I just got a 1994 Lexus LS400 and amhaving trouble with the battery and am trying to find out if I need to replace it or not. I don't have a meter or a charger and don't want to buy one just to find out I need to buy a battery anyway. Here is the deal...

I had the care shippedup from Florida to DC in early Decemeber. It ran fine for a few weeks but then I went away for the holidays and work and it sat for a month in the cold. I tried to start it after a month and heard a clicking sound but it did not turn over. I assumed it was the battery and although I should have jumped it right there I waited a week to do it. This time with the car hooked up to my other car, it would not start and no noise. I let it charge for about five minutes and tried again with no success.

Question is - if the battery is drained am I ultimately going to need a new battery so might as well buy one now? Do batteries come back to life from this? Should I try hooking it up to my other car and letting it charge longer and trying again? How else can I fid out if the battery is "dead-dead" or just needs a charge? It did sit for month in really cold weather so that might be the issue.

A new battery is about $70. You have no meters and no way to test the old battery. Even if you could jump start the old battery, you can't charge a dead battery from your alternator. Well, let me rephrase that--you can, but you also run a good chance of frying the alternator. They're not built to bring a battery back from the dead.

Bottom line here is buy a new battery. You've already spent more time and energy on this than a new battery costs in the first place.

Just get that "piece of mind" feeling and sleep better at night by just going and get a new battery.
However, Toyota starters give you a "heads up" that they need changing when you know you have proper current going to it and all they do is give a single click.
Your starter in the LS is buried under the intake. I hope for your sake the battery is all it is. Welcome to the new ownership of Lexus!

Install a new battery.

$0.02

We rely on our cars many times every day.
If you want your car to be there for you when you need it, you have to accept the fact that it's a machine and it has needs, too.

So do it right. Buy a fresh, new battery. Clean the battery tray and hold-down. Carefully clean and inspect both battery cable ends. Don't overtighten the ends when reinstalling them.

Now, research an inexpensive hand-held digital volt meter. RadioShack has them starting at under $20.00
With the engine running at idle, you should have about 13-15 volts (definetly more than 12.6) at the battery. This is a good way to test: the alternator, cables and battery to verify they are all good.
If you didn't get the correct reading on your meter, have someone check the entire system.
Cool way to keep your car functioning, OK?

Next, go buy a tire pressure gauge and learn how to use it.