My LC 200 lifted and AHC problems

[Wotan]

Hi everyone. First of all please forgive my english. I' m the owner of a LC 200 MY 2014. I' ve lifted my car with 35 tyres, aftermarket shocks and Arctic Trucks fender flares from Iceland . My problem is that the car is an EU model , AHC equipped similar to LX 570. I' ve simply removed original oil suspensions plugging the corresponding tubes at the end of the shocks absorbers without touching the AHC system at all.

Not a very good idea.......for the first hundred kms I had no problems....but now the system (that is still working) makes klicking noises during the drive everityme the ahc sensors come into active. I tried everything :

1) Removed AHC sensor fuses = it works (no more noises) but warning signal on the computer dash
2) Locked the AHC sensors leverages in a fixed position = the system goes in confusion : flashing signals and makes still noises
3) Mailed SleeOffRoad = they say that for my AHC there is no way to override it.

I looked in your forum (which is the best in Land Cruiser modifications ) but I see that even here there is no solutions .......

Some days weeks ago surfing the Net.... Bingo !!!
Lexus 570 Arctic Trucks
Lexus Model Range

There are few articles in the net and all in Russian but with google translator I' ve seen that they have equipped an AHC LX 570 with 35 tyres raising 40mm the suspensions and reinforcing the rear brackets. I don' t understand if it means that they have changed suspensions like my car and overrided the AHC or they have simply rised the originals.
I mailed them ma still no answer......
What do you think about it ?

My LC in the pictures

 

[Tex68w]

Are those Baird wheels? Sorry I have nothing to add to your original question.

 

[Mixelplix]

Nice truck!

I have not read about a successful AHC delete. If there was one, I would expect it to hit ih8mud very quickly.

I didn't do a lot of reading about the arctic trucks, but 35" tires on an AHC truck can be achieved in a few ways. There is an AHC lift (which is described on this forum) which essentially requires a 10mm wrench, and some fiddling with the height sensors at each wheel. 40mm is obtainable with this method.

You can also extend the brackets which the hydraulic shocks attach to. Based on their comment about reinforcing, I suspect that's what they did. The rig on their website looks like it's running spacers.

 

[CJ3Flyer]

There’s a youtube vid that i have reposted. Some guy in the mideast did a great 200 build that included an AHC delete. The key was to remove left side trim (behind right side 3rd row seat mounting). Once in there you’ll find a suspension control module. Unplug it, disconnect the battery for some window if time, I think the video said 30 minutes. Leave the module unplugged, reconnect the battery and you’ll be good to go with no dash lights.

BTW- Gorgeous 200!

EDIT: Here it is... Any owner ever use their LX570 off road in bad conditions?

 

[hickuptruck]

Yep, unplug AHC ECU In rear quarter panel. I have personally seen with my own eyes a AHC delete on a 200 series in UK, but there is still the suspension message in the dash.

 

[Wotan]

Are those Baird wheels? Sorry I have nothing to add to your original question.

Yes they are. BRAID WHEELS mod. Winrace from Spain. 17x 8,5 with. Sorry but I don’ t remember the ET. They make the size you need also for 4 pieces and send them anywhere.
Not so expensive as you could think

Are those Baird wheels? Sorry I have nothing to add to your original question.

 

[Tex68w]

Yes they are. BRAID WHEELS mod. Winrace from Spain. 17x 8,5 with. Sorry but I don’ t remember the ET. They make the size you need also for 4 pieces and send them anywhere.
Not so expensive as you could think

Haha, thanks for catching the typo. I love their wheels, rally inspired designs.

The standard Winrace wheels are on par with the majority of the other popular wheels on the market but the Serie beadlocks I would like are pushing $900ea. Thanks for the reply!

 

[Wotan]

Thank you guys. I saw the video some time ago. I guess that the result of turning off the ECU (under rear panel) could be like removing the fuses of the sensors: the AHC does not work but the fault signals are still there. The LC 200 has not an easy killing flashing light but a computer alarm and a noisy warning whenever you start the engine. Very boring. :-(

 

[grinchy]

since you've removed the shocks, perhaps you could attach to the AHC hydraulic lines where the shock used to be pressure canisters. These could have fluid pumped in them and perhaps the system would then be happy again, as it could change 'height' and make 'adjustments' as normal. Of course the canisters are just reservoirs and do nothing.

This is similar to what some do magnetride suspensions on some cars to replace with regular coilovers. Or what some do to run TPMS sensors by putting them in a pressurized container and use regular valve stems in the actual tires.

 

[Wotan]

Great idea! I am afraid that this system requires a perfect size of the "liquid reserves"(too big or too small sad car) and would become something that, if not done with great skill, could break while driving OR. Unfortunately I don't think anyone can do it professionally where I live. You are very creative ... I will think about it. Thank you

 

[TeCKis300]

since you've removed the shocks, perhaps you could attach to the AHC hydraulic lines where the shock used to be pressure canisters. These could have fluid pumped in them and perhaps the system would then be happy again, as it could change 'height' and make 'adjustments' as normal. Of course the canisters are just reservoirs and do nothing.

This is similar to what some do magnetride suspensions on some cars to replace with regular coilovers. Or what some do to run TPMS sensors by putting them in a pressurized container and use regular valve stems in the actual tires.

It's an interesting idea. It would probably stop the hydraulic pump from clicking which is what I think is happening to the OP. Though I'm not sure it would address the CELs as the system is looking for it's feedback loop via the suspension position sensors.

