Need your help. LX470 at dealer with odd issue....

[gijoebruin]

I got a call from my wife yesterday telling me that our 2006 LX470 seems to be having trouble. She drove the LX to the market with no issue, shopped and got back in. She said:

'I put the LX in reverse, hit the gas, and it felt like I was going up a curb. I got out and looked to see if I ran over something and nothing was there. I got back in and drove out of the parking spot in reverse, placed it in drive , and the car drove sluggish as if I had a flat tire. I got out and noticed the front passenger side height lower than the drivers side front, and the drivers side rear higher than the passengers side rear. When I turned the wheel to get back into a parking spot and hit the gas, the car didn't want to move and made a skidding sound'

I drove and met my wife at the market. The car was not sitting evenly. The front end was dipped and the rear raised. I got in and no lights were on in the dash. Using the AHC, I lowered the LX and the L went solid. I got out and the LX was still uneven. I did the same with High and back to N with the same results. I placed the LX in reverse and let go of the brake, and it wouldn't move unless I applied gas. It didn't want to turn unless I applied gas and it seemed like it was hesitating.

I checked the AHC fluid and it was a half inch above the MAX. The dealer had recently flushed it. I had it towed to the dealer.

I just hit 100,000 and I had the extended warranty. At 96,000 the dealer did a major service and replaced the right rear shock ( apparently it was leaking), some other warranty items, flushed the AHC, replaced the timing belt and water pump.

I got a call just now and the dealer said "good news". According to them, they hooked it up to the computer and the code that was thrown was for the rear differential. They said someone must of placed it in gear. This makes no sense because it was driving fine for my wife before going to the market and ever since we owned the car new. She never played around with 4 wheel drive. I asked how that could effect the height problem and he said he had no clue, but would ask the tech and call me back tomorrow.

Any thoughts?

 

[Grundletaint]

Your diff was locked. Happened to my wife. Turns out the indicator light was out and we got it replaced. Make sure your light works because that button is super easy to bump with a knee

 

[spressomon]

I got a call from my wife yesterday telling me that our 2006 LX470 seems to be having trouble. She drove the LX to the market with no issue, shopped and got back in. She said:


I got a call just now and the dealer said "good news". According to them, they hooked it up to the computer and the code that was thrown was for the rear differential. They said someone must of placed it in gear. This makes no sense because it was driving fine for my wife before going to the market and ever since we owned the car new. She never played around with 4 wheel drive. I asked how that could effect the height problem and he said he had no clue, but would ask the tech and call me back tomorrow.

Any thoughts?

You have a stock looking '06 with a locking rear diff? Unless you installed ARB locker(s)...I don't think so.

 

[2003lx470]

I had the same issue on my 2003 LX 470. I had to replaced 2 front accumulators.

 

[2003lx470]

Here are the pictures I took before taking it to dealer.

 

[gijoebruin]

Thanks for the post. My LX is stock.

Do you think them flushing the AHC fluid could have caused an issue with the accumulators? I just got a call back and they again said it was the rear diff with no clue why the AHC was effected.

 

[2000UZJ]

Thanks for the post. My LX is stock.

Do you think them flushing the AHC fluid could have caused an issue with the accumulators? I just got a call back and they again said it was the rear diff with no clue why the AHC was effected.

The rear differential on a stock LX470 is open. I am not quite sure why that would affect the height control. Ask them what the differential is doing...

My only thought is the center diff was locked and somehow made the rear AHC go into "high" mode. Have you disconnected the battery and let it sit overnight? If the center differential is locked, it can bind the drive train and cause the rear end to lift in instances. It will also make the truck feel like the parking brake is on if you try to drive on pavement. The LX has a extra high mode when in low range and center diff locked, try shifting into low range and locking/unlocking the center diff. It may just be a glitch in the system and it's not catching itself. Cycle through all the modes in high range, low range, diff locked/unlocked and disconnect the battery.

 

[Grundletaint]

Thanks for the post. My LX is stock.

Do you think them flushing the AHC fluid could have caused an issue with the accumulators? I just got a call back and they again said it was the rear diff with no clue why the AHC was effected.

Mine did the same in that the rear end was way up and the front was low, specifically driver side when parked. There was a big lean to the front left. It ceased to do it once the center diff was unlocked again and sits at normal height.

It wasn't nearly as bad as the pics of the white one above.

 

[Wilsil]

Are you sure about the extra high mode?
How does it go to that height?
I have had it in heigh, low gear and CDL locked but no extra height.

 

[Jim_Chow]

My guess, too, is that the center diff button accidentally got pushed, usually by one's knee. One time when I got the car back from the dealer, the guy who drives the cars out had bumped the button...diff lock was on.

 

[uHu]

Sounds like normal behaviour when the center diff is locked and driving on a surface with good friction. Could be that there is nothing wrong, only that the button was pressed. Try it out.

 

[APKhaos]

^ +1 What you describe can be caused by 'Oops, center diff lock was unknowingly knee-selected'

 

[yuji]

^ +1 What you describe can be caused by 'Oops, center diff lock was unknowingly knee-selected'

Kinda scary how easy it must be for somebody to drive with that on for many many miles.

 

[super90]

^ +1 What you describe can be caused by 'Oops, center diff lock was unknowingly knee-selected'

My better half that on the LX and immediately called knowing something wasn't right. We figured it out but it took a bit of effort over the phone to figure out.

 

[2003lx470]

Sooooo....do you have an update?