[Rahul Lal]

Specs are same but terminal layout is opposite. However with this information it will help me to find out which replacement battery is being used as so many Camry cars are in India.
Agree it is not possible to import individually or by traders as there are BIS restrictions on imports of lead acid batteries. Only OEM’s are permitted to import for after sales service.
The vehicle is going to be out of warranty next month.

[Rahul Lal]

This is in continuation to my last post in November 22 on failure & non availability of 12v battery of Lexus RX 450hL. So 5-6 months have passed with no solution from Lexus India. Thanks to members who were so helpful in finding some solution. However since nothing much transpired in between, I did not post anything in this forum.

Initially I got call from Workshop Manager of MGF Toyota Lexus, Peeragarhi stating the price of OEM Panasonic 12v battery is Rs 1,03,660/- He asked that if I am interested it can be shipped from their Bangalore store.
So I asked him about manufacturing date of new battery available with them & also if they can suggest an alternative battery which would be available in India. I also requested to give a service battery for the time being which they denied.
In reply to above queries he informed that they have only one battery available in stock & it’s manufacturing date is around 2-3 years old. Warranty just for one year. Imagine buying a 12v battery for more than a lakh, with just one year warranty & also 2-3 years old product.
For alternative battery I was asked to provide dimensions of existing battery which was required by Lexus India. Surprisingly Lexus India did not even have specs available with them. Happily I gave him specs & dimensions by drawing a proper diagram of battery & sent it to Workshop Manager hoping to get some solution for an alternate battery. Months passed but no response. Then one fine day he informed that Lexus India has advised to buy same battery as they do not have any alternative. They are ready to import new battery but would not know how old it would be. They would know its manufacturing date once it arrives. Of course payment to be made in advance. Seeing all this I dropped the idea of getting from them.

So finally managed to locate battery last month in Japan & bought it. It is a 12v Panasonic CAOS Blue Battery S55D23L, type H2 which is made specifically for Hybrid vehicles. These batteries have inbuilt temperature sensor which adjusts the charge voltage based on actual battery temperature. It is a safety feature to control overheating of battery. Costed around Rs 30,000. It did take some time to bring it to India. It comes with 3 years warranty. Same battery Lexus India is selling for one lakh plus with a years warranty.

Lexus produces one of the most reliable vehicles but unfortunately their parts are sold at quite a high price in our country.

Lexus hybrid vehicles are offered with 5 years/1,50,000 kms warranty on hybrid battery plus 3 years/10,000 kms extended warranty on hybrid battery. Total 8 years/1,60,000 kms warranty. Of course with a rider that customers will have to get their cars serviced only from them during all these eight years.

Even if you have to replace an air filter element, the Lexus service centre will not sell you over the counter & you will have to visit their workshop for such small jobs. To my understanding this sort of restriction is only in India.

For automotive companies like Lexus -India it is very important that government’s policy “Right to Repair” is enforced in our country. With this customers will be at liberty to get their vehicles serviced outside authorised service stations without loosing manufacturer’s warranty. Also cost of parts & labour charges will go down as competition will start among service centres.

Car is now due for next service. Will update once it is done.

[Rahul Lal]

My experience in Lexus service centre.

RX is now 3 years & 6 months old, hence due for 30,000 kms scheduled service. Though it has run much lesser but to keep hybrid battery warranty intact, it becomes necessary to get it serviced every year. So took it to MGF Toyota Lexus service centre at Peragarhi.

Since car had run quite less, I discussed with Md. Dulal Hossain Lexus Care Manager (who has recently joined Lexus dealer service team) as what parts are really required to be changed. I explained him that I have already replaced air filter & cabin air filter. In fact I had done this before while taking RX to Rohtang Pass. Also had done wheel rotation. Though I was carrying pictures of old & new filters with their packings on my phone but he never asked for proof & trusted me. It was nice of him to understand the issue & not to insist on replacing all filters etc as normally they do by simply following the scheduled service protocol.

Since no Lexus service manager was available (possibly due to Sunday) so he took approval from his senior over phone. Really appreciate his understanding & promptness in resolving the issue.
Hybrid battery health check up was carried out. Also engine oil & oil filter was replaced. Surprisingly this time engine oil supply was in Lexus packaging from Idemitsu India having grade: 0W-20 SP whereas last year they were using Toyota packing engine oil also made by Idemitsu India but having grade API SN/C2 5W-30. To my understanding, India having hotter climate - 5W-30 should have be preferred over 0W-20. However in Lexus India service centres they just use it, as supplied - no questions asked as no one knows the answer. Never heard of Lexus area service engineers

There are always some persons who work behind the curtain - taking care of your car but their name never comes up. Mr Divender Singh Lexus Technical Expert who is one of such persons. He has been looking after my car since beginning. Always remains with the car throughout the servicing process & ensures every small things are checked and taken care off. Just because of this person I prefer to drive down 25-30 kms to get RX serviced at this service centre rather than going to another Lexus service centre in Gurgaon which is just 6-8 kms from my home.

No matter how good is the product, but Lexus India is still struggling to compete with BMW & Mercedes. So in such scenario even the performance of service staff at ground level makes a difference in their sales - as Lexus sells more by word of mouth of satisfied customers. People like Divender Singh & Md. Dulal makes the difference.
Overall service experience was pleasant.