Battery Replacement - DIY or Dealer?
01-27-21, 12:16 PM
#46
Advanced
I just replaced the battery on my 2016. Got it from Pep Boys and upgraded to an AGM battery. Think it was about $150 and offered to install for free, but I did it myself in the parking lot (all of 5-10 mins) because I didnt feel like waiting on them. No complaints...has worked fantastically!
01-27-21, 12:20 PM
#47
Advanced
Wasn't there comments in the thread about resetting the ECU to try to get the car to recalibrate for a short term fix about the hesitation issue? I recall something about disconnecting the battery for some period of time (3 min or more?) without any external power jumped in. Don't recall anyone complaining about any issues with radio or camera.
I always assumed that everything in the ECU was in NVRAM (Non Volatile Random Access Memory). It would seem that some data is not in that kind of memory.
01-27-21, 12:24 PM
#48
Advanced
Seeing that photo reminded me of something. Last summer while doing a little cleaning of stuff under the hood, I discovered that this battery hold-down clamp was starting to develop corrosion, caused by caustic gas from the battery, I suppose. I removed it and did a cleanup on it, and painted the area with black Rustoleum. So if you have a 2019 or earlier with the original battery, better check it out on your unit.
01-28-21, 05:43 AM
#51
I would suppose that if you use jumper cables to connect your battery cables to the terminals on the battery of another running car, then disconnect your cables from your battery, and do the replacement and then reconnect your cables to your new battery, you could get by with doing it yourself. Sounds kind of tricky and kind of risky, to save $50 or $75 of labor.
01-28-21, 07:47 AM
#52
Driver School Candidate
01-28-21, 06:11 PM
#53
Advanced
Wasn't there comments in the thread about resetting the ECU to try to get the car to recalibrate for a short term fix about the hesitation issue? I recall something about disconnecting the battery for some period of time (3 min or more?) without any external power jumped in. Don't recall anyone complaining about any issues with radio or camera.
Well... I find that the transmission works better since I changed my battery...
01-30-21, 05:20 AM
#55
Time To Replace My Battery. AGM or Conventional Lead Acid?
My 2017 RX350 is now 4 years old and I have decided it is cheap insurance to replace the 24F battery. About 2 years ago when I went on a 2.5 week vacation the RX just barely started. I then started to use a Battery Tender whenever I was away for more than a week, and now more often during COVID. Although the standard battery is a conventional lead acid I'm thinking of replacing it with a AGM since they are better at recovering from discharge from not using the car for a period (I've used the same one, an Optima Yellow, on my Vette for 12 years). I am not concerned at all about the extra price - the price differential is small compared to the price to own and maintain our toys.
Both the Interstate website and the Costco website shows the AGM is recommended as the premium battery for my RX. The Interstate site suggests the MTZ-34R (yes a 34R) while the Costco site suggests an Interstate 24F AGM. I am not sure why the Interstate direct site does not list the 24F but I might call my local Interstate dealer about that. The Costco site also suggests a less expensive Interstate 24F conventional battery and the CCA and CA specs and dimensions are nearly the same as their AGM battery.
Anyway, I'm interested in the opinion of any engineer/owners who have a good technical reason to not go for the AGM. Thanks in advance.
Both the Interstate website and the Costco website shows the AGM is recommended as the premium battery for my RX. The Interstate site suggests the MTZ-34R (yes a 34R) while the Costco site suggests an Interstate 24F AGM. I am not sure why the Interstate direct site does not list the 24F but I might call my local Interstate dealer about that. The Costco site also suggests a less expensive Interstate 24F conventional battery and the CCA and CA specs and dimensions are nearly the same as their AGM battery.
Anyway, I'm interested in the opinion of any engineer/owners who have a good technical reason to not go for the AGM. Thanks in advance.
01-30-21, 06:41 AM
#56
I checked the Interstate website (using my zip code) and I see 3 24F lead-acid models and 2 AGM models. Their best lead-acid model provides 750 CCA but only 30 months warranty. In addition to the MTZ-34R, there is a second AGM model, MTX-24F, that provides 710 CCA and a 36 month warranty. Use zip code 45459 to see 'em all.
PS I'm not an engineer. My reading of this article: https://batteryuniversity.com/learn/..._glass_mat_agm
suggests there is a possible concern about the "fixed float voltage setting" on the RX -- it would be great to learn the Lexus design spec for that figure. I would assume Interstate compensated for that issue long before offering a replacement battery. I think the only practical concern is about cost/price.
