ATH10 aux battery replacement

[timmers_uk]

Hi all,

 

Appealing to the brain trust here before I go nuts stripping the trim on the alphard. I need to replace the aux battery on my 1st Gen Hybrid, as the poor old thing barely gets up to 11 volts. However I've struck a silly issue. Where the heck is it hiding! I thought I was all prepared as I have the dismantling guide (https://www.crown-motors.com/tch/corpinfo/RBRP/images/Hybrid Vehicle Dismantling Manual for ATH20 - Alphard HV.pdf) but I see now its for the 2nd gen, and when I go looking in the place I'd assumed was the aux battery location on the LHS, there's nowt but a small electrickery box, and on the RHS, I foresee 'fun and games' of trim removal to get to what's behind that grill, which I find puzzling if that's where the aux battery is.

 

If someone could help out a puzzled fellow alphard owner, and point me in the right direction, that'd be great.

 

Tim

 

p.s. This - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yuasa-YBX5005-Performance-Starter-Battery/dp/B00KNQT7FU seems to be the preferred replacement battery if I'm googling successfully, as the hits I get based on the EPC part number are all for Australian sources (e.g. https://www.centurybatteries.com.au/resources/battery-finder/product/battery/s55d23r/info)

[MonsterS]

its between the driver and passenger seat if i remember correctly from the toyota parts website. under the box.

[timmers_uk]

Thanks - will go spelunking in the morning - I've been looking here - https://toyota.epc-data.com/alphard/ath10w/32238/electric/8431/ , but the section with the 12v battery didn't give any useful clue to the page, and I made the (foolish) assumption it was likely to be vaguely similarly locate on ATH10 and ATH20.

Edited March 25, 2020 by timmers_uk
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[timmers_uk]

Thanks for the pointers.

 

I did indeed find my 12v battery. In typical fashion whilst looking for replacements I even found a photo guide to hybrid battery servicing that also showed where I should have been looking.

 

Leads to my next dumb question ... anyone have a good suggestion for an appropriate replacement? The 'proper' part according to the epc-data site is a Panasonic N-S55D23R, but my best online searching is only coming up with them from Australian sites, which doesn't really work.

 

Amazon claims the likes of https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yuasa-YBX5005-Performance-Starter-Battery/dp/B00KNQT7FU will fit my car, but I've learned to take that with a pinch of salt already.

 

Alternately Tayna have a good match https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/jis/55d23/ , but its out of stock.

 

The main element that bothers me is the gen battery is built for living in the 'indoors' (aren't we all, right now!), with a vent pipe fitting for offgassing, whereas are these other batts?

 

Any hints would be appreciated before I go buying things and dismantling my center console to get the battery swapped out

 

[Hybrid_Bristol]

Hi all

The battery in our 2007 Alphard hybrid seems to be flat due to lack of use during the lockdown.  What’s the easiest way to attach jump leads to the auxiliary battery? Do you need to dismantle the centre console?  Sorry if a dumb question, but only got the Alphard recently and never had to do it before!

Thanks for any advice.

 

[timmers_uk]

there is a jump lead connection point in the engine bay. I'll nip out and take a picture shortly if no one beats me to it. 

 

I left a bluetooth odbc dongle connected over christmas and ran my aux battery down, so I know its there

Edited April 30, 2020 by timmers_uk

[timmers_uk]

Photos as promised. 

 

Under the big red plus is where you connect your pos lead, and the usual iirc with negative to a good metal place on the chassis. 

 

 

(better instructions for the genetal case  https://www.whiterivertoyota.com/blog/how-to-jump-start-a-toyota-hybrid-vehicle/amp/) 

Edited April 30, 2020 by timmers_uk

[Hybrid_Bristol]

Thanks Timmers.  Much appreciated.  How did I miss it when I was just looking !  

[Hybrid_Bristol]

So now it looks like we do need to replace the auxiliary battery. Any tips on how to do that please? Does it mean removing the box in between the driver and passenger seats on an ATH10?  Doesn’t seem obvious how to do that! 

Thanks for any pointers.

[MonsterS]

you would have to take the box out from the middle to change it as i've had to take the box off to edit the 110v adapters.

[timmers_uk]

@MonsterS any suggestion on a UK sourced battery? I've still not dealt with my 11v battery as I'm currently running the vehicle at about 3 months to the gallon, but I ought to get mine replaced before I engage on any significant use of the Alphard (e.g. Driving down to the Isle of Wight to get my much delated elevated roof fitting when I'm allowed). 

