The Toyota Landcruiser Owners Club

[realspeed]

There is a fault with Both Toyota and Lexus vehicles registered around Sept 2004.

The problem is on their ride height sensors on the air suspension. The original sensors casings as I understand it are weak and tend to split open causing damp to enter. this results in the car going either lop sided or the ride height cannot be altered and stays at the maximum height depending on which sensors go faulty.

I have had this not only on my Lexus but now have the same fault on my Landcruiser Amazon. Ok it is under warantee but I have found out through various sources that this is a very common fault, but Toyota won't do a recall, they at the moment are waiting for cars to come back from owners to be repaired.

Realspeed

[Google]

[RADIOTWO]

Hi Realspeed

I have an Amazon which was regestered Nov 2004, and also had a problem with the suspension, mine seemed to go rock hard, and very
bumpy (as if no springs) the car was sorted by the local dealer, but don't know what was done, I am taking the car in on Wednesday for another matter and will ask what was done.

The only other point, you say Air suspension I was under the impression it was oil (there is a container with oil in it under the bonnet)

[realspeed]

Radio maybe it is oil I just presumed it was air but you may be correct.

However With My lexus RX300SE-L which has the same sort of set up the dealership did go into details about faulty sensors. The lexus I had a sensor went on one side which made the car seem to be on a perminant hill so much so that it was impossible to drive. It was piggy back to the dealership.
That was fixed then another sensor went on the same car with the problem except I was driving perminently up hill so it went back again.

They then changed everything including connectors.
Also my clients who have Landcruisers have also had the same problem and the dealership when I took my car in had already had 9 cars in with the same problem just that week. So I can only wonder how many more are out there without people knowing. My wife actually saw another Amazon in a Tesco's car park on side, so she saw the owner and told him also. He wasn't aware of this particular fault either

If you take your to be done, may I suggest that you get them to change EVERY senser as a modification has been made as a replacement. this needs to be done before warantee runs out .

I have my Amazon (Sept 2004) booked in this Wednesday for this very problem, at the moment My suspension will not go down but is staying on the max height setting.
I shall insist they change every one, I have to say the dealership is very good about it or was last time, as it is Lexus/Toyota next to each other In Wolverhampton

hope this is of some help.

Realspeed

By the way Toyota don't want to admit there is a fault with these cars as I said before ,I suspect that they are afraid of bad publicity

[realspeed]

Just got this reply on the subject from the Automobile Association




Our technical helpdesk are aware that there have been problems but have no
specific details.

We wouldn't expect this sort of problem to be addressed through a safety
recall though but they may replace sensors when cars are in for routine
servicing if it continues to be a problem.

Official recalls are managed according to a code of practice administered by
VOSA and the decision to recall is based on a view of the number of vehicles
affected, the likelihood of failure and the risk to life if failure does
occur.

Chris Patience
Motoring Content Manager
TheAA.com

[realspeed]

I have taken the landcruiser Amazon back to the dealers and there is an internal recall list on the suspension sensors.
I spoke to their electrican who said that they have the authority to replace all 3 sensors which they are doing right now..

Realspeed

[realspeed]

For members information

The Toyota garage has had an internal memo about the above problems with suspension sensors. It seem that vehicles sold around or about Sept 2004 were fitted with faulty sensors, and any Amazon that comes within certain chassis numbers within that build period, should such a fault be reported by an owner, all sensors replaced under the guarantee period at Toyota cost.

Therefore I would suggest that any owner who has not had the modified done should approach their local Toyota garage.

My garage under this memo have replaced all sensors on the car as a matter of course.

Realspeed

[Nor]

1 Re postings above:
The suspension is combined, steel springs plus air (actually Nitrogen), where the suspension movement is transferred to the nitrogen chambers (spheres) via hydraulic oil. That's the oil container you see under your bonnet.

2 Faulty sensor:
I also had dampness in the rear sensor on my 2001 cruiser. Got a new one for free even though the guarantee period had expired.
Guess I should go back and ask for front sensors as well, if they have a recall list.
_________________
2004 HDJ100 AHC Auto 160'km, ex 2000 HDJ100, ex 1997 HZJ80GX Africa edition.

[geartron99]

just had all 3 changed @ no cost 2004 model (april)

[realspeed]

Geartron99

Glad you got yours done, makes my posting worth the effort if others benefit from it.

Realspeed

[dimensions]

Had sensors replaced last July after 18months of trying to get something done about bumpy ride, the sensors automatically changing height as you went along, etc. Local garage said we had water in the oil reservoir, which at the time I doubted as it is so hard to get the top off. Now they say the same again, having seen the site I now realise it is the sensors failing yet again. Toyota customer care is polite but not pro-actively helpful on the matter. What legal action might one take for what would seem to be a design fault, it does affect the car's balance and whilst the AA say it is not life threatening it is strange that a vehicle off balance can be considered totally safe???
Anyone successfully resolved this problem? Don't fancy having to go through this scenario every 8 months or so.

[realspeed]

I suspect they only replaced the faulty sensor first time round and not all of them, they tried that trick with me. Take the car back to the dealers and tell them to refer to the internal memo regarding this fault, which I understand dealers are requested to replace ALL the sensors not just the faulty one.

realspeed

[dimensions]

[Chris]

We have recently developed a problem with our 2002 Landcruiser V8 amazon VX where the rear suspension keeps going skyward, there is a total loss of ride quality, and the car becomes dangerous and unstable. Our dealer has checked the sensors and has been unable to find a fault coupled to this the self diagnosis system does not throw up a fault, and and even if we switch off the AHC the problem is still present. Does anyone know of someone who specialises in these cars.
Chris

[dimensions]

We have returned our Amazon to the service centre yet again. Not only are the sensors faulty, the supsension oil reservoir, they claim, has water in it, and also some things called accumulator chambers which believe have nitrogen in them are faulty as well. Of course, despite the fact that this vehicle is top of the range and low mileage, we are being told that it is our fault!!!
Jane :evil:

[amazonmark]

I have a 2004 54 Amazon since new - 2 sets of sensors have gone on it in 12 months.

The first time it took over a month to get the parts and after lots of chasing Toyota UK - the second time it was just over 3 weeks - again chasing Toyota UK

I would recommend anyone with the Air suspension that has them changed under warranty to ask Toyota for a 3 year warranty on them not the usual 12 months. The garage has each time replaced all the sensors as they say otherwise they tend to find that the other sensors go as well. Worst still the sensors are around £300 each fitted - and there are 3 which equates to nearly a grand to get them replaced if you have to pay for your own. I wonder if other manufacturers have the same problem with their air suspension systems. It will be a big negative to select Toyota next time especially as Toyota never have the parts in the UK or even in Europe and that legendary reliability is rubbish as in 12 months I have been without the car for 2 months! - Not a great advertisment for a car with a list price of £47k!

If the garage gives you any grief get from them the customer services number for Toyota UK and ring them up - they should open a case number, which means they can't close the case until its solved and it means you can keep hassling them and they have to record each call so when you write at the end you can point to how long the issue has been running. Complain like anything - this is not your fault - if the garage quible ask Toyota UK to send out an engineer and make sure that you state that you are aware that alot of Amazons/(100s) have suffered with this failure. Also report the garage to the local trading standards so they are knee deep in paper work and tell the local paper about the safety scandal that Toyota won't publically admit. If these sensors go the car can be dangerously unstable in normal road driving

I have to say my local garage has been fantastic with the dealer principal even lending me his car when mine went down - its just a shame that Toyota UK never have the parts in