MangoCactus Posted February 13 Posted February 13 Hey all, The 12v battery in my Alphard Hybrid 1st Gen has recently died. After much searching I've been struggling to find many replacement options. It appears to be a weird somewhat unique to the car battery. My local Toyota Garage can get one but it will be £350! Hoping to find something a bit less expensive than that but if I have to I will get the OEM battery from the garage. The dead battery which was fitted while it was still in Japan is a Panasonic 20HR 51 Ah CCA 355A S55D23R the Toyota part number is 2880028021. It's an auxiliary vented battery if that makes any difference. Thanks!
Picasso Posted February 13 Posted February 13 Hello may depending on the year the original battery has a heat sensor built in so you can not really put a normal battery in as the sensor is connected to the hybrid system the original battery's from Toyota are Panasonic and still are even if you by from Toyota pm me your reg no. or vin no. and i can confirm for you which is correct battery for you .
PaulE Posted February 13 Posted February 13 I think it is series 2 that has the temp sensor on the battery. There is a Yuasa S55D23R which is usually a bit cheaper than the Panasonic , both are expensive, I have both as I keep a spare on charge. Don't forget to move the vent pipe over as the new one may not come with it.
MangoCactus Posted February 14 Author Posted February 14 16 hours ago, Picasso said: Hello may depending on the year the original battery has a heat sensor built in so you can not really put a normal battery in as the sensor is connected to the hybrid system the original battery's from Toyota are Panasonic and still are even if you by from Toyota pm me your reg no. or vin no. and i can confirm for you which is correct battery for you . Ive sent you a message, thanks!
Picasso Posted February 14 Posted February 14 hi the oe no. for your battery is 2880028021 and im sorry to say they are £350 even if you put no. into ebay yours does not have the heat sensor my advice do not put a cheap battery on as the hybrid needs the good oe battery. have replied to your private message.
shoney Posted February 16 Posted February 16 I have seen some for 150 on ebay specifically for the hybrid Is it safe to recharge a 12v if flat
PaulE Posted February 16 Posted February 16 I have brought both my 12v batteries back from the dead on several occasions (I ended up with 2x batteries as I thought the Panasonic had died so replaced it with the Yuasa due to not using the van for a few weeks over Xmas/ New Years). I have a Noco Genius 5 charger set to AGM and I charged the delinquent batteries for 6 hours each day over 5 days and the voltage was restored. Both batteries still work well but do discharge in 3 days if I don't give the van a good drive especially in winter. The Noco does have a restore function which I think works automatically if needed. The Panasonic S55D23R is now 3 yrs old and the Yuasa S55D23R 2 years, neither have a temp sensor (series 2 and above I think). If buying a new one check the positive post is on the left (for Hybrid) as you can get identical looking batteries, same model. no. with the posts reversed. Also the supplier may insist the vent pipe should be on the left (positive side) but in my experience this doesn't matter as I have one battery vented on the left -the other on the right.
Rojie Posted February 16 Posted February 16 I just want to reiterate the importance of what Paul has stated above. When buying a new battery it is essential you check the capacity and CCA. ALSO the size of the terminals, the polarity of the terminals, AND the location of the positive and negative terminals before purchase. It is even MORE important you check again before fitting the battery. Ignoring these essential checks can get very expensive. I also bought a new battery when the old one needed a really thorough charge. Am I disappointed ? Actually no, as I now always have a fully charged spare battery. ps. Gen 1 Alphies (probably not hybrids) like calcium batteries.
shoney Posted February 17 Posted February 17 (edited) Tbh I'm thinking of getting a normal engine one as the road tax difference not worth the worry even the price of the batteries softens any taxes And if the big one goes ouch! Mad idea that it carnt simply revert to an ice engine and complete a journey Edited February 17 by shoney
BigNev Posted February 17 Posted February 17 Hi guys, whilst I don't have a Hybrid, I'm interested in the differences on the "standard" Panasonic 12v battery, obviously a very special thing, to say current "Stop Start" types nowadays, does anyone know this? I'm possibly interested enough so that next time I'm passing my local battery specialists, Advanced Battery Supplies in Stockport, I'll probably pop in!