PS I'm not an engineer. My reading of this article: https://batteryuniversity.com/learn/..._glass_mat_agm
suggests there is a possible concern about the "fixed float voltage setting" on the RX -- it would be great to learn the Lexus design spec for that figure. I would assume Interstate compensated for that issue long before offering a replacement battery. I think the only practical concern is about cost/price.
Last edited by dibl; 01-30-21 at 09:05 AM.
01-30-21, 07:23 AM
#57
01-30-21, 08:11 AM
#58
There is more to batteries than just sheer CCA, he fails to say if all the cells are the same thickness, weight, % of led etc.
If one check the batteries from Odyssey & Northstar (both AGM) where the led content is 99.9% the price goes even higher.
IMO the only drawback with AGMs is that they give no warning when they fail, they give 100% power and then suddenly 0 !
If one check the batteries from Odyssey & Northstar (both AGM) where the led content is 99.9% the price goes even higher.
IMO the only drawback with AGMs is that they give no warning when they fail, they give 100% power and then suddenly 0 !
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dibl (01-30-21)
01-30-21, 02:07 PM
#59
You might find this Project Farm comparison useful. The net of it is he (Todd Osgood) is not particularly enamored with AGM batteries.
(29) Which Car Battery is Best? Let's find out! - YouTube
(29) Which Car Battery is Best? Let's find out! - YouTube
02-01-21, 04:56 AM
#60
Advanced
https://interstatebatteries.com/blog...s-the-big-deal
When I listen to the radio waiting for my wife in the car when she goes to a store, it automatically shuts off after 30 minutes to save on battery...
The lead-acid battery hasn’t changed much in 160 years.
Since it was invented in 1859, the same 160-year-old technology still starts your car and nearly every car around the world, with minor changes here and there. It’s still thin lead plates, sulfuric acid and water (plus a durable, polypropylene case.) Small tweaks and adjustments played out over the years. Some are even sealed so you don’t need to add water.
Despite these tiny developments in across a century and a half, French physicist Gaston Planté could step out of a time machine and still recognize his invention in 92.4% of the US automotive market. He might be surprised how little the lead-acid battery changed in 160 years.
Because everything else has.
Touchscreens. Artificial intelligence-assisted driving. Seat warmers. Vehicles capable of fuel economy fuel economy in the high 20s to mid-30s. Autonomous driving. Auto-tensioning seat belts. Start-stop engines. Remote starting, even phone-operated starting. Backup cameras with calculated guidance routes. Satellite-connected radio and wireless-fidelity internet connections. Bluetooth-enabled sound systems to play music from your smartphone (which you barely use for calls anymore. Poor Alexander Graham Bell.)
Here’s the problem: Planté’s lead-acid battery can’t handle all those power needs for long.
Lead-in-acid batteries used to fit the bill for cars because they can throw a lot of electricity into a starter in a short burst. They’re also inexpensive to make. However, a standard, flooded battery can’t run a light bulb for more than a couple hours in one stretch. Much less your air conditioning.
The next generation of batteries can. Enter the absorbed glass-mat (AGM) battery.
Since it was invented in 1859, the same 160-year-old technology still starts your car and nearly every car around the world, with minor changes here and there. It’s still thin lead plates, sulfuric acid and water (plus a durable, polypropylene case.) Small tweaks and adjustments played out over the years. Some are even sealed so you don’t need to add water.
Despite these tiny developments in across a century and a half, French physicist Gaston Planté could step out of a time machine and still recognize his invention in 92.4% of the US automotive market. He might be surprised how little the lead-acid battery changed in 160 years.
Because everything else has.
What sparked the next generation of car batteries?
Driving in 2019 just isn’t the same experience it was in 1969.Touchscreens. Artificial intelligence-assisted driving. Seat warmers. Vehicles capable of fuel economy fuel economy in the high 20s to mid-30s. Autonomous driving. Auto-tensioning seat belts. Start-stop engines. Remote starting, even phone-operated starting. Backup cameras with calculated guidance routes. Satellite-connected radio and wireless-fidelity internet connections. Bluetooth-enabled sound systems to play music from your smartphone (which you barely use for calls anymore. Poor Alexander Graham Bell.)
Here’s the problem: Planté’s lead-acid battery can’t handle all those power needs for long.
Lead-in-acid batteries used to fit the bill for cars because they can throw a lot of electricity into a starter in a short burst. They’re also inexpensive to make. However, a standard, flooded battery can’t run a light bulb for more than a couple hours in one stretch. Much less your air conditioning.
The next generation of batteries can. Enter the absorbed glass-mat (AGM) battery.