Three- year battery
02-01-12, 06:47 PM
#16
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
If you think that is bad, you should see my oil use ... I have used Mobil 1, Pennzoil Platinum, Pennzoil High Mileage and lately a mix of Pennzoil Ultra w/Pennzoil High Mileage.... for oil filters, I have used Fram Xtended Guard, PureOne, Bosch, etc .... sorry, got off topic a bit.
Back to the battery topic, I would prefer to get another Panasonic, they are amazing batteries. In my Acura, it was still going strong at the eight year mark! But, I will probably get an Interstate.
As for the MG-B, it was my wife's car in high school (in the 80s) that we have restored ... fun car to take on a nice Colorado summer day.
Back to the battery topic, I would prefer to get another Panasonic, they are amazing batteries. In my Acura, it was still going strong at the eight year mark! But, I will probably get an Interstate.
As for the MG-B, it was my wife's car in high school (in the 80s) that we have restored ... fun car to take on a nice Colorado summer day.
Yes, I know how you feel driving the MGB: I enjoy the BMW 'vert. here in FL.
Oil-wise, I have used Mobil1 for the past 25 years, and the 0W-40 is one of the few rated LL-01 or 04 for use in the BMW. [I'lls top there, or this will become another 'oil' thread!].
02-01-12, 07:13 PM
#17
Advanced
How do you judge oil filters????
Yes, I know how you feel driving the MGB: I enjoy the BMW 'vert. here in FL.
Oil-wise, I have used Mobil1 for the past 25 years, and the 0W-40 is one of the few rated LL-01 or 04 for use in the BMW. [I'lls top there, or this will become another 'oil' thread!].
Yes, I know how you feel driving the MGB: I enjoy the BMW 'vert. here in FL.
Oil-wise, I have used Mobil1 for the past 25 years, and the 0W-40 is one of the few rated LL-01 or 04 for use in the BMW. [I'lls top there, or this will become another 'oil' thread!].
Okay, back to the battery topic, when any of you went to the dealer for replacements, were they able to get an OEM Panasonic battery?
02-04-12, 11:47 AM
#19
My RX is three years' old, practically to the day, and the battery died. Lexus replaced it under warranty. Newbattery is marked 84 months, but they told me that the Lexus batteries only last three years, at which point you call the dealer and are offered a 50% (pro-rata) discount on a new one. I remember having done this on a previous model, and the battery discounted cost plus dealer's installation fees ended up costing more than just buying a new (non-Toyota) battery elsewhere and just putting it in.
My BMW's battery lasted nearly seven years (Bosch), but it is situated in the (rear) trunk where it is better protected from heat.
Is everyone having the same 'life' with their Lexus batteries? Have some brands proved to last longer than others?
My BMW's battery lasted nearly seven years (Bosch), but it is situated in the (rear) trunk where it is better protected from heat.
Is everyone having the same 'life' with their Lexus batteries? Have some brands proved to last longer than others?
02-04-12, 12:50 PM
#20
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
I can tell you based on first hand experience as well as my neighbors who have similar vintage RX all have had "premature" battery failures. The Lexus dealer who replaced my OEM under warranty said they have seen a fairly high number of RX with failed batteries after only 2 to 4 years whereas other Lexus vehicles seem to be doing fine with their batteries that last much longer. They don't know what's causing this "early" failure. Do keep in mind the OEM battery carries a FULL 84-month replacement warranty (no proration) so don't go out and spend your own money on an aftermarket battery if it is still under warranty (unless you want to). The Lexus technician who installed the replacement OEM battery on our RX actually said the 84-warranty would start from the day of the installation, not from the vehicle purchase date. If your vehicle is out of warranty but battery still is, then you have 2 choices: 1) call for Lexus road service which you'll have to pay to tow your vehicle in or 2) remove the dead battery yourself and take it into the dealership so they can give you a new one free of charge.
02-04-12, 01:11 PM
#22
Actually, I believe that the 84-month warranty is not a full replacement warranty. I had this issue with the previous RX, where the three or four year period before failure ended up costing more than getting a battery at a place like Autozone or similar. At the latest battery change, for the RX350, the technician told me the 84-month warranty was for full replacement only if failure occurred during the first two years. Otherwise, the cost of the battery was pro-rated. Re: your comment about certain 'failed batteries': It may be a sign of the times (i.e. Toyota/Lexus moving to cheaper and less durable batteries), or random events (in which case, I hope they have improved the life of the batteries prior to my 'new' battery installed). I'll know in about three years!
