The Toyota Landcruiser Owners Club

aj8282 · Newbie Joined: 17 Feb 2008 Posts: 2 Location: London

I recently bought a LC5 54 plate. I have noticed the air suspension goes up and down at will. I got this checked out by toyota and they said 2 sensors have gone and need replacing.I was then told that these were replaced in November 2006 too (just over 1 year)!! And this car was serviced only 3 weeks ago by the previous owners and im confused how this was not picked up.

What can i do about this? Do i have any rights? The dealership are saying i'll have to pay for a new set (over £600) but surely if this is a common problem i should able to request something. Should the warranty not last longer?

Thanks

RADIOTWO · **** Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Posts: 371 Location: GLOSSOP

Wandering Willy · ****** Joined: 18 Jul 2007 Posts: 933 Location: Norfolk

I know most of the discussion is about the sensors but I thought you might find