LX470 2006 AHC has sprung a leak... Advice/Help

[gold99xx]

Hello, today I found a puddle under my passenger rear door, in the mid-line area of the door. I reversed the car to see the puddle and smell ( it was on a dirt driveway ). Sure enough, when I looked under the running car, it was dripping clear fluid ( ATF ). I checked the AHC reservoir under the hood, and it was empty. The puddle was also ATF. My buddy runs the Toyota dealership in Kingston, NY, and I called him after hours. He recommended doing a proper deletion of the AHC. He said even doing the lines is super expensive. It's a clean 2006 with 155K I have owned it for 15 years. Any thoughts or advice on this? Do I fix the AHC (Ulster County, upstate NY ). Do I do the full delete? If so, any advice on this and does anybody know any shop or mechanic they would recommend near Kingston NY ( Toyota won't do this ) ? Its my daily driver, so I need to repair it relatively soon. Thank you, and also any links to this delete job would be helpful.
Thank you to all who help.

 

[Rhetoric]

 

[Zuberg]

Depends on how bad the corrosion is. I'm going to assume pretty bad given your location. The rear lines aren't terrible to replace. I'm sure it'll be expensive if you go the toyota dealer route. If just the rear lines are bad, it's cheaper to just replace those and do a AHC fluid flush than buying and installing a whole new suspension. If all the lines are corroded and it's on original globes with no AHC fluid flushes, maybe the new suspension kit is the right move?

Most shops are gonna recommend AHC deletion because it's an easy fix from their perspective. And most shops (Toyota dealers included) don't have proper training in AHC repair and maintenance.

Without photos and information about overall AHC system condition/corrosion and maintenance history can't make a good recommendation.

 

[gold99xx]

Depends on how bad the corrosion is. I'm going to assume pretty bad given your location. The rear lines aren't terrible to replace. I'm sure it'll be expensive if you go the toyota dealer route. If just the rear lines are bad, it's cheaper to just replace those and do a AHC fluid flush than buying and installing a whole new suspension. If all the lines are corroded and it's on original globes with no AHC fluid flushes, maybe the new suspension kit is the right move?

Most shops are gonna recommend AHC deletion because it's an easy fix from their perspective. And most shops (Toyota dealers included) don't have proper training in AHC repair and maintenance.

Without photos and information about overall AHC system condition/corrosion and maintenance history can't make a good recommendation.

Hello, thanks for the response. Since I have owned the car ( i checked its 10-11 years ) I have never touched the AHC, I did cycle it probably a half a dozen times, but not in the last 5 years. I kept it in Sport mode and in the middle height setting and NEVER touched it. I dont off road at all, mostly highway and dirt roads, and driveways. What else do you need to know? I have a 02 tacoma I work on myslef , but dont really understand the AHC? I have had it upstate NY for the last 6 years ( garaged indoors prior to and minimal winter use ), and it's my main winter driver with snow tires. Thoughts? Also everything is original as far as I can tell , when i got it in mid 2010s it was a single owner , garage kept in brooklyn. I dont think anything with the AHC has been changed.

 

[gold99xx]

View attachment 4110849

Anything else you care to add? I enjoy the picture, but some advice would also be helpful.

 

[Rhetoric]

Investigate the rust situation and go from there. Like was already stated: if the rust situation is causing the issue, repairs can start to add up. But even “deleting” and replacing the suspension with the correct components can be costly.

 

[gold99xx]

Investigate the rust situation and go from there. Like was already stated: if the rust situation is causing the issue, repairs can start to add up. But even “deleting” and replacing the suspension with the correct components can be costly.

Thanks. I will look under the truck tomorrow.

 

[SWCruiser]

I drive by Kingston almost every weekend. The winters in/around NY can be rough on a cruiser. Mine spent its first 10 years in AZ so the rust situation isnt quite that bad. Ive put on around 180K in the area and mine is still decent underneath. The AHC lines look fine. Ive only had to replace the gas tank skid so far and wrenching on the suspension has been ok. With your mileage id think your rust situation wouldnt be that bad. if thats the case Id recommend saving the AHC. i have around 320K on mine now and the AHC rides great. Its only needed new globes, sensors and rear aprings thus far. I have no intention to delete mine and would probably spend more to keep it than the cost of a non ahc suspension.

Ive found dealerships ill equiped to work on the AHC and frankly dont seem interested in dealing with it if possible. The quotes from dealerships from other members seems to be inline with my experience. Absurdly high quotes. If you dont intend on learning the system and wrenching a little on your own you may be better moving to a conventional suspension.

If you can diagnose the issue i would think any competent shop could do the repair. plenty of resources on mud to walk through the process of replacing fluid.

 

[x8o8drifter]

Read the ABC's of AHC and learn the system.
All the info is on here if you look for it.

99% of dealerships say remove it cause like was said they don't wanna do it right and deleting it is cheaper/easier.

Also, that is not ATF.
Do not put ATF in the AHC reservoir. Its AHC/suspension fluid.
AHC 1L fluid bottles (08886-81221). They also made a 2.5L metal can (08886-01805)

 

[gold99xx]

I drive by Kingston almost every weekend. The winters in/around NY can be rough on a cruiser. Mine spent its first 10 years in AZ so the rust situation isnt quite that bad. Ive put on around 180K in the area and mine is still decent underneath. The AHC lines look fine. Ive only had to replace the gas tank skid so far and wrenching on the suspension has been ok. With your mileage id think your rust situation wouldnt be that bad. if thats the case Id recommend saving the AHC. i have around 320K on mine now and the AHC rides great. Its only needed new globes, sensors and rear aprings thus far. I have no intention to delete mine and would probably spend more to keep it than the cost of a non ahc suspension.

