Ongoing AHC Problems

[Raj]

rear pipe

Agree Brett mine broke at that joint and all AHC fluid leaked from there.

 

[Jon Mac]

Agree Brett mine broke at that joint and all AHC fluid leaked from there.

eek. Where does one procure a replacement from if required or is it repairable?

 

[Raj]

available for the 200

Changing to standard shocks was one option to me as well. I don’t remember the place but there is one and someone from the UK got it done on the 200. I parked that idea for now but it’s one option we have

 

[Jon Mac]

Changing to standard shocks was one option to me as well. I don’t remember the place but there is one and someone from the UK got it done on the 200. I parked that idea for now but it’s one option we have

I spoke with West Coast a while back and I think they mentioned Iron Man do a suspension kit that supersedes the AHC, but as long as it's repairable I would prefer to retain the AHC system.

 

[Raj]

repairable

Back then it was repaired by the used car dealer I purchased the car from. Don’t know how he did but it’s repairable. After this repair my confidence on Landcruiser increased. It didn’t stop me in limp mode or some crazy stuff. I drove from wales to Reading with that light on, without any suspension. It was fixed and fine now.

 

[Jon Mac]

Yes had similar experience today across North Wales. It's now parked until going to the workshop.

 

[Brett]

eek. Where does one procure a replacement from if required or is it repairable?

You can buy all of the AHC pipes from Toyota. I understand there are 2 that are prone to rust out, part no.s 48999-60010 and 48998-60010. My mechanic who repaired my height sensors had to replace the one Raj had repaired on his own 200, he said it would be very difficult to replace in one piece and most people cut it and put a union in. He actually made his own pipe out of copper brake line and it's been fine for 2 years.

 

[Jon Mac]

You can buy all of the AHC pipes from Toyota. I understand there are 2 that are prone to rust out, part no.s 48999-60010 and 48998-60010. My mechanic who repaired my height sensors had to replace the one Raj had repaired on his own 200, he said it would be very difficult to replace in one piece and most people cut it and put a union in. He actually made his own pipe out of copper brake line and it's been fine for 2 years.

Really helpful thanks.

 

[karl2000]

with 200 I am scared of garages. I too went to a garage with all the printouts from manual but they said they have to call a nut doctor as bleeding screws look rusted and so on. Finally thanks to Jon, he showed me how to open bleeding screws so I did all the AHC bleeding and fluid flush without The Nut Doctor.
If the mechanic is genuine, it’s a blessing.

Wots a nut doctor? Lol

 

[Tractionman]

Not to be confused with the one down the clinic !

 

[Gav missin]

Wots a nut doctor? Lol

I'm guessing a gynacolagist for geezers........

 

[Raj]

gynacolagist

I guessed it would go this way. This is some crazy title they came up with. The specialist who removes rusted nuts and bolts. Don’t know howmany garages have these specialists.
All I did was applied some baking powder+vinegar paste and after that spray some WD40. The bleeders worked perfect

 

[Gav missin]

Whooooaa whatever floats your boat Raj. Ain't putting vinegar paste anywhere near my old nuts mate......

I did guess what you meant I was just too childish to let it pass without any schoolboy humor.

 

[Jon Mac]

Brief update on the 200. AHC fluid flush done but rear end down and system was showing LHR sensor fault, so part ordered and replaced, now the rear left levelling but not rear right which is also coming up as a sensor fault now so had to order that part too. A rather expensive month with the 200, but hopefully that'll be it sorted.

 

[Brett]

Brief update on the 200. AHC fluid flush done but rear end down and system was showing LHR sensor fault, so part ordered and replaced, now the rear left levelling but not rear right which is also coming up as a sensor fault now so had to order that part too. A rather expensive month with the 200, but hopefully that'll be it sorted.

That's exactly what I had to do on mine, ended up replacing both sensors.

 

[Jon Mac]

D

That's exactly what I had to do on mine, ended up replacing both sensors.

Did you notice much improvement in ride and / or handling after these were replaced? I'm not sure exactly how the system works in terms of whether it's either working or not, or whether its a gradually worsening until a point where it's given up and no longer working

 

[uHu]

D

Did you notice much improvement in ride and / or handling after these were replaced? I'm not sure exactly how the system works in terms of whether it's either working or not, or whether its a gradually worsening until a point where it's given up and no longer working

Depends on the maintenance. Since this is a hybrid suspension system with regular springs in addition to the hydropneumatic AHC, the load is shared between the two. As the steel springs weaken over time, the AHC will be forced to take more and more of the load, which will affect suspension comfort and loading capacity. That's a reason to keep an eye on the ahc pressures and to change the springs in time.
Another issue is the height sensors, which will fail after a few years, and that definitely affects the suspension.
Third wear part issue is the globes, the actual gas springs, aka accumulators, which will weaken over time, several years. Also depending on how much extra load they have to carry because of weakened coil springs.

Disclaimer: I'm a 100-series man, but the AHC is similar, only improved and refined on the 200.

 

[Jon Mac]

Depends on the maintenance. Since this is a hybrid suspension system with regular springs in addition to the hydropneumatic AHC, the load is shared between the two. As the steel springs weaken over time, the AHC will be forced to take more and more of the load, which will affect suspension comfort and loading capacity. That's a reason to keep an eye on the ahc pressures and to change the springs in time.
Another issue is the height sensors, which will fail after a few years, and that definitely affects the suspension.
Third wear part issue is the globes, the actual gas springs, aka accumulators, which will weaken over time, several years. Also depending on how much extra load they have to carry because of weakened coil springs.

Disclaimer: I'm a 100-series man, but the AHC is similar, only improved and refined on the 200.

That's helpful thanks. The vehicle is 2010 with FTSH but no record of any susension related work in My Toyota, so I'll make a plan to replace springs, and be prepared for potential inevitable accumulator replacement at some point. I'm doing servicing at Toyota to keep up main dealer history, and all other work at a local independent with an enthusiastic mechanic, so will create an annual list of recurring jobs such as carbon clean and will add the AHC system check onto it. John

 

[Brett]

D

Did you notice much improvement in ride and / or handling after these were replaced? I'm not sure exactly how the system works in terms of whether it's either working or not, or whether its a gradually worsening until a point where it's given up and no longer working

Yes, massive difference. I think mine probably was not functioning correctly from when I purchased it until the failure. Before I never noticed any difference in ride when changing settings on the suspension dial e.g. off, comfort, sport, now I very clearly notice a difference and ride is much much more comfortable.

 

[Jon Mac]

Yes, massive difference. I think mine probably was not functioning correctly from when I purchased it until the failure. Before I never noticed any difference in ride when changing settings on the suspension dial e.g. off, comfort, sport, now I very clearly notice a difference and ride is much much more comfortable.

Good news. I'm out of country until end of next week, looking forward to getting back and test driving.