02-04-12, 10:46 PM
#23
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
I believe your technician who told you about the full replacement only for the first 2 years was totally misinformed since I know at least 5 others who have had their Lexus OEM batteries replaced after 3, 4 to 6 years free of charge. Something is wrong with your Lexus service dept if it provides you with this type of wrong information on such a common issue. A 84-month full replacement warranty means exactly that--full replacement of the battery anytime during the 84-month period. However, a 24/84-month warranty means it comes with a full replacement the first 24 months and proration comes in after that. I know for a fact Lexus doesn't have a 24/84 warranty on the OEM batteries.
Took the old battery to the local Lexus dealer to discuss only getting 37 months on an 84-month warranty battery. At 37 months, their warranty only provided a $50+ credit against the purchase of a new battery FROM LEXUS. That was impossible for me to do on an Easter Sunday morning. (Lexus Owners' Club).
Different dealers in different States may have different policies.
As I wrote - I do hope you are right and I fill find out in about three years....
02-04-12, 10:57 PM
#24
An ideal replacement period would be 4 years. Any longer than that it's recommended to be changed. You dont have to go by that, but it's just playing it safe. Also, before replacing a battery, get it load tested first. A battery that can start, still be charged, doesn't necessarily mean its good until you load test it.
02-05-12, 08:40 AM
#25
Advanced
I replaced the OEM Panasonic (preventative maintenance); however, it did require a jumpstart once when the wife was cleaning out the car and listening to music. After the jump, it started back up fine, but I got nervous and replaced it before winter. At that time, I called the local dealership and the service writer wasn't aware of a full 84 month replacement. He said it was pro-rated beyond 24 months and quoted me $125 for a replacement. Maybe they look at if you service your vehicles at the dealership before making their decision or because mine had not failed completely and only required a jump .... not sure.
Last edited by cdnewton; 02-05-12 at 08:43 AM.
02-09-12, 05:29 PM
#26
Just had to replace the original battery in my 2008 RX350. It died about a month ago and I put it on a charger overnight. Worked fine until yesterday when I went out to go to work and it was dead. That was enought for me so I replaced it with one from Auto Zone
02-11-12, 05:19 PM
#27
Just curious as to why you replaced the factory battery with one from Auto Zone when your OEM battery was still covered under the 84-month full warranty and you could've gotten a new one from your dealer free of charge?
02-11-12, 05:38 PM
#28
Just look at pauljcl's post above. He got a $50 credit towards the purchase of another from Lexus and that was it. Not enough for some of us and especially those of us who are trying to cut their ties to the dealerships. I would rather deal with a company like AutoZone and not one that varies from location to location and person to person like the Lexus dealerships.
02-12-12, 04:38 AM
#29
AGM vs. flooded
Your BMW battery was very likley an AGM battery while the RX battery is a flooded battery. AGM's cost much more, but last longer.My 3-series AGM battery cost $175 to replace from a non-BMW supplier...and I looked long/hard and installed it myself. From a BMW dealer, it would have been much worse. An excellent non-Lexus/Toyota flooded battery (84 month) will cost you under $100.
Pick your poison.
- nopcbs
Pick your poison.
- nopcbs
My RX is three years' old, practically to the day, and the battery died. Lexus replaced it under warranty. Newbattery is marked 84 months, but they told me that the Lexus batteries only last three years, at which point you call the dealer and are offered a 50% (pro-rata) discount on a new one. I remember having done this on a previous model, and the battery discounted cost plus dealer's installation fees ended up costing more than just buying a new (non-Toyota) battery elsewhere and just putting it in.
My BMW's battery lasted nearly seven years (Bosch), but it is situated in the (rear) trunk where it is better protected from heat.
Is everyone having the same 'life' with their Lexus batteries? Have some brands proved to last longer than others?
My BMW's battery lasted nearly seven years (Bosch), but it is situated in the (rear) trunk where it is better protected from heat.
Is everyone having the same 'life' with their Lexus batteries? Have some brands proved to last longer than others?
02-12-12, 06:17 PM
#30
Just look at pauljcl's post above. He got a $50 credit towards the purchase of another from Lexus and that was it. Not enough for some of us and especially those of us who are trying to cut their ties to the dealerships. I would rather deal with a company like AutoZone and not one that varies from location to location and person to person like the Lexus dealerships.