This happened to me and I eventually ended up drilling a hole in the shell and jamming a pry bar in. You’ll be puncturing the nitrogen membrane so drill slowly.
LX570 AHC Globe/Accumulator Replacement (30 Viewers)
- Thread starter NKP Garage
- Start date
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I used a 16” Knipex cobra pliers to get mine off because of the same thing.
TN LX570
SILVER Star
I'm glad you mentioned this. I have one globe that the bolt head broke clean off the globe. I've been hesitant to drill it because I wasn't sure with the nitrogen if something would go "boom" or what would happen.
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I'm glad you mentioned this. I have one globe that the bolt head broke clean off the globe. I've been hesitant to drill it because I wasn't sure with the nitrogen if something would go "boom" or what would happen.
View attachment 3074420
No boom in my case but it did hiss for a surprisingly long time.
- Thread starter
- #226
I don't remember if there is space to use a strap wrench or not. But if there is, you could try one around the accumulator: https://amzn.to/3cSwLyi
Well I was able to get that first one off with a bolt extractor. The next two were easy with a standard breaker bar. But on the 4th one (PR), i managed to round it out again. The bolt extractor was unsuccessful on this one for some reason. No luck yet.
I might have someone weld. a new bolt on to the end and give it another go.
I don't believe there is enough room for a strap wrench. That accumulator is tucked up high enough that its hard to get ahold of the sides with anything more than your hand.
I might have someone weld. a new bolt on to the end and give it another go.
I don't believe there is enough room for a strap wrench. That accumulator is tucked up high enough that its hard to get ahold of the sides with anything more than your hand.
- Thread starter
- #229
If you have an impact tool that really helps.
nwfl4runner
GOLD Star
You use run of the mill sockets? Not to be a tool elitist, but sometimes a good socket makes all the difference
Yeah, I like impact or 6 points for this. NOT 12 points. I rounded one and had to move to the impact socket.
Well, I got the project all wrapped up yesterday. Thanks again to all of you for providing the info to make this job possible. I definitely would not have been able to get through this if I didn't have this thread to follow.
I thought I'd go ahead and do my part by adding my experience in so it can help others in the future as well.
The toughest part of this project on my LX was removing 2 of the accumulators from the vehicle (Driver Front and Passenger Rear). I believe the issue with the Driver Front was me not accounting for the slight angle in which the accumulators are mounted. I went straight on and rounded the bolt using a 6 point socket and breaker bar. I ended up buying an extractor bolt (21mm) which was able to break that sucker loose.
The next two (Driver Rear and Passenger Front) were super easy to remove. Then on the last one (Passenger Rear), I again had issues removing it. This time I believe the accumulator was either torqued too tight or there may have been some rust holding it in. Whatever the case was, I couldn't get it to budge. Tried everything including a breaker bar, the extractor socket, and an impact gun. Eventually, I broke the bolt clean off of the accumulator. Talk about a moment of panic.
I called a mechanic friend and we ended up having to use a strap wrench on it which finally did the job. However, it was not possible to do this without removing the running board. There simply wasn't enough room to get any leverage or to get the strap around the fattest part of the accumulator. Removing the running board gave us the space needed, and also made it so much easier to bleed that side of the vehicle.
Here are some of the items I would make sure to have on hand if I were to do it again
I thought I'd go ahead and do my part by adding my experience in so it can help others in the future as well.
The toughest part of this project on my LX was removing 2 of the accumulators from the vehicle (Driver Front and Passenger Rear). I believe the issue with the Driver Front was me not accounting for the slight angle in which the accumulators are mounted. I went straight on and rounded the bolt using a 6 point socket and breaker bar. I ended up buying an extractor bolt (21mm) which was able to break that sucker loose.
The next two (Driver Rear and Passenger Front) were super easy to remove. Then on the last one (Passenger Rear), I again had issues removing it. This time I believe the accumulator was either torqued too tight or there may have been some rust holding it in. Whatever the case was, I couldn't get it to budge. Tried everything including a breaker bar, the extractor socket, and an impact gun. Eventually, I broke the bolt clean off of the accumulator. Talk about a moment of panic.
I called a mechanic friend and we ended up having to use a strap wrench on it which finally did the job. However, it was not possible to do this without removing the running board. There simply wasn't enough room to get any leverage or to get the strap around the fattest part of the accumulator. Removing the running board gave us the space needed, and also made it so much easier to bleed that side of the vehicle.
Here are some of the items I would make sure to have on hand if I were to do it again
- Harbor Freight Fluid Transfer Pump (as others have mentioned on this thread, this made adding the new AHC fluid to the reservoir much easier)
- Stubby 10mm spanner (for the rear bleeders) - Amazon product ASIN B0076HLA18
- 21mm extractor socket (in case the bolts get rounded)
- 21mm non-beveled 6-point socket (I believe these are called Chamferless. I was unable to find one myself but it likely would have prevented the bolts from being rounded)
Just as a follow up for all who may encounter similar situation as above, I did a bleed and refill starting with the 5th accumulator then the globes and used fresh fluid from a can. Greatly improved my ride quality, which confirmed that I had air in the lines. It could probably use even another bleed, but I'm happy with it now.
In the middle of replacing the globes now. I did bleed all the 5 accumulators and replaced the globes. Filled the pump while bleeding making sure to keep it full.
I hit the starter button, dash says N. Start it and dash goes to low with a warning light. I bleed all 4 corners a few times now, driver side has a little fluid while pass. side has zero fluid while bleeding. Can't get it to raise to normal and I don't hear the motor.
I hit the starter button, dash says N. Start it and dash goes to low with a warning light. I bleed all 4 corners a few times now, driver side has a little fluid while pass. side has zero fluid while bleeding. Can't get it to raise to normal and I don't hear the motor.
It may take many tries. Keep cycling the engine off and start while putting the AHC into N. The pump has a time-out protection if it doesn't see pressure within a short interval. So it'll take several times before it pushes enough new fluid into the system to build pressure.
Thanks TeCkis300. I've cycled the engine maybe 10 times. Bleed all 4 corners again, and added fluid. I'm not getting much through the rear pass. accumulator.
Edit: We got an N folks! biNgo!
Edit: We got an N folks! biNgo!
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Whew, that's a relief. Any particular thing you did?
I don't think I tried starting the engine while holding the switch in N as many times as I should have.
Thanks for the help.
Thanks for the help.
- Thread starter
- #239
Glad you got it working. Sometimes it takes a while. I helped a friend with his last year and had to leave it running for 5+ minutes before it settled where it should.
Thank you. I got some pointers from watching your vid. 
