Bootleg

Hi. I followed the same path from a VW Golf 3 years ago, via test drives of the usual German suspects, until my brother who has run a RX450H for 12+ years suggested I try Lexus. The RX was not my preference, but the IS300H caught my eye so I had one for a 24 hour test. The customer service I experienced from Lexus Bristol was way above what the unhelpful Audi/BMW/Merc showrooms were giving (in all honesty, it was virtually zero). Been running a Premium IS300H happily ever since. I will point out that the auxiliary battery can be a gotcha if you don't run your car for a while. Plenty on here about that, especially during the pandemic.

Thanks. I guess there's no harm, just wondering if new batteries need it. I've got the whole kit and manual. It's an AGM battery and I don't believe conditioning cycles make any difference.

Update. This arrived 2 days later and is now fitted. Lexus Bristol are still saying they're still on back order for them and surprised I sourced it myself from Lexus Direct. Question 1: I've a CTEK trickle charger and the comfort connector attached to the 12v battery. Will the battery benefit from a charge now? Question 2: the car is off road but unsecure. Planning to charge via the boot, any recommendations for leaving car as secure as possible? Thanks

https://lexuspartsdirect.co.uk/parts/lexus-is/lexus-is-phase-iii-2013-present/lexus-is-3-engine-service-kits/lexus-is-phase-3-12v-starter-battery/ are back in stock, at least when I ordered one today. 3 working days for delivery. £119

The Ctec charger has arrived. I assumed I'd have an AGM battery, but there is no obvious indicator of this, or model number, though not much of the battery is on show. Any ideas? The charging cycles are distinctly different between normal and AGM so I'm assuming i need to set the mode correctly.

It comes with the comfort connect eyelets if that's what you're referring to.

That's the one the AA fitted to my brothers car. I'd be interested. I agree. I ran the car in Ready mode for 2 hours and a run of 1 hour and it held it's charge better, so the 1 hour recommendation could be too low. CTEK charger on order. Thanks

Any updates on experience of non Lexus batteries? My battery is now well and truly done for. Below 10v in 2 days. Lexus had it in twice last year and all they did was charge it up and tell me to use it more. I'm using it 2 or 3 times a week, at least one hour ready mode, and if it goes more than 2 days the alarm goes off and I have to use the booster. They're still out of stock, patronising and bloody no help over the phone. I contacted Kwikfit who said bring it in and they'd take a look to determine best alternative. My brother had his replaced on his RX450h by the AA man when they called out Lexus Roadside assistance.

Thanks for clarifying. To be honest, driving a Lexus badged car off a Lexus forecourt, it was an easy mistake to make. I guess it's economics, but at the risk of diluting the brand.

I had the same reaction with a courtesy UX. I realise it's an SUV, but it didn't feel like a Lexus, it had no character, it was just average. Shame the IS300h is discontinued.

I've had my IS300h more in lockdown than not. I did a significant amount of research beforehand, including this site, read as much of the manual as I could, plus my brother has had an RX450h for 13 years, yet my first call to roadside assistance was for a flat aux battery, just before lockdown. It was the first time I was aware of the aux battery. The battery and any drain problems have been checked out twice by Lexus as ok. I need to know enough to get the best out of any machine I buy, but this has really put a downer on owning what I thought was the most reliable car on the market. I've got a booster pack, etc, but every time I go to start it up, I wonder, and that lack of confidence really takes the shine of what I think is an otherwise excellent car. Lockdown has exacerbated this weakness into its Achilles Heel. If asked what I think about owning a Lexus hybrid I will always mention this fact. Most of my street are familiar with me having the bonnet up or my head in the boot as they drive away in their Audis, BMWs and Mercs.

My IS300 is due its first MOT in June. Have first MOTs not been extended 6 months as well? The warranty and service are due July, but the warranty has been extended 3 months. Lexus Bristol have texted me to say service and MOT are due now. I'll call them to clarify the situation, but I am a little confused.

What happened? Were you starting a conventional car with a conventional starter motor? Did the device claim to be big enough to start whatever size of engine you were starting? Of course, in a hybrid car, you're only booting up the computers so the current really shouldn't be enough to overload the jump starter, particularly if it claims to be big enough to start, say, a 2.5 or 4 litre engine. It was a conventional car. It had previously worked fine, must have been defective. I'd bought it from a local motor accessories shop who were mortified. They immediately refunded me, came out and replaced my battery with a new one for free. Good customer service, or guilt?

Um....why not? To be honest, with one day being very much like the other I am completely unaware of the passage of time or what day of the week it is 😉 Yes. As William says above, one of those small jump start battery packs will get it going quickly. Thanks - despite being a scaredy cat I'll go down this route.

Thanks - I had one of devices for a previous car, and it burst during use, so I'm rather nervous of them. I see there's another thread covering this. In all my research before purchasing the IS300h, I never came across this issue. Trouble free motoring seemed to be guaranteed.

I first had a the flat battery back in January, after had my 2 year old IS300H for 6 months. Called out the AA and then had it checked out at local dealer who said it didn't need replacing. In the current climate of course, it is now flat again having last been used 3 weeks ago (although the sense of passing time is a bit weird at the moment). I saw the email from Lexus to start it up periodically. I haven't done this. Any views on how long you should do this for? It looks like I need a trickle charger. The CTEK MXS 500 appears to be the recommended charger. How long will I need to run it, to get to a point where the car will start? Why a trickle charge? Are there other alternatives to get it up and running more quickly? I have off road but not secure parking, will I just run a power cable out to the car perhaps going in an open window? Will there be alarm issues?