To the OP, I would find the component making the clicking noise (if that's what's bothering you), and unplug it. Is it coming from the passenger rear where the AHC reservoir and pump are located?

The leading knowledge on this is probably the middle east market as I see a lot of pictures of LX/AHC examples with aftermarket suspensions.

Great looking rig btw!

 

[grinchy]

Can N mode + ‘Off’ be used as a permanent solution? I don’t remember if ‘Off’ is sticky thru on/off ignition cycles, but it would short circuit the need to height to change/be changed. So if one could use a pressure vessel to address the initial leveling, then go to ‘off’ maybe that stays light free.

Probably too simple. The other way is get a canbus programmer involved and create a feedback dongle that reports happy and level at all times.

 

[Wotan]

Can’ t be the pump clicking couse I removed it’s fuse and it doesn’ stop. The noise disappears just removing one ( or both) sensor fuse under the passenger glove box. Can’ t say exactly from where it’ s coming....it seems to me that it arrives alternately from everywhere ( depending from the road) and that’ s why I thought that could be the sensors or some damn connected devilry

 

[bacalis]

Hi Wotan,

Did you try what this guy from middle east is doing on the video and what was the response?
I have the same issue now with the same car and cannot find i way to fix it!

 

[grinchy]

A lot of clicking? Like the abs clicking you get in the off road mode from wheel spin or speed control?

 

[SHINER07]

Hi everyone. First of all please forgive my english. I' m the owner of a LC 200 MY 2014. I' ve lifted my car with 35 tyres, aftermarket shocks and Arctic Trucks fender flares from Iceland . My problem is that the car is an EU model , AHC equipped similar to LX 570. I' ve simply removed original oil suspensions plugging the corresponding tubes at the end of the shocks absorbers without touching the AHC system at all.

Not a very good idea.......for the first hundred kms I had no problems....but now the system (that is still working) makes klicking noises during the drive everityme the ahc sensors come into active. I tried everything :

1) Removed AHC sensor fuses = it works (no more noises) but warning signal on the computer dash
2) Locked the AHC sensors leverages in a fixed position = the system goes in confusion : flashing signals and makes still noises
3) Mailed SleeOffRoad = they say that for my AHC there is no way to override it.

I looked in your forum (which is the best in Land Cruiser modifications ) but I see that even here there is no solutions .......

Some days weeks ago surfing the Net.... Bingo !!!
Lexus 570 Arctic Trucks
Lexus Model Range

There are few articles in the net and all in Russian but with google translator I' ve seen that they have equipped an AHC LX 570 with 35 tyres raising 40mm the suspensions and reinforcing the rear brackets. I don' t understand if it means that they have changed suspensions like my car and overrided the AHC or they have simply rised the originals.
I mailed them ma still no answer......
What do you think about it ?

My LC in the pictures

View attachment 2064249

View attachment 2064250

View attachment 2064251

Any update??

 

[Wotan]

Well guys. I haven't solved the problem yet but I'm still working. Now the idea we want to follow is to keep the reinforced (and higher) springs , modifying the original Toyota shock absorber to be able to insert it instead of the aftermarket one. The only thing I can say (which I understand from the technician words) is that it must be extended to reach the level of the aftemarket one maintaining the current height . It's not really clear to me how it will be done. The new absorber will be inserted into my aftermarket springs and connected to the AHC system. It is not as simple as I write but the shock absorber company (ORAP) is doing this and they say it can be done. To the the end I would have higher springs and original ( but higher ) shock absorbers connected with the AHC circuit. I have abandoned all the ideas of modifying the electronics because I'm afraid to getting worse the situation. I'll let you know what happens when I will mount them.

 

[turbo8]

Hey Wotan,

Can you show me what your dashboard looks like, showing the warnings/errors?

It's not clear if you disconnected the AHC ECU or not.

Check out my thread and try the listed steps and see if that works or not.

Disabling the AHC and AVS systems, no warning lights.

I have deleted the whole AHC, AVS, and AFS(disabled) systems and been driving around since January 2020 without problems. Today I attempted the first steps into getting rid of the AHC/AVS systems, I think I was successful. I still need to do some more testing to make sure warning lights don't...

forum.ih8mud.com

Thanks

 

[Wotan]

Hi Turbo8. I didn't touch the ECU . I physically plugged the shock absorber tubes where they was connected with the AHC system tubes.
Then I changed the shock absorbers and didn't care what the AHC electronics did under the car,
thinking that if Toyota does right things , they are even better if you don' t ask them to work ! ))
Wrong thinking ! )
The car started to make noises coming from the AHC system (AHC circuit sealed and full oil level ) every slope of the road. It is a "clicking noise" that comes from below both right and left. At this point I started thinking how to stop the AHC electronics but if I remove the AHC fuse pump in the motor the noises are the same. Only if I remove the AHC sensors fuses ( passenger compartment ) the noise stops but the error warning flash appears in the dashboard with an alert sound. I never tried to disconnect the rear ECU and maybe the right solution but I want to ask you something : have you tried to push the speed (after the disconnections) over 60/70 kms / h ?) Also in that case it remains all inactive ?

 

[turbo8]

The vehicle should try to automatically raise itself around 12kph. I went up to 40kph, no warnings or noises.

As you can see the AHC mode is no longer displayed on the LCD.