99 LX470: Starting Over

[cek347]

Hi everyone. Great forum. I belong to a few, my automotive tastes go from VWs to diesel MBs to 4runners. While looking for another 4runner I saw a Land Cruiser which lead to LX470s. A bunch of research later and I looked at a 99 LC and this 99 LX470. The LC was beat to heck so the only option in my price range was this LX. It was close and the price was fair. Has 194k.

Here on the test drive:

AHC is not working correctly. Going to diagnose a little bit first before deciding what to do.

No maintenance history written down. Time to play catch up. I look at it as getting to know you time. Between Amazon and Conicelli Partznet, I have plenty to keep me busy.

On the way home from purchase I saw the temp rise a bit when sitting at stop lights. Went ahead with a radiator drain and fill, new Aisin fan clutch, radiator cap, and OEM thermostat. I'm going to do another drain and fill including block drains but I wanted to see if that fixed it. It did, solid in the upper 180s. I use a obd bluetooth connector and the torque app to view accurate temps.

While I had the intake off I cleaned the throttle body as best I could while still mounted.

That was before. The hose clamps are weird because I was getting ready to change the upper coolant hose.

Anyway, I'll post some more pics tomorrow. Great information during my searches here, my bookmark list is getting long.

 

[camino70]

Welcome!
I'd suggest looking through paddo's posts about ahc.

 

[OG 91 LC]

Great truck and color.

 

[flintknapper]

Smoky Topaz?

 

[cek347]

Smoky Topaz?

I'm new to Lexus colors but yes, it looks to be Smoky Topaz unless someone disputes it.

New hood struts yesterday. Went with StrongArm through Amazon. Says made in the USA. So easy to install, no more 2x4 to hold it up while I work.

 

[cek347]

Oh, and I took off the running boards! With catching up on the maintenance I had to do something looks wise. Much like 4runners, instantly makes it look like a truck. Sorry wife, sorry kids!

Before:

After:

My running boardless 4runner I just sold. Nice truck but I wanted a 3rd row.

 

[flintknapper]

Look on your door sticker. If you see color code 1C2, then your paint code is Smoky Topaz Mica. In case you need touch up paint. Watch for fading on the hood, that color and year model are known to have had problems. I have the same vehicle.

 

[cek347]

Look on your door sticker. If you see color code 1C2, then your paint code is Smoky Topaz Mica. In case you need touch up paint. Watch for fading on the hood, that color and year model are known to have had problems. I have the same vehicle.

Truck is at the shop getting its PA inspection done. I'll check the code when I get it back. It is having some paint problems. Pics look good but a close walk around show its problems. Rear hatch is the worst, just peeling clearcoat. I'm not concerned with its beauty yet. I want a solid runner. Plan on some family trips of various lengths. Probably from PA to Vermont this summer.

 

[cek347]

Yep, 1C2, Smoky Topaz. I have all the problems associated with it. Peeling clear coat, some fading along some panel edges. I'm not too concerned. I want a solid runner. If I can preserve what I have now that would be ideal. I'll do some search into that. The interior is very clean. Well protected with Weathertech mats over the course of its life.

I did a fill and bleed on the AHC today following the guide that someone posted. I have another thread going on with a little more detail on my AHC issues. Took a quick spin and it is less bouncy but I fear the globes are shot by the H/L mark counting test.

Did the Cabin filters. Followed the DIY on here to find them. Have to do a little digging. Lots of crap in the filters and the filter housing. I vacuumed out as much as I could and installed the new filters.

I may drain and fill again on the radiator. Just got my new radiator cap from the local dealer. Rock solid right in the middle of the gauge now. I may just let another drain and fill go until the timing belt/water pump job I want to get done. Lexus quoted me $1150 for both. That sounds reasonable for dealer job. If I had a large enough garage and a bigger air compressor I would like to give it a go myself..but I don't and I'm a chicken.

Torsion bar adjustment bolts are soaking with a second spray of PB blaster. Driver side is about an inch low. I want to get Techstream going to check the pressures but can't get it to connect when hooked up to the OBD.....frustrated. Still more trouble shooting. My friend has a copy of XP so I may get a virtual machine going on the laptop and see if that'll do it. Followed the 64bit instructions from a few sites. Everything looks good until I hook up to the car. More searching to figure it out.

 

[cek347]

Taking it to Toyota for TBelt and WP on Monday. Quoted about $875 from Toyota and about $1150 at Lexus. Extra savings will help me get some new tires. I have the Michelins right now but they are cracked and show signs of dry rot. Didn't check date but I wouldn't be surprised if they where 10 years old. PO only drove 6k miles in 6 years.

Knocked out a second drain and fill on the cooling system. Adjusted the Torsion bars so now I sit level. AHC operates correctly and it takes bumps nicely but still a little bouncy. Going to fill and bleed one more time. Ran out of fluid before I saw new stuff. Going to hold off on replacing globes or any suspension components for now. I hope to have techstream working this week to fully diagnose.

