laxus

I need to replace the battery for my 2015 ES 350. I'm planning to get one from Costco. Do I need a memory saver to replace the battery or can I do it without it? I've been reading mixed opinions on this so want to see if someone has a first hand experience in replacing without a memory saver.

bc6152

Actually, I don't know what a "memory saver" is and have never used one but have an idea. However, I've changed more than a few batteries in my adult life and use this method: If you have a battery tender you connect it to the battery cables BEFORE disconnecting them from the existing battery. The tender is plugged in at this point. Remove the cables from the battery, remove the battery, put in the new battery, reconnect the cables while the tender is still connected, tighten everything up and remove the battery tender. There. you've preserved all memory features.

There have been posts on the forum where members have stated that they didn't lose saved radio stations and other settings while changing their battery. I really don't know what, if anything, goes away when power is lost. However, I recently changed out my Corvette battery and I know that I would have lost all if I didn't keep power onto the car while removing the defective battery. Plus, loss of power can create weird issues with the electrical system. Also did the wife's 2014 Honda a couple of years ago. Both replaced with Costco Interstate batteries. GOOD LUCK!

uncle

I have changed the battery twice on my 2013 ES, and did not need one.

Poppa

over the past few years I've changed batteries out in both my ES and my Toyota 4 Runner. On a few occasions, the shop didn't use a memory saver and I did lose my settings.. Only took me a few minutes to restore them, but still kind of a pain.

Nelexus88

No settings lost when I changed batteries on my 2014 ES350

laxus

Interesting to hear that the memory was not disturbed for few but lost for others if a memory saver was not used. My major concern was not losing radio presets but losing engine "learning" and possibly needing to reset power windows or any other complex component that could not be restored trivially.

I ended up buying a memory saver off of amazon and just replaced my battery using that and I didn't lose any settings that I already had.

mandyfig

Memory savers work. Is it a value add asset, really depends on preference. If you had multiple cars, it should be an asset. Imagine how many times you will replace batteries in your car's lifetime. Once every 4 or 5 years per car, if you install a good battery and keep it refreshed (charged) with a tender.

Coulter

When I used the one that goes in the cigarette lighter port, it didn't work.

autotech13

That's because the port is dead, unless you turn on the ignition.

KingRaptor

I recently changed out the battery in my sister's 2013 ES350 with an Interstate Battery from Costco. I did not use my battery tender or any memory-saver device to keep the electronics powered while the battery was out. It was fine; I lost radio presets (and maybe the engine learnings went away bc the car felt more powerful - it was previously driven by an old lady and learned her driving style). None of the advanced computer stuff lost its memory (did not need to recalibrate the auto-up windows, did not recalibrate the sunroof anti-jam, did not need to redo homelink, did not need to redo the vehicle door locking customizations which seem to be stored in the car's computers).

FWIW, I also have a 2013 GS350 where the wife took it to the dealership stealership when the battery failed while she was out of town. I knew afterward that the Lexus stealership did not use a memory-saver or battery tender either because my wife called afterward asking me how she could re-do some of the radio settings indicating that the radio lost full power.

So rest easy that doing the work yourself without a battery tender or memory-saver is completely safe and fine. Also, the stealerships do not perform such details either (the Lexus stealership actually lost parts from my car's battery system).