DancesWith

I've bought a 2002 LX470 from the local Toyota stealer, which was just traded and wasn't on the yard. Their workshop had identified that the adjustable suspension wasn't working and diagnosed faulty front struts. Now they are saying it's the pump. Is it common for the pumps to fail? I've heard about the struts going.

Regards

Nigel in NZ

kwatt1

I don't know about the 2002, so I could be way off here, but there are no struts in a 2005 LX470. The thing that looks like a shock absorber is the hydraulic cylinder that controls the height and partially the ride. There are torsion bars which act as traditional springs, which also control the height and ride. The 2 work together with the accumulators to create the actual height and ride. The pump pressurizes the system to adjust for load and/or height.

Any pump can fail but I've only read 1 thread from someone that actually had one fail.

I'd question the stealer on the diagnosis. If the pump is failed, all 4 corners would be affected, not just the front. the fact they told you struts is concern9ing by itself. You did not mention if its a Lexus stealer - it matters.

The AHU fluid is special (and pink). There are LOTS of reports of people putting PS or brake fluid in the system thinking they are the same. If that happened - the system is junk. In short time the Accumulator membranes will rupture. There are 4 or 5 of those at about $500 each - easy to replace - expensive.

If you want to test it yourself, start the vehicle and raise it with the height adjust switch. Don't lower it because if the pump is failed, you will not be able to get it to normal height. You will see the light switch from N to H and blink. Can you hear the pump running (It's by the passenger side firewall)? If you can hear the pump running its unlikely the pump has failed. All 4 corners should go up, if not you either have a failed height sensor or a stuck valve.

The system is VERY easy to deal with from a mechanical perspective. If you lift of lower the vehicle the height sensors control how low and high the corners go. There is one sensor in the back and each front wheel has a sensor. Dumb design on the back btw. the sensors are known to rust and seize.

If you suspect contamination (and I would at this point) you will have to completely flush the system a minimum of 3 times. Very easy job but the AHU costs about $40/can and that's basically 3 cans. If the fluid looks new (light pink) someone already replaced it.

DancesWith

Brilliant! Thanks for the superb reply. I run a couple of motorcycle forums (TS Suzuki and overland travel). I'm often passing on specialist advice and understand how knowledge like this is gold.

Firstly the dealer is Toyota, but they have a partnership Lexus dealer next door. "Struts" was a word that the salesman who is keeping me in touch used.

I tested the ride height when I first looked at it, and it went down, but only very very slowly raised at the back and not at all in the front in the time I gave it.

The truck is in the dealers workshop, so I can't do any fiddling myself, but I'll certainly look at all you have said when I get my hands on it. At the very least, you've given me something to use to ask intelligent questions, making me the worst kind of customer.

Cheers bloke

Nigel in NZ

DancesWith

I just bought this workshop manual:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=747640490

Anyone used it? It's the only one I could find locally on line.

Now all I need to find is an owners manual. There's no manual with the car.

Cheers

Nigel in NZ

chingwodap

In the US, on the Lexus website, when you register your car, you can get a free owners manual from Lexus directly...at least that's how I got mine, but that was quite a few years ago.

kwatt1

The unit moves fairly slowly, so the back moving slowly would be normal. The fact it moves tells you the pump is working to some degree. The fact that the front is not moving tells you the pressure is not engaging the cylinder. Good luck

ranma21

iTrader: (2)

Worse come to worse just rip the ahc system out and replace with Landcruiser shocks and coil or better off with OME system. ( old man emu )