[Rahul Lal]

Hello, team-bhpians!

Though I became a member quite a long time back and have been reading threads almost every day, I am posting this first time, in fact, looking for expert advice on battery issues.

My friend's 2019 model Lexus RX450hL (registered in Jan 2020) recently failed to start the hybrid system. On contacting Toyota Lexus service, a technician was deputed to check the problem. He checked & informed us that the 12v battery voltage had dropped to 9.8 volts & needs replacement.

The Panasonic battery originally installed had a manufacturing date of 310819, so it lasted for three years. This Panasonic battery S55D23L, having 20HR 51Ah CCA355A rating, is not available with Lexus workshop. Instead, they offered Amaron Flo part no.566112060 CCA600 110Min/600A.

The length of this battery was more than the original battery by an inch or so & hence it was not possible to fit in the frame without modification. Since this 12v battery is fitted on left side of the boot space, which is very compact, we refused to get this Amaron battery installed by modifying the frame (the same is welded in the vehicle’s body). The Lexus service had no other option so they left on us to find a new battery.

So the search started for a replacement battery. The current Panasonic battery is JIS D23 with a vent pipe hole on the side of the negative terminal. A rubber pipe thru the elbow is inserted so that gases are vented out of the enclosed battery chamber. We could find out two batteries only having a similar dimension in Exide & Amaron having 50AH capacity. (Exide MLDIN50 & Amaron 80D23L)
However vent hole in Exide was too small to insert a pipe & in Amaron, there was no side hole for the vent pipe.

Since the battery is fitted in the enclosed area of the boot, which is as good as being in the cabin, fixing of the vent pipe is necessary. Moreover, the Lexus service said that due to safety concerns, we have to ensure proper fixing of the vent pipe to the new battery (whichever battery we get) as hybrid batteries are also placed quite near to the 12v battery.

After a lot of research, we found a battery from Globatt brand, which luckily has a side vent hole on both sides & fits in the battery frame without modifying it. Globatt DIN50 SMF CCA525 50AH 55054.
Since never heard about this make, I googled to find that it is made in Bangladesh & imported in India.

Members, please advise if any other battery is available in India for replacement & also on the reliability of Globatt batteries if someone has used them.

Mod Note - Please proofread before posting.

[Turbanator]

It's not your job to search for the battery on a Lexus. You haven't bought something from the flea market that the dealership can suggest you do all these 'Jugaads' for a 3-Year-old car.

Escalate this to Lexus India and mark the principal owner of the concerned dealership, so they are aware of what the guys in the workshop are doing. It should not be difficult to get Panasonic batteries from Lexus at all.

[androdev]

Lexus response is inexplicable. Isn’t Lexus service handled by Toyota? Toyota routinely imports Panasonic batteries for servicing Camry Hybrid cars. You might want to check with them.

You can try reviving the battery to extend its service life. You can also buy battery charger (Bosch c7 on Amazon) to keep the battery in topped up condition in case you have a car that’s not used regularly.

If you have to go with non OEM battery, go with AGM battery and avoid flooded batteries. Venting is not as important with AGM batteries (most don’t have it) and batteries in the trunk are almost always AGM batteries. You can easily get AGM batteries in your city either from battery sellers (bieco.in) or from German car dealerships. Mercedes sells over the counter. I would not put a flooded battery in the trunk.

[V.Narayan]

Are you or your friend dealing with Lexus New Delhi or with some other dealer?

If you are dealing with New Delhi through Lexus and not directly with any Toyota dealer in a smaller town then I can PM to you the names and numbers of folks you can contact.

If that doesn't work then I can help you get to their all India marketing head. But first let me know which dealer you/your friend is dealing with. The response is completely out of style for Lexus. I have had the normal battery changed on my car after 3/4 years and I don't recall any such issue.

[Rahul Lal]

Thanks for your reply. It is MFG Toyota Lexus workshop Delhi. Are you using same car in which you got battery changed? If so let me know details of replaced battery.

[DicKy]

Originally Posted by Rahul Lal

The length of this battery was more than the original battery by an inch or so & hence it was not possible to fit in the frame without modification. Since this 12v battery is fitted on left side of the boot space, which is very compact, we refused to get this Amaron battery installed by modifying the frame (the same is welded in the vehicle’s body). The Lexus service had no other option so they left on us to find a new battery.

Wouldn't do such jugaad on my sub 10 lakhs car, let alone a complex 50+ lakhs car that is just 3 years old!!!

Like other esteemed members (who owns or uses Toyota/Lexus hybrids) have said, escalate this matter.

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by Rahul Lal

Thanks for your reply. It is MFG Toyota Lexus workshop Delhi. Are you using same car in which you got battery changed? If so let me know details of replaced battery.

