LX570 AHC “Basics” - Added as sticky thread for AHC Issues

[Madtiger]

No it won’t. There, we’ve balanced out hyperbole

A quick forum search will tell us the truth...you know it...I know it...we all know it.

 

[nwfl4runner]

A quick forum search will tell us the truth...you know it...I know it...we all know it.

You're nothing if not consistent in your disdain for the LX suspension, which really doesn't seem to add much in a thread for those that have it.

 

[BigSwede]

A quick forum search will tell us the truth...you know it...I know it...we all know it.

So why did you buy an LX?

 

[Madtiger]

So why did you buy an LX?

Never did. My brother had one.

 

[milesc3]

Never did. My brother had one.

 

[Bunga]

I for one think Toyota is hot garbage on its parts and frame paint. And its passion for bare metal. But you have to at least attempt wash to off the undercarriage. I hit it with Corrosionx and it looks new. The 200 suspension is absolutely fantastic for a number of reasons. Adjustable for height and firmness to do both highway and offroading well. And very easy to work on. Compare that to an aftermarket suspension which I have on another truck and my track car. Those do one thing well, and that is it. They also need a lot of maintenance. Rebuilding shocks is always a pain and the busing and bearing aren't very long lived in my experience...

 

[bobm]

look at my pics 130 gs that's ****ed. Exhaust is stainless why is'nt this simple bolts and brackets

 

[jetlagged]

According to the paper work and the service manager, the CPO comes with what’s in the service manual for the next 4 services for free. Here is the page for the service I’m considering having them do:

View attachment 4041231

Informing them that we tow should then trigger the diffs, T-case, and tranny, this is according to the service manager from the selling dealership. I would make sure this is the case before going to the servicing dealership. I’ve done all this myself on our cruiser but I have not done a AHC before. However, it doesn’t look difficult. All that to say that the cost of the fluids is what’s temping me. This would wipe out my entire stock of fluids so I’m visiting dealership regardless.

How difficult would the AHC service be with a LRA?

Just to add some data points. In my experience about 80% of dealer service advisors have zero clue that ahc fluid replacement is part of the default recommended 60k/6 year service (it is, if the terms of your purchase cover the scheduled service items, they should do it).

In the substantially sized city I live in there is one dealer (two but same ownership), and not only were they shocked when I asked about it, they said they weren’t quite sure how to do it.

I do have the ability to do it myself, but Im going to be honest, when it was due, my time was worth too much to me.

I ended up shopping around until I found a service center that seemed very comfortable with it. Unlike most dealer service center they were also willing to do the transmission fluid drain and refill (in the manual under heavy use, but many dealers will say it can’t be done). I was reassured to see a few lxes getting service there when I arrived. They got it all done, at a cost, but smoothly and with no issues.

My local independent Toyota Lexus mechanic also refused to touch the ahc, though he now does the rest of my maintenance at a much better cost than the dealer. Not planning to go back until the next ahc fluid change is needed.

 

[Artie]

Just to add some data points. In my experience about 80% of dealer service advisors have zero clue that ahc fluid replacement is part of the default recommended 60k/6 year service (it is, if the terms of your purchase cover the scheduled service items, they should do it).

In the substantially sized city I live in there is one dealer (two but same ownership), and not only were they shocked when I asked about it, they said they weren’t quite sure how to do it.

I do have the ability to do it myself, but Im going to be honest, when it was due, my time was worth too much to me.

I ended up shopping around until I found a service center that seemed very comfortable with it. Unlike most dealer service center they were also willing to do the transmission fluid drain and refill (in the manual under heavy use, but many dealers will say it can’t be done). I was reassured to see a few lxes getting service there when I arrived. They got it all done, at a cost, but smoothly and with no issues.

My local independent Toyota Lexus mechanic also refused to touch the ahc, though he now does the rest of my maintenance at a much better cost than the dealer. Not planning to go back until the next ahc fluid change is needed.

Thanks for the feedback. I definitely plan on asking about each individual service before committing and making sure they use OEM Toyota fluids. If I can’t find a suitable reputable dealership then I’ll do it myself. My time is valuable as well but I actually enjoy turning the wrenches so I don’t mind the time commitment; chores like cutting the grass are beneath me and I happily pay for those types of services.

