Intro with questions...

[TX_TLC]

Recently our '94 FZJ80 developed a terminal illness. So while he waits on the donor list we had to get something new for our family hauler. Enter the hundy. Ok well close enough '99 LX470. I flew to Tulsa, OK last Monday and drove her home.

The good: 140k miles, except for the last two years she has been in Texas her whole life, rides and drives great, added room for the kids (over the 80), great price ($8k) and the body is 9 out of 10 everywhere expect...the ugly: goes hand in hand with the price. Seller has it sold for $11k was in his way to deliver and the left rear tire tread separated and trashed the body cladding on either side of the wheel well and various other things prior to him getting stopped on the side of the road. So I put new Mich. LTX S/M before leaving and Tulsa and didn't look back.

Now for a couple "bads": PO stated when they bought it they received one key. They lost it. Then they paid $300 (I have the invoice) to a local locksmith for three new keys. I have no idea how they were programmed (other than he flashed the ECU) because I now have three generic keys (non remote) that say Silca Italy on one side and TOY4OBT4 on the other. Two keys immediately turn the blinking transponder/security light off (so as I understand it from hours of reading, these two keys are recognized by the ECU as MASTER keys?) The third key looks identical but the light stays lite for a couple seconds after inserting the key, hence this is a Sub/valet key, BUT cut the same as the other two and will unlock/lock the glovebox. I'm not concerned about not having a true valet key, but we NEED keyless entry loading and unloading multiple little kids. From my reading and helping a friend "rebuild" his wife's GX key I would like to steer clear of the remote key combos. Also because I don't really need another key. So what I haven't found in my reading is this: Am I able to program a Camry, Taco, ES300, ect remote (separate remote fob) from 1999 to control the keyless entry duties of my Lx? I've purchased replacement remotes before for our Maxima and 80 series and you match the numbers on the back of the old remote when buying a new one. I don't have those numbers and the PO even told me their original key they lost wasn't a remote key either. Are they numbers the same for all '99's?

Second "bad" is the leather. It's rough or about average for its age. Thinking I might go the leatherique route and repair the cracks and re-dye. No upholstery shops in town touch car leather that I have found.

PO also did a HA install of a aftermarket headunit. Will be fixed shortly.

And finally the AHC, the PO claimed it worked. I haven't been able to find what I'm experiencing discussed anywhere. So, when I go to Low or High position, the truck moves, but then a short time (30 seconds or so) will revert back to Neutral. The adjustable shocks are for sure working. Driving down the road it is amazing how big of a difference you can feel between Sport and Comfort. I'm open to any and all feed back on this issue. I can see from reading that at its age it is moving past the AHC life expectancy for sure but it seems to be almost working. My wife even said after she parks she can hear/see it lower on occasion.

Finally some poser shots....

 

[uHu]

On the AHC:
I would get TechStream (or other code reader) and check the Height Sensor levels and Neutral Pressure. That's the key to assessing the status of the AHC system.

The pressure is probably much too high because of weakening coil springs and torsion bars. The behavoiur you describe can also come from differing height level signals from the two front sensors. The system will not work if the two signals are not within a certain bracket in relation to each other.

It's normal that it adjusts the height slightly when stopping.

 

[Junglejack]

Hello,
Congrats. Your LX is almost identical to mine. As for the AHC, at least when set to High, it reverts back to Neutral once you exceed I think 17 MPH. Or something around that speed. Could it be possible that the cutoff speed is exceeded? I am not positive about the Low setting as I only use it when hand washing the beast and go back to N right after.

I believe Slee offers an AHC Override that allows you to keep it in High at all speeds.
Cheers,
Jack

 

[codertimt]

And finally the AHC, the PO claimed it worked. I haven't been able to find what I'm experiencing discussed anywhere. So, when I go to Low or High position, the truck moves, but then a short time (30 seconds or so) will revert back to Neutral. The adjustable shocks are for sure working. Driving down the road it is amazing how big of a difference you can feel between Sport and Comfort. I'm open to any and all feed back on this issue. I can see from reading that at its age it is moving past the AHC life expectancy for sure but it seems to be almost working. My wife even said after she parks she can hear/see it lower on occasion.

Finally some poser shots....

So, just for clarification, are you saying that sitting still the AHC will revert back to N from L or H? H to N is obviously a common issue if overloaded or neutral pressure is way out of spec, but L to N generally isn't something that you see...so definitely not normal behavior, but let's make sure the basics are covered before digging to deep. Does the indicator turn solid for the L or H mode you are switching too or does it just blink for a awhile and then go back to N? Are all of your doors closed? That's the one that got me at first...doors must be closed for it to transition.

I second the Techstream recommendation(search for $35 techstream cable). If you're planning on keeping the system and maintaining it yourself it's really a necessity.

 

[TX_TLC]

So, just for clarification, are you saying that sitting still the AHC will revert back to N from L or H? H to N is obviously a common issue if overloaded or neutral pressure is way out of spec, but L to N generally isn't something that you see...so definitely not normal behavior, but let's make sure the basics are covered before digging to deep. Does the indicator turn solid for the L or H mode you are switching too or does it just blink for a awhile and then go back to N? Are all of your doors closed? That's the one that got me at first...doors must be closed for it to transition.

I second the Techstream recommendation(search for $35 techstream cable). If you're planning on keeping the system and maintaining it yourself it's really a necessity.

Yes sitting still it will revert back to N from H or L. I will read up on the tech stream cable. Thanks for the heads up there. I believe that I do get a solid light eventually in the L or H. Doors closed yes.


Thanks for the help. I will try to cycle it again next time I drive it and pay better attention to what it does.


So no one knows about using another vehicles key fob?? How about do all '99's have the same numbers on the remote keys?? If anyone still has an original that hasn't bit the dust.