AHC Fluid level below min mark.

[venture318]

Hi, I am new to this forum and AHC (did quite a few reading here) , just bought 05 LX470 (80K Mile). ride seems ok. It is a nice SUV and I love it. This is my first cruiser.

I noticed that the AHC fluid level is about 3-4 notch below min mark. Follow the user manual to check AHC level, park & start the car, move it to low, the low light blinking for about 30 seconds and I can hear the pump is started. After low indicator is steady, I change it to normal, once normal is steady, turn off the engine check the fluid level in about 30 seconds. The fluid level is still 3-4 notch below the min mark.

After did quite a few reading about AHC here (getting nervous), I am going to do the height test and probably flush the AHC fluid (finger crossed). The car was maintained by dealer and there is no AHC service record.

We drive it gently. I am not sure what is the impact of driving with low AHC fluid and how long this situation has been. Does this means the AHC system gone bad? Also, I don't understand if previous owner had the car maintained/serviced by lexus dealer, and dealer did nothing about the low AHC fluid. I would think they at least will check AHC system and top the fluid.


Many Thanks.
Wade.

 

[Grundletaint]

They do inspect it on some of the scheduled services (30k, 45k, etc.) so it's possible they did check it but didn't need to do anything. See this link for maint. schedule: http://forum.tlcfaq.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=155&sid=8a9403171dcf2fb65e949fe4f11c0c59 (you'll need to create an account to view it or it may be in your glovebox).

You're close to the 90k mile service so you may benefit from going ahead with it or have them check it on the 85k.

 

[PADDO]

I wouldn't be overly concerned about the slightly low level, hopefully just means the last person to bleed the system was a little over zealous. Do your low to high test and count the incremental change, iirc you're looking for 11 plus grads. Do a fluid exchange and set the level correctly. Levels of dealer service and attention to detail vary, it's no surprise if the level was low and not corrected at the last service. Maybe the service manager suggested AHC maintenance and it was declined?

 

[venture318]

Grundletaint and PADDO. Thank a lot for your suggestion! I will do the test and ask dealer (state inspection due soon anyway).

This is a great forum.

 

[uHu]

Low fluid could mean that the fluid went somwhere it shouldn't. Either into the spheres because they lost their pressure; or there's a leak, e.g in a shock. Unless it is that someone bled air and forgot to fill it up.

 

[venture318]

That also makes sense. I understand this is 7 years old truck. Just hoping it will be not that bad. How can I check if there is leak in the shock? Probably just one shock gone bad instead of all four. Then there might be away to isolate / pinpoint the bad one.

Thanks.

 

[uHu]

A leak would easily be spotted. A wet shock, or a wet spot on the floor even.

But it might be the as paddo says: "the last person to bleed the system was a little over zealous.".

 

[trackmur]

Fill it to at least the Min level before you mess around with it any more.

 

[venture318]

Thanks for the advise. yeah, I was worry about the air could get in the system when I change it to high position. If the fluid was not enough. So will correct the fluid level first.

 

[matador454]

I also have AHC fluid below the MIN mark. Can I do the graduation test with it lower? Or do I need to fill it up first?

Basically want to check if it’s worth buying the fluid and flushing the system if it’s failing anyway. The ride seems fine, not harsh at all so I guess I’d be surprised if the system is bad.

Thanks! And sorry for the thread resurrection

 

[mtan]

I also have AHC fluid below the MIN mark. Can I do the graduation test with it lower? Or do I need to fill it up first?

Basically want to check if it’s worth buying the fluid and flushing the system if it’s failing anyway. The ride seems fine, not harsh at all so I guess I’d be surprised if the system is bad.

Thanks! And sorry for the thread resurrection

Im on the same situation. Can anyone help on this thanks!

 

[matador454]

Im on the same situation. Can anyone help on this thanks!

If it means anything, I just ended up doing the test while below MIN. Graduations checked out fine so I did the flush. My fluid level wasn’t dangerously low to start or anything though, just a few marks below MIN

 

[MongooseGA]

I'd buy a bottle of fluid and top the reservoir up, just to be safe, before doing your tests. If you're worried about spending the money to flush the fluid vs the system being bad, $20 is really cheap insurance to be sure you don't pull air into an actual functioning system and actually risk damaging it (or at the least, introducing more air to have to bleed out anyway).

Something else to consider is the level line you see may not be completely accurate, IE: it's stained the reservoir and the actual level is only seen when you hold a flashlight up to it.

 

[playdrv4me]

Does the dealership sell the fluid and keep it in stock?

 

[MongooseGA]

You can buy it in plastic quarts now, instead of the big cans. My dealer usually has a few around.

 

[shiretowndown]

i have some AHC fluid, but don’t know it’s age...does it “go bad”?

 

[uHu]

I've had mine for years, without going bad. Even some rust externally, on the seams of the can.