- Thread starter
- #21
UPDATE...
First off hats off to this group to get back to me with a bunch of options/theories so quickly. Great community!
Summary - I caved.... I am going to change out the height control pump for a new one at the Lexus dealer... So I am taking this one on the chin.
1) At first I started to drive the car home, with the long shot hope to try to wait for the pump to slowly do its thing and refill the globes. You guys gave me hope that patience at home may refill the system. However, with the car on the bump stops, the car was borderline undrivable. Worse than driving in normal L mode. Furthermore, any 90 degree turn created a ton of tire rub against the body. I didn't want to risk any further damage for my 30 mile drive home.
2) The master tech took the extra steps to get back on the car to troubleshoot, opening all the values to try to force fluid into the globes; activating the pump with the fill tube open. He came out numerous times to keep me posted and even walked me back to the car multiple times. I really think he gave it his all, and I am just doubtful I would do any better at home. If I made it home, I would likely be left with the only option to floor jack the car up and bleed the system further. But I assessed my odds at an extreme long shot to get anything re-pressurized.
3) The parts department wouldn't budge on the MSRP price $3300 - yikes. So the tech and service advisory were super cool for me to order from Toyota for $1200 cheaper.
4) Labor will be 5 hours. 3 hours to remove and re-install the pump. 1.5 to 2 to purge and refill the system.
5) The Mrs is getting impatient with me and just wants her truck back...
So I'm leaving the car there for a least a week while we wait for the part and the long weekend to pass. At least I have a nice "loaner" car in a brand new RX500h.
Morale of the story...
Not sure if I'll ever do a bleed again with the 5th accumulator. I'll just stick to bleeding the globes.
I requested to get the old part back, as I want to inspect and test to see if there is fluid residue clogging the internal strainers or if the motor truly burnt out and not pumping. I realized that I misspoke earlier in the thread. While I bought 2 new cans of 2.5qt fluid, I started with a left over quart of AHC fluid (unopened) from my last fluid exchange in 2021.. Could I have a bad batch? No idea - but I didn't have any issues with the other 4 quarts I used for the last exchange in 2021.. I still have the bottle which presumable has the lot number on it.
At this point, I still can't figure out what I did wrong to end at this point. The last time couple times I did this AHC change on my truck(s), I never bothered with the accumulator, just the globes. According to the master tech, they only do the globes and never bother with the 5th accumulator as it isn't mentioned in the 200 series FSM procedures. That will be my costly lesson. Hate to go straight to the parts cannon, but fingers crossed.
First off hats off to this group to get back to me with a bunch of options/theories so quickly. Great community!
Summary - I caved.... I am going to change out the height control pump for a new one at the Lexus dealer... So I am taking this one on the chin.
1) At first I started to drive the car home, with the long shot hope to try to wait for the pump to slowly do its thing and refill the globes. You guys gave me hope that patience at home may refill the system. However, with the car on the bump stops, the car was borderline undrivable. Worse than driving in normal L mode. Furthermore, any 90 degree turn created a ton of tire rub against the body. I didn't want to risk any further damage for my 30 mile drive home.
2) The master tech took the extra steps to get back on the car to troubleshoot, opening all the values to try to force fluid into the globes; activating the pump with the fill tube open. He came out numerous times to keep me posted and even walked me back to the car multiple times. I really think he gave it his all, and I am just doubtful I would do any better at home. If I made it home, I would likely be left with the only option to floor jack the car up and bleed the system further. But I assessed my odds at an extreme long shot to get anything re-pressurized.
3) The parts department wouldn't budge on the MSRP price $3300 - yikes. So the tech and service advisory were super cool for me to order from Toyota for $1200 cheaper.
4) Labor will be 5 hours. 3 hours to remove and re-install the pump. 1.5 to 2 to purge and refill the system.
5) The Mrs is getting impatient with me and just wants her truck back...
So I'm leaving the car there for a least a week while we wait for the part and the long weekend to pass. At least I have a nice "loaner" car in a brand new RX500h.
Morale of the story...
Not sure if I'll ever do a bleed again with the 5th accumulator. I'll just stick to bleeding the globes.
I requested to get the old part back, as I want to inspect and test to see if there is fluid residue clogging the internal strainers or if the motor truly burnt out and not pumping. I realized that I misspoke earlier in the thread. While I bought 2 new cans of 2.5qt fluid, I started with a left over quart of AHC fluid (unopened) from my last fluid exchange in 2021.. Could I have a bad batch? No idea - but I didn't have any issues with the other 4 quarts I used for the last exchange in 2021.. I still have the bottle which presumable has the lot number on it.
At this point, I still can't figure out what I did wrong to end at this point. The last time couple times I did this AHC change on my truck(s), I never bothered with the accumulator, just the globes. According to the master tech, they only do the globes and never bother with the 5th accumulator as it isn't mentioned in the 200 series FSM procedures. That will be my costly lesson. Hate to go straight to the parts cannon, but fingers crossed.