MangoCactus Posted February 17 Author Posted February 17 Looks like I'm going to have to fork out for the expensive battery then! Not the end of the world but mildly annoying. Thanks for checking @Picasso. My local Toyota Garage will be able to get me one within 2 weeks direct from Japan. My battery only gets to ~9v when fully charged with an external charger and drops to ~6v very quickly. It's definitely toast in my case. Its not that old (2020) But I know the Japanese owners before me didn't drive it that often. Aprox 5000km a year looking at the service history.
MangoCactus Posted February 17 Author Posted February 17 19 hours ago, shoney said: I have seen some for 150 on ebay specifically for the hybrid Is it safe to recharge a 12v if flat I've seen that one on ebay. It doesn't have a vent port on the left like my one so at least for the hybrid its no use. Forgot to ask on the previous post but if my battery is AGM will it say so on the battery? Want to make sure I use the right setting on my external battery charger.
Rojie Posted February 17 Posted February 17 5 hours ago, MangoCactus said: Looks like I'm going to have to fork out for the expensive battery then! Not the end of the world but mildly annoying. Thanks for checking @Picasso. My local Toyota Garage will be able to get me one within 2 weeks direct from Japan. My battery only gets to ~9v when fully charged with an external charger and drops to ~6v very quickly. It's definitely toast in my case. Its not that old (2020) But I know the Japanese owners before me didn't drive it that often. Aprox 5000km a year looking at the service history. Sounds like it is down by 2 cells.
PaulE Posted February 17 Posted February 17 The Panasonic battery doesn't say AGM on the label but I am advised it is by a specialist I have used- the Yuasa equivalent says it in the online spec. A standard 12v battery won't do the multiple stop starts and live very long (I know I had one).
Alphie Posted February 24 Posted February 24 I have 2003 hybrid (camper conversion) & have changed the 'ignition' battery twice in 5 years 1st with a cheap lead acid, now for the last year with a LiFepo4 & have had no problems. Remember, as has been said by others in threads on this topic - this battery on the hybrid does not do the engine cranking (this is done by the main hybrid battery) it merely supplies power to the computer(s). I don't have a battery temp sensor. Maybe it was removed or overridden by the importer/camper converter. My battery is mounted under the drivers seat which may not be the manufactures original location. To be clear I am not confusing this (ignition/vehicle) battery with the leisure battery.
Goz Posted February 24 Posted February 24 On 2/13/2025 at 4:15 PM, Picasso said: Hello may depending on the year the original battery has a heat sensor built in so you can not really put a normal battery in as the sensor is connected to the hybrid system the original battery's from Toyota are Panasonic and still are even if you by from Toyota pm me your reg no. or vin no. and i can confirm for you which is correct battery for you . As an aside with my mk2 I removed the paper (genuine panasonic battery too) and this "built in" thermometer was just hot glued to the top of the case under the label I really doubt it does as much as many people suggest 🤣
smurf Posted February 24 Posted February 24 3 hours ago, Alphie said: I have 2003 hybrid (camper conversion) & have changed the 'ignition' battery twice in 5 years 1st with a cheap lead acid, now for the last year with a LiFepo4 & have had no problems. Remember, as has been said by others in threads on this topic - this battery on the hybrid does not do the engine cranking (this is done by the main hybrid battery) it merely supplies power to the computer(s). I don't have a battery temp sensor. Maybe it was removed or overridden by the importer/camper converter. My battery is mounted under the drivers seat which may not be the manufactures original location. To be clear I am not confusing this (ignition/vehicle) battery with the leisure battery. No temperature sensor on the gen 1 hybrid 12V battery. The original location was at the rear of the centre console, but I suspect you have the same conversion as myself, and the centre console has been removed, the leisure battery is under the gearshift area, and the 12V battery is under the driver's seat. Did you have to put in a DC/DC charger for LiFEpo4 battery?
