AHC blunder at dealer

[BlizzardLC]

Took my new to me 2006 LC for its 60k service at a local toyota dealer. Everyone here probably knows the run down on what all they inspect/replace and do so I won't go through all of it.
Trying my best to get the truck baselined, I was happy to see Replace AHC fluid in the line items before I turned the keys over along with reading over the estimate.

Fast forward one month later- I started poking around under the hood looking at the fluids the service tech recommended me replacing during the 60k service (power steering, brake fluid)
I looked at the AHC reservoir noticed it looked dirty, popped the cap off and looked inside.

I expected to see a nice red color and what i saw I can only describe as a Nearly clear fluid.
After work I went back to that same dealer who did the service, asked the manager why they didn't replace fluid-- He looked at the original line item list and said "that's strange, it's a bulk fluid" and asked a tech at another counter. Manager comes back tells me that they use brake fluid for the suspension fluid. I couldn't believe my ears but I looked at him straight in the face and told him he's wrong.
What would you do now???

 

[Supra88]

Do a search, I believe this happened to someone else on the site. I think the dealer ended up replacing quite a bit of the damaged hardware. Others can correct me if I'm wrong but I think you've compromised the system by putting brake fluid in there.

 

[BlizzardLC]

System seems to be working ok, I can raise and lower suspension, ride has not been as smooth. But how could I justify to a dealer that they just messed up big time?

 

[Weeniewheeler]

System seems to be working ok, I can raise and lower suspension, ride has not been as smooth. But how could I justify to a dealer that they just messed up big time?

I have never met anyone who is as particular about AHC fluid as these guys Lexus LX 470 suspension system.
Keith Bowers there will tell you exactly why you can't do what they did, which, I'll bet, is because it will eat away the seals of the globes. Talk to Keith and give him the story. In an email to me, he specifically mentions that brake fluid will ruin the system.

 

[PADDO]

An 06 with 60k should be fantastic, not just OK. If the dealer did in fact changeout the fluid with brake fluid your AHC system Is dead, just doesn't know it yet. I'd recommend you take samples in the presence of the dealership rep, give one sample to them and keep the other sample for independent analysis if necessary. Put it to the dealer that they have ruined your system and what are they going to do to make it good. Get corporate involved if necessary.

 

[BlizzardLC]

His solution was "hey we'll schedule you in for service to get it right, just give me the day"
I still am unsure of what they put in there, it's almost clear

 

[hoser]

Brake fluid will deteriorate the membranes in the 4 accumulators over time. If brake fluid was safe to use, then Toyota would've used it from the start.
I would ask the dealership to replace the 4 accumulators and flush the system... and possibly extend the warranty past the traditional 1 year. I believe it to be difficult to remove the entire system of contaminants on a flush.

At one time, AHC fluid was almost clear, similar in color to brake fluid. I imagine they changed the color to avoid this problem. Your situation is not the first time this has happened.

 

[Supra88]

Don't let them just change the fluid.

 

[blatant]

Wow. No idea but i would think...out with the "old" (new to you) in with the "new" new (correct sh it), isn't going to change the fact it was contaminated...right? Really sorry to hear this man.

Involve the rep and call the recommended dude above, send him a care package if necessary...

 

[Wilsil]

My AHC fluid is clear, like water.

 

[BlizzardLC]

I was under the assumption new AHC fluid is pinkish/red?

 

[PADDO]

AHC fluid is a pale pink, rose color - definitely not clear, straw or red like transmission fluid. As hoser mentioned it was a light straw a few years ago but the product I've purchased has been rose pink for four or five years now.

 

[hankinid]

Brake fluid will deteriorate the membranes in the 4 accumulators over time. If brake fluid was safe to use, then Toyota would've used it from the start.
I would ask the dealership to replace the 4 accumulators and flush the system... and possibly extend the warranty past the traditional 1 year. I believe it to be difficult to remove the entire system of contaminants on a flush.

At one time, AHC fluid was almost clear, similar in color to brake fluid. I imagine they changed the color to avoid this problem. Your situation is not the first time this has happened.

