version for the RX450h. Of course you can pay a lot more and buy the Lexus fitted Panasonic without qualms and amortized over 5 or more years this is the route many, will have gone , particularly because of the lack of a suitable alternative. The battery on my car having been fully charged drops to 12.25 volts after about 4 days and this with everything possible switched off and the hatch raised and lowered manually. I will charge it once a week with my CTEK 5 smart charger which has an AGM charging mode. I will fit the Hankook if I can get hold of one and if it works out well others can do so if they wish, perhaps even a Group Buy. If Lexus find there is a far less expensive alternative being fitted, they may even reduce the cost of the Pan. Time will tell.

That is my understanding too. You could use an ordinary maintenance free lead acid battery with vent as I have on my BMW E39 for many years but there is a rear bulkhead in the Beemer (unlike the RX450) which would provide some protection from acid in the event of an accident or explosion as somebody showed the result of in a thread started several years ago on this forum. The AGM batteries have the acid stored in glass matte, are lighter and not affected by severe angle of tilt, so in the event of an accident are safer and specified in the Panasonic Battery Lexus fit to the car. There is another type of battery which uses a Gel but I have not considered that because the recommendation is that batteries should be replaced by like for like type.