The terms of purchase do cover the next 4 scheduled maintenance and all items in those maintenances, it’s clearly laid out so there shouldn’t be a problem. Worst case I can go to the dealer I bought it from but they are a couple hours away, it would be annoying so that option may lead me to doing it myself. However, I’m just north of Atlanta and there are several dealership options, some with good reputations and some mud recs that I would trust.

 

[BigSwede]

Thanks for the feedback. I definitely plan on asking about each individual service before committing and making sure they use OEM Toyota fluids. If I can’t find a suitable reputable dealership then I’ll do it myself. My time is valuable as well but I actually enjoy turning the wrenches so I don’t mind the time commitment; chores like cutting the grass are beneath me and I happily pay for those types of services.

The terms of purchase do cover the next 4 scheduled maintenance and all items in those maintenances, it’s clearly laid out so there shouldn’t be a problem. Worst case I can go to the dealer I bought it from but they are a couple hours away, it would be annoying so that option may lead me to doing it myself. However, I’m just north of Atlanta and there are several dealership options, some with good reputations and some mud recs that I would trust.

Oddly enough, my local dealer (not the one I purchased from) changed the spark plugs and brake fluid at 60k service under the CPO maintenance plan, even though the maintenance schedule doesn't call for it. I didn't feel like arguing, since it doesn't cost me anything. And, as I mentioned in this thread before, when I asked about the AHC fluid which IS on the maintenance schedule, they advised against it, claiming it causes more problems than it cures. So... YMMV.

 

[Bunga]

Oddly enough, my local dealer (not the one I purchased from) changed the spark plugs and brake fluid at 60k service under the CPO maintenance plan, even though the maintenance schedule doesn't call for it. I didn't feel like arguing, since it doesn't cost me anything. And, as I mentioned in this thread before, when I asked about the AHC fluid which IS on the maintenance schedule, they advised against it, claiming it causes more problems than it cures. So... YMMV.

BIG LOLZ, EASY TO DO AND NO DOWNSIDES

 

[slipkid13]

Oddly enough, my local dealer (not the one I purchased from) changed the spark plugs and brake fluid at 60k service under the CPO maintenance plan, even though the maintenance schedule doesn't call for it. I didn't feel like arguing, since it doesn't cost me anything. And, as I mentioned in this thread before, when I asked about the AHC fluid which IS on the maintenance schedule, they advised against it, claiming it causes more problems than it cures. So... YMMV.

Spark plugs are 100 K or 120K and brake fluid is by moisture level not mileage. but that's fine. Changing the plugs at 60K is odd, they are not even looking at the maint. guide. Sounds like the only issues changing the AHC fluid is they don't know how do it, (or tried it before and messed something up badly that cost them $$$) which is fine they should just tell you that and recommend a shop that can perform it. It's same as flushing/bleeding brakes, just takes longer and filling/checking the tank is a PIA. I've had my dealer here do it in Colorado with a line replacement, no issues.

 

[rherrco]

Spark plugs are 100 K or 120K and brake fluid is by moisture level not mileage. but that's fine. Changing the plugs at 60K is odd, the are not even looking at the maint. guide. Sounds like the only issues changing the AHC fluid is they don't know how do it, (or tried it before and messed something up badly that cost them $$$) which is fine they should just tell you that and recommend a shop that can perform it. It's same as flushing/bleeding brakes, just takes longer and filling/checking the tank is a PIA. I've had my dealer here do it in Colorado with a line replacement, no issues.

And after he did the AHC could you feel the difference between the firmness settings? My ride settings do nothing noticeable, even after replacing gloves and fluids. I’m thinking maybe I didn’t bleed the system properly? My trusted repair guy out here says everything is okay, but I don’t agree
Do any mudders here have better braking on AT tires, or noticeable firmness adjustments when they selecta different comfort setting? TIA.

 

[Bunga]

And after he did the AHC could you feel the difference between the firmness settings? My ride settings do nothing noticeable, even after replacing gloves and fluids. I’m thinking maybe I didn’t bleed the system properly? My trusted repair guy out here says everything is okay, but I don’t agree
Do any mudders here have better braking on AT tires, or noticeable firmness adjustments when they selecta different comfort setting? TIA.