Dear Rahul,

Sanjay Baluni, Lexus Engineer
+91 88264 96522

Nidhi Sharma, General Manager
+91 9999216736

Avikal Johri, General Manager
+91 9999138027

These are the people I use. I assume you mean MGF Toyota and not MFG. Call them in this order. I'll leave a message for them after you let me know who will be calling so they know the reference. Sanjay should be able to solve things unless there is more to it than your friend has disclosed. Request the person calling to be courteous and they will attend to it to the best of their ability. Sanjay is a very helpful chap. I have no doubt your friend will be courteous but just making a mention as in the past when I have attempted to assist a fellow BHPian I have had to deal with the fall out of uncivil conduct so common in Delhi. As you are a Newbie I cannot PM you. Another good reason for being active on Team BHP :-)

Best wishes,
V.Narayan

[extreme_torque]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Dear Rahul,

Sanjay Baluni, Lexus Engineer
+91 88264 96522

Nidhi Sharma, General Manager
+91 9999216736

Avikal Johri, General Manager
+91 9999138027

These are the people I use. I assume you mean MGF Toyota and not MFG. Call them in this order. I'll leave a message for them after you let me know who will be calling so they know the reference. Sanjay should be able to solve things unless there is more to it than your friend has disclosed. Request the person calling to be courteous and they will attend to it to the best of their ability. Sanjay is a very helpful chap. I have no doubt your friend will be courteous but just making a mention as in the past when I have attempted to assist a fellow BHPian I have had to deal with the fall out of uncivil conduct so common in Delhi. As you are a Newbie I cannot PM you. Another good reason for being active on Team BHP :-)

Best wishes,
V.Narayan

I know you want to help but it would be good for the people involved to not have their phone numbers revealed on a public forum. Just my point of view

[Rahul Lal]

Thank you for sending me contact details. As you rightly mentioned Sanjay is the right person as other two are looking after sales.

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by extreme_torque

I know you want to help but it would be good for the people involved to not have their phone numbers revealed on a public forum. Just my point of view

Thank you for your advice. These are their public customer service phone numbers.

As an aside it is surprising how often on social media, hiding behind our masks, we assume, without checking, that the chap at the other end of the line is an ill-mannered dork. No offense. Just my point of view.

Originally Posted by Rahul Lal

Great help.
Will speak to them

Let me know whom they should expect the call from so I can tell them to be sharp and swift

[extreme_torque]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Thank you for your advice. These are their public customer service phone numbers.

As an aside it is surprising how often on social media, hiding behind our masks, we assume, without checking, that the chap at the other end of the line is an ill-mannered dork. No offense. Just my point of view.

Absolutely not Mr Narayan. I think you are one of the most well respected, eloquent member on the forum and i have nothing but utmost respect for you. I said it because I have done it myself in the past in my rush to help and there were a few numbers in that list including a female. I was just making sure.

[Rahul Lal]

After viewing posts of our Team BHP members, Mr Sandeep Aswal Manager MGF Toyota Service informed me that they would be checking from their concerned division regarding replacement options of 12v battery. I will update our members once I receive reply.
Many thanks to all & especially to Mr Narayan

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by Rahul Lal

Thank you for sending me contact details. As you rightly mentioned Sanjay is the right person as other two are looking after sales.

The battery needed in this case has been ordered by Ms Nidhi Sharma. It comes from Bangalore and will be here in 7 days. The cost inclusive of taxes is around Rs 104,000. You can call Ms Sharma on the telephone numbers above and refer to this conversation on Team BHP and my WA exchanges with her. I sent her this link. Nidhi is a competent customer oriented officer and a senior person. I have always had positive dealings with her and received good service. She is the senior most of the three above and had spoken to Sandeep A after seeing this link and my WA. Best of luck. Hope things get sorted out. Let us know how it ends. If things don't get sorted out don't hesitate to reach out - we are after all India's best social media site and a car forum :-) And I see you & I are of similar vintage :-)

Cheers,
V.Narayan

[extreme_torque]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

The battery needed in this case has been ordered by Ms Nidhi Sharma. It comes from Bangalore and will be here in 7 days. The cost inclusive of taxes is around Rs 104,000.

Dang! That is one expensive battery. Out of curiosity I checked the pricing here since I drive the same car and its $350 for OEM Panasonic, which is exactly what comes with car.

Originally Posted by Rahul Lal

After viewing posts of our Team BHP members, Mr Sandeep Aswal Manager MGF Toyota Service informed me that they would be checking from their concerned division regarding replacement options of 12v battery. I will update our members once I receive reply.
Many thanks to all & especially to Mr Narayan

I did a bit more research and any S55D23L would basically work and fit. You just need to be aware that battery is vented via a pipe to the outside and the "L" shape vent might not fit the non OEM battery but it is easily resolved.

FYI... the OEM battery
https://parts.lexus.com/p/Lexus__RX-...880031291.html

[Rahul Lal]

Agree, it is quite overpriced & I understand warranty is only for one year. So dealer is also checking for any alternative brand. Since Lexus is selling vehicles in India, they should have some alternative domestic brands available for consumables like they have for oil etc which are sourced from domestic manufacturers