Alphie Posted February 24 Posted February 24 Yes, you're right that's where my batteries are too. No i haven't boosted the charge voltage & it seems to cope with 13.9, though i suspect it is not reaching full charge. I have also installed a solar panel so this also contributes & through a solar controller (they are both LiFepo's & manually linked most of the time).
MangoCactus Posted March 13 Author Posted March 13 So my battery arrived a few days ago. After fitting it car is healthy again. Just wanted to check is this an AGM battery? Want to make sure I use the right settings on my external battery charger if I have to charge it in the future.
PaulE Posted March 22 Posted March 22 In answer to the previous question I believe the Panasonic is Flood Fill or Enhanced Flood Fill. I have a Panasonic and a Yuasa (definite AGM) equivalent and I have charged both on the AGM setting without issue (by mistake I ended up with 2 batteries but change them about). HOWEVER, My Panasonic has died this week (3 years old) and the Yuasa is 2 years old so was looking for a replacement and thought I would have to bite the bullet for Around £350 (ouch) but thought I would call local Toyota for a price. I was taken aback when they said £139.34 inc. VAT. Thought it was a mistake but I gave them my Reg. No. Vin and the original part no. 2880028021 and they said it was correct and that Toyota parts don't supply OEM batteries and this part had superseded the original on the Toyota system. They wouldn't let me know the make or model so I took a punt at that price. What came was a Toyota branded battery D23R (neg on right) format battery 2880 AZC21. Fitted it and works fine, was 10mm wider than the others so is an exact fit in the battery box. Saved £200. Hope it lasts as well as the originals but at that price it might be worth changing it yearly. It is a sealed battery and there appears to be no vent hole. Not sure what type it is. Just an aside another member remarked about the vent pipe having to be on the left for the OEM battery. This according to Toyota EPC diagram is because there should be an extension pipe which possibly vents to the outside. I have never seen an extension pipe in my vehicle and was likely lost years ago. My Panasonic vented left and the Yuasa vented right without any obvious issues.
Michael Brown Posted March 31 Posted March 31 I have had the misfortune to have spent a week in Warwick Hospital. Coming back to Mothers House in Stratford upon Avon, my Alfie will not start. No lights on dash at all. Battery fitted by RAC less than 2 years ago. Will just charging it up fix the problem and willl it charge up ? tempted to phone RAC in the morning and ask them. Must be under some kind of warrenty
Rojie Posted March 31 Posted March 31 11 hours ago, Michael Brown said: I have had the misfortune to have spent a week in Warwick Hospital. Coming back to Mothers House in Stratford upon Avon, my Alfie will not start. No lights on dash at all. Battery fitted by RAC less than 2 years ago. Will just charging it up fix the problem and willl it charge up ? tempted to phone RAC in the morning and ask them. Must be under some kind of warranty Hello Michael, Please note, I am not a Hybrid owner. I doubt it is the battery, but if you are a member of the RAC and have the "At Home" service, why not ? Methinks it is more likely 'lack of use' coupled with possible parasitic drain, i.e. something left on. If you have a smart charger I would try that first.
Michael Brown Posted March 31 Posted March 31 Thanks Roger, a quick charge so RAC man could meter the battery and its not holding its charge. He announces battery is US. Off he goes to get another, a Varta I will check out the model No another day. As for the previous one which only lasted a year the RAC said they had no record on file to that I had had one convenient for them. The new one today cost £170. I will check bank statements to see how much and when I paid for the last one to remind them.
Rojie Posted April 1 Posted April 1 22 hours ago, Michael Brown said: Thanks Roger, a quick charge so RAC man could meter the battery and its not holding its charge. He announces battery is US. Off he goes to get another, a Varta I will check out the model No another day. As for the previous one which only lasted a year the RAC said they had no record on file to that I had had one convenient for them. The new one today cost £170. I will check bank statements to see how much and when I paid for the last one to remind them. And, of course, you will put your recent receipt somewhere safe in one of the glove boxes (I have two, I expect you do too.)
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