There are dramatic differences between the settings. It could be air or likely one of the other accumulators needs to be bled? Bad switch? Do you have height control? Have you pulled the codes?

 

[rherrco]

And after he did the AHC could you feel the difference between the firmness settings? My ride settings do nothing noticeable, even after replacing gloves and fluids. I’m thinking maybe I didn’t bleed the system properly? My trusted repair guy out here says everything is okay, but I don’t agree
Do any mudders here have better braking on AT tires, or noticeable firmness adjustments when they selecta different comfort setting? TIA.

There are dramatic differences between the settings. It could be air or likely one of the other accumulators needs to be bled? Bad switch? Do you have height control? Have you pulled the codes?

AHC Works, switch is good. Have not pulled codes. Took it to a good independent Toyota shop, they could not find anything amiss. It didn’t work before or after I replaced globes and fluids. Bled system a couple of times. If I take it to a dealer, they’ll probably want to put a new system in. That’s not going to happen.

 

[BigSwede]

Sounds like the only issues changing the AHC fluid is they don't know how do it, (or tried it before and messed something up badly that cost them $$$) which is fine they should just tell you that and recommend a shop that can perform it. It's same as flushing/bleeding brakes, just takes longer and filling/checking the tank is a PIA. I've had my dealer here do it in Colorado with a line replacement, no issues.

I'm going to do it myself. I have the unicorn juice in hand, just waiting for warmer weather.

 

[JST]

My 200 has been parked up for a few months and AHC worked perfectly prior to this. Over time, the front has sagged slightly (maybe a couple of inches).
Upon re-commissioning, the front has not lifted back up to normal height and I get no response from the up/down switch - no noise, no display on dash. I have no codes stored when scanning for DTCs.
Any clues or hard reset procedure? I can’t think of any faults which wouldn’t throw an error up!

 

[nwfl4runner]

My 200 has been parked up for a few months and AHC worked perfectly prior to this. Over time, the front has sagged slightly (maybe a couple of inches).
Upon re-commissioning, the front has not lifted back up to normal height and I get no response from the up/down switch - no noise, no display on dash. I have no codes stored when scanning for DTCs.
Any clues or hard reset procedure? I can’t think of any faults which wouldn’t throw an error up!

Any change if you hit the AHC off button?

 

[slipkid13]

There are dramatic differences between the settings. It could be air or likely one of the other accumulators needs to be bled? Bad switch? Do you have height control? Have you pulled the codes?

I would not describe the AVS setting differences as dramatic. You can feel the difference on the highway and off road mostly. I bought my truck at 62K and did the fluid right when I got it so I never let the fluid get really old. I never thought AVS did much but I could feel the damping difference once I changed the accumulators, they were def due. I did bleed but there was not a lot of air in the system at all.

 

[bobm]

Just to add some data points. In my experience about 80% of dealer service advisors have zero clue that ahc fluid replacement is part of the default recommended 60k/6 year service (it is, if the terms of your purchase cover the scheduled service items, they should do it).

In the substantially sized city I live in there is one dealer (two but same ownership), and not only were they shocked when I asked about it, they said they weren’t quite sure how to do it.

I do have the ability to do it myself, but Im going to be honest, when it was due, my time was worth too much to me.

I ended up shopping around until I found a service center that seemed very comfortable with it. Unlike most dealer service center they were also willing to do the transmission fluid drain and refill (in the manual under heavy use, but many dealers will say it can’t be done). I was reassured to see a few lxes getting service there when I arrived. They got it all done, at a cost, but smoothly and with no issues.

My local independent Toyota Lexus mechanic also refused to touch the ahc, though he now does the rest of my maintenance at a much better cost than the dealer. Not planning to go back until the next ahc fluid change is needed.

I was told at Toyota dealer We dont do that here at 100,000 miles when it threw the code . Again and again they just cleared it it. At 130,000 they did state inspection which suspension is major part of SAFETY inspection and 15 days later it failed! Fluid all over driveway. There response was not leaking when inspected . They knew it was BAD. Take it to independant if ya want the TRUTH!!!!