 

(see upthread for my mumbling musings on the batteries that came up when I dug around online)

 

Thanks

Tim

Edited May 26, 2020 by timmers_uk

[Annamate]

Hi There,

 

Just wondering how you got in with replacing your battery? Was it difficult? Did you have to dismantle the whole central consul/take seats out etc? I just bought a battery on the advice of the dealer I bought the Alphard from, but my local garage is going to try and fit and he's a little reluctant to go near the Hybrid battery! Would be good to know it's not going be too difficult (or indeed kill him!). Any hints/tips/photos much appreciated! 

[MonsterS]

no idea for hybrid's as i've not got one. However high ampage is better

[timmers_uk]

Thanks for the reply

 

Due to running about 3 months to the gallon currently, I've been procrastinating and not got around to action on this, but I'm now looking seriously into going over to a smol lifepo4 aux battery here for size and weight decrease (and commonality in chemistry with the service battery that'll be going in for the conversion) , as despite only running 11v the car runs fine - a dramatic comparison with the prima donna diesel Saab sat next to it which will not accept anything but a top class high cranking amps battery in perfect health.

 

If it were doing any serious cranking the lifepo4 would be right out, but I did a little look into it and on the hybrid the hybrid battery supplies the  beefy amps for turning the engine over, so I suspect the aux battery never really gets a big current draw.

 

Before I pull the trigger on it, I need to strip out the centre trim and run all that I can think of whilst monitoring the current draw on the existing battery to be sure.

 

Still ... it keeps me off the streets!

 

[aaj712]

Hey, wondering on how the progress is, having a similar problem myself. Trying to figure out if the aux battery needs replacing or if i need to go on a long journey to let the battery charge up.

[Sparraboy]

Doees anyone know if you can use a trickle charger to keep the hybrid topped up or where to attach it? Presume would have to be connected under the centre console as discussed? Thanks. Michael.

[timmers_uk]

Hi,

 

As per the pics above, you can definitely trickle charge the 12v system by attaching to the points shown in the photos. The hybrid battery though isn't setup for external charging unlike newer plugin hybrids. :\

 

Tim

[Stephan]

I see reference in this old thread to gen battery and aux battery. Which one is what I would call the starter battery? I found the starter battery under the centre consul and need to replace it, but how do you remove it? 

[timmers_uk]

IIRC the battery is strapped in place. You just need to undo the bolts 'strapping' the battery down, then you can disconnect it and slide it out, then slide in the replacement - it's a bit fiddly but you don't need to dismantle the centre console.

 

I would provide better detail but my Alphard has now been converted and the aux battery is now in a non-standard location, so I'm working off year old memory.

[Stephan]

Thanks for the reply. It's just that on the first look I couldn't see a typical tie down strap, so I thought maybe it clamped at the bottom or something. I'll have another look. 

[timmers_uk]

Revisiting my pictures from up-thread when I still had a centre console, there's the long rod you can see at the back of the battery, and then I think another similar at the front, accessed from pulling up the rubber grommet thing in the centre console box - undo both and away you go. 

[Saba]

Hello I got 2014 Toyota alphard 2.4 hybrid I got hybrid battery problem and I want to know I can’t find same car battery if it’s another option or similar battery for other car to replace 

[atlanticcobra2023]

I just thought I would add my two penneth seeing as I have recently replaced mine. Sit in the middle seats and look where the cup holder and sockets are at the back of the centre console, pull the cover out (bottom halve of back of console) to the left at the top there is a white plug disconnect that first by pressing locating clip and pull down. then with a 10 mm spanner undo the nut at the top of bracket rod until you can remove the "U" rod holder. Put the nut back on top of the rod so you dont lose it.  Go into centre console and remove the mat at the bottom, there is a large rubber bung in the centre, remove that and the front bracket nut is visible, use a long extension bar and a 10mm socket to loosen that nut  if you drop the nut dont panic you can retrieve it when you remove the battery. now slide the battery back a little so that you can get a 10mm socket or spanner on the negative terminal. Undo the negative terminal and slide the battery further out. now you know the rest. 

(MY VEHICLE IS THE GEN 1 2005 TOYOTA ALPHARD HYBRID BY THE WAY)