I just drew a small sample from a can into a horse syringe...It has the faintest rose color, but it's not perfectly clear like brake fluid...just like the picture PADDO posted.

I would ask the dealer to replace all 4 globes and the accumulator...I'd probably ask for a new pump at the same time. While everything is out, all lines need to be flushed with new AHC fluid. Your issue may not be fixed with just the 1+ cans used for a standard drain-and-refill service.

Your dealer's "service" department screwed the pooch big-time.

 

[hoser]

Agreed... rose is more accurate than red.

 

[LostAfrican]

Isn't the AHC reservoir cap labeled very clearly to use only AHC fluid? Pretty sure mine was. Even with exclamation marks and everything! I would recommend a series of TechStreem assisted flushes, and THEN replace accumulators, reservoir and the shocks! I think its very hard to get brake fluid completely removed. I would also suggest they contact their regional expert and get some input on how to handle this. I am sure its happened before.

 

[nahtnoj]

I would be furious. I would demand the entire system be replaced, and that the work be supervised by technical personnel from Toyota corporate.

 

[itank]

I think toy techs are not very familiar with ahc to get it serviced take it to a lexus dealer.

 

[uHu]

This dealer screwed up big time, for sure.

It takes a long time for the new fluid to work it's way down to the globes/accumulators, as there is no circulation in the system - it goes only back and forth. But, the brake fluid is in there, and will eventually dissolve the membranes in the globes, if not removed completely before it reaches there. According to my experience, the brake fluid does not affect any other parts of the system.

In order to get all of the wrong fluid out, it is not sufficient to flush with new fluid, no matter how many times you do it. The shocks, globes and the cylindrical accumulator have to come off and be cleaned separately.
The globes have to be drained and flushed, but the safest is to change them.
The cylindrical accumulator need the same treatment as the globes.
The shocks have to be taken off completely, drained, and flushed by pumping new clean fluid in and out a few times. This is because any brake fluid here would end up in the globes.
The rest of the system is more "streamlined" and should be ok with a couple of flushes, but be positive that each of the four cornes get a full flush each time.


My background is that in 2001, I bought a new LC100 European specs (which i found i Sweden), and had it shipped to the middle east, where i worked at the time. Around there, there were no dealers who had ever seen or touched the AHC system. I observed that level in the ahc reservoir was a bit low, and asked a dealer near my home town in Norway where to get the right fluid. He said that they just used brake fluid, as it is nearly the same, so I filled in a bit of brake fluid..... More than one year later, after quitting my 10 year international assignment, and shipping the cruiser home to Norway, I realized that something was wrong with the suspension (by then I had recently refilled the reservoir several times, not understanding that it was because of the membranes failing) . The nearest dealer didn't really understand the ahc, and neither did I. After a bit of back and forth, and changing the front shocks (!) on warranty, I realized that I had to find out how this system worked. That's when my ahc career started. I ended up with changing the four globes (2nd hand), and flushing everything, including taking off the shocks. Everything worked since, and those globes are still in working condition.

 

[SWUtah]

I would have the dealer remove your AHC system and replace with the regular shocks and springs. Would not trust them to do a complete overhaul of the AHC system. I had mine removed and replaced with OME 2 1/2" lift love it.

 

[TeCKis300]

^That might be a good way for a typical truck, but what kills me is that this is an '06 w/ only 60k miles! Really hope the OP and dealer can come to a reasonable deal that doesn't result in any loss of value of the vehicle.

BTW, I wouldn't count on just any Lexus dealer having anymore knowledge about AHC. They're clueless for the most part. I remember ordering AHC fluid at the parts counter, and the guy didn't have a clue. Insisted they don't service shocks and only replace (uh???). Then he dragged me back to their senior tech who was just as dumbfounded. I stood my ground and said just order this fluid part number for me please. He had nothing to say when I picked up real AHC fluid!

It's just that these cars were produced in such small numbers with AHC issues and services being so few and far between, they're just never exposed to the system.