Ive found dealerships ill equiped to work on the AHC and frankly dont seem interested in dealing with it if possible. The quotes from dealerships from other members seems to be inline with my experience. Absurdly high quotes. If you dont intend on learning the system and wrenching a little on your own you may be better moving to a conventional suspension.

If you can diagnose the issue i would think any competent shop could do the repair. plenty of resources on mud to walk through the process of replacing fluid.

Thanks for the reply. Are there any shops or mechanics that come to mind in the area? I find that most shops are not easy to educate, and it's a battle. I have an independent general mechanic who has worked on my Lexus, but nothing like this. I could probably get him to do the job AND follow detailed directions, but it would be his first AHC job or delete Job? The only thing that concerns me is that the truck is 20 years old and has 150K mileage, and some rust. If I replace the line, am I just kicking the can..Should I bite the bullet and do a delete and have the car for at least 5 more years?

 

[gold99xx]

Read the ABC's of AHC and learn the system.
All the info is on here if you look for it.

99% of dealerships say remove it cause like was said they don't wanna do it right and deleting it is cheaper/easier.

Also, that is not ATF.
Do not put ATF in the AHC reservoir. Its AHC/suspension fluid.
AHC 1L fluid bottles (08886-81221). They also made a 2.5L metal can (08886-01805)

Thanks , and yes, NO ATF fluid. LOL, would you try and keep or delete ?

 

[Rhetoric]

Thanks , and yes, NO ATF fluid. LOL, would you try and keep or delete ?

The keep or delete decision is up to you.

If you have a mechanic that has the patience to inspect and replace parts, as well as learn some AHC basics, you have a good chance of keeping it going.

But again, you need to give the system a thorough inspection for rust.

 

[SWCruiser]

The AHC is fairly robust. if new lines are installed i imagine that it could last 5 years just fine. mine has a lot more miles than yours and it rides great.

 

[uHu]

Hello, thanks for the response. Since I have owned the car ( i checked its 10-11 years ) I have never touched the AHC,

Here's the problem. You have to check pressures and sensors every two years. As the steel springs weaken over time, you'll have to adjust the front springs from time to time, and change the rears every few years (5 or more).
As I see it, it's faster and cheaper to learn the AHC than to change to a conventional suspension. And you keep the great ride, although with your lack of maintenance you probably have had a reduced performance for a few years.

 

[x8o8drifter]

Here's the problem. You have to check pressures and sensors every two years. As the steel springs weaken over time, you'll have to adjust the front springs from time to time, and change the rears every few years (5 or more).
As I see it, it's faster and cheaper to learn the AHC than to change to a conventional suspension. And you keep the great ride, although with your lack of maintenance you probably have had a reduced performance for a few years.

And for clarificaton for those who don't know.
Torsion Bars = Front Springs.

 

[baltistyle]

Stating again, for the best advice, share some pics of your undercarriage, and ahc lines.

 

[suprarx7nut]

Post a pic of your undercarriage. I'm all about saving AHC, but NY is hostile to steel cars. I'd probably just delete it living in your area, tbh. I suspect you'll be chasing leaks indefinitely as there are a lot of line segments throughout the system.

 

[gold99xx]

Stating again, for the best advice, share some pics of your undercarriage, and ahc lines.

I can't get under it as it's all the way down... I don't have jacks, so it needs to go on a lift, this week hopefully. Then I can post pics, but assume some rust, NOT a ton. The car was garage-kept and never winter-driven until 2020. thanks for the reply.

 

[gold99xx]

Post a pic of your undercarriage. I'm all about saving AHC, but NY is hostile to steel cars. I'd probably just delete it living in your area, tbh. I suspect you'll be chasing leaks indefinitely as there are a lot of line segments throughout the system.

I can post some pics when I get it on a lift, the AHC is empty, so the car is below LOW. So i cant crawl under, and don't have Jack's. I am curious why you say save over delete? I am mostly Highway and local driving with a lot of road trips, Zero offroading, and some minimal carriage roads and dirt roads/driveways. I'm concerned that at 20 years, it's a time bomb. Plus, all the mechanics within a reasonable distance ( 90 min away or closer ) bascially have zero understanding of AHC or delete. So I am trying to guide a local master mechanic who has never done this work, but is actually an honest guy. Not sure im not better off deleting ? I would love your opinion either way. The truck was garage-kept with basically no winter driving until 2019-2020. So figure 6 or so years of upstate roads... So rust, but NOT a rust bucket. mostly surface. Thanks for your reply

 

[suprarx7nut]

I can post some pics when I get it on a lift, the AHC is empty, so the car is below LOW. So i cant crawl under, and don't have Jack's. I am curious why you say save over delete? I am mostly Highway and local driving with a lot of road trips, Zero offroading, and some minimal carriage roads and dirt roads/driveways. I'm concerned that at 20 years, it's a time bomb. Plus, all the mechanics within a reasonable distance ( 90 min away or closer ) bascially have zero understanding of AHC or delete. So I am trying to guide a local master mechanic who has never done this work, but is actually an honest guy. Not sure im not better off deleting ? I would love your opinion either way. The truck was garage-kept with basically no winter driving until 2019-2020. So figure 6 or so years of upstate roads... So rust, but NOT a rust bucket. mostly surface. Thanks for your reply

To clarify, in your case - based on nothing more than your location and guessing at the condition under the car - I would delete it.

AHC is wonderful if it works. When lines start rusting, you better have an expert on standby. Upstate NY is brutal on cars. 2 years there will rust a 100 more than 20 years in California, IMO. If you've spent 6 years up there with that car, it might as well be a 60+ year old car. Yes, you can overcome it, but I wouldn't fight a losing battle like that.