 

[pndavis4]

Taking it to Toyota for TBelt and WP on Monday. Quoted about $875 from Toyota and about $1150 at Lexus. Extra savings will help me get some new tires. I have the Michelins right now but they are cracked and show signs of dry rot. Didn't check date but I wouldn't be surprised if they where 10 years old. PO only drove 6k miles in 6 years.

Knocked out a second drain and fill on the cooling system. Adjusted the Torsion bars so now I sit level. AHC operates correctly and it takes bumps nicely but still a little bouncy. Going to fill and bleed one more time. Ran out of fluid before I saw new stuff. Going to hold off on replacing globes or any suspension components for now. I hope to have techstream working this week to fully diagnose.

I had my timing belt, water pump, tensioners and cam seals replaced at Toyota over the summer. was just over $1000.00 out the door. just fyi

 

[cek347]

TB and WP done. Just picked it up yesterday. Peace of mind is worth it. Truck didn't have much in the record book or the lexus website and I know the last owner hasn't done it in the last 6 years.

Since the suspension is ok for now I'm going to pick up some new tires to replace the cracking Michelins. Have about $1k to spend. Deciding between 285/75/16 and 265/75/16. Either BFG AT or Toyo AT. I will probably be doing a 1.5-2.5 lift at some point when I decide to remove the AHC so I'm leaning towards the 285's.

I'm doing it this weekend so I'll post pics when I get them on.

 

[mbennett22]

Subscribed, In the marked to buy a LC or LX470 and have heard that the AHC doesn't last so I would love to see some pictures of what you remove when you do.

 

[cek347]

Got the KO2s. 285s. More pics tomorrow.

 

[cobra2top]

Where did you find this one? I'm in the area and have been watching craigslist for a while. Hows the rust?

 

[cek347]

Where did you find this one? I'm in the area and have been watching craigslist for a while. Hows the rust?

Collegeville. This was listed as lx 470 instead of lx470. That space after the x made it show up all by itself in craigslist. It may have even been listed under Lehigh Valley Craigs. I use an app that searches a few areas at a time. A month ago I was looking to replace the 4runner I just sold. I didn't know a single thing about LCs or LXs. Now I'm spending a ton of time reading and searching here.

The rust is reasonable for here. I've been under it working and there is some but I've been able to turn bolts and bleeders without much trouble. If your from this area you may have heard of Buckmans Ski Shop. Apparently it was owned by the owner the first 10 years of its life.

Not much out there in this area but something always pops up.

 

[cek347]

For reference:

Lo

Normal

High

Just drained and bled the AHC again. After a week or so of driving the reservoir was not pink anymore. I pumped it out. Filled with fresh, then bled a can through. Finally was seeing mostly new pink from the bleaders. So far 2.5 cans of suspension fluid have been used. That's it for now. I'll see how it rides.

 

[cek347]

Haven't updated in a while. Took a long drive with the family (almost 3 hours each way) to Delaware for Thanksgiving. Truck ran awesome! Even with the ride as is, the truck is a great cruiser. Smooth power delivery, steering is solid, seats and seating position are great. Kids loved the space, my 8 year old loves her own zone in the 3rd row. For the little I drive it around town the suspension as is doesn't bother me. With future long trips though, I've decided to order new globes and will be installing them in a week or two. Right now I'm barely 4 marks difference when doing the test. I'm going to pick up another can of AHC fluid and do another flush with the new globe installs. Will report install and results once I get that done.

 

[flintknapper]

Haven't updated in a while. Took a long drive with the family (almost 3 hours each way) to Delaware for Thanksgiving. Truck ran awesome! Even with the ride as is, the truck is a great cruiser. Smooth power delivery, steering is solid, seats and seating position are great. Kids loved the space, my 8 year old loves her own zone in the 3rd row. For the little I drive it around town the suspension as is doesn't bother me. With future long trips though, I've decided to order new globes and will be installing them in a week or two. Right now I'm barely 4 marks difference when doing the test. I'm going to pick up another can of AHC fluid and do another flush with the new globe installs. Will report install and results once I get that done.

Will be watching for this. I have the same vehicle (color and all) and almost identical mileage. When I flushed the AHC system (twice over a period of time) the ride got significantly better....but I know it still needs work. I still need to get a techstream program, some new rear springs (no doubt it needs them), then see where we are.

But because of the amount of bubbles in my system when I did the first flush...I feel that the nitrogen (or whatever gas charge) in the globes has permeated the membrane in the globes.

I like the AHC system and unless something major fails..... I will be looking at replacing the globes, but I am thinking about using 'rear' rated globes on all four corners.

 

[RKTINC]

I really like this BFG tires. How is the road vibration/harshness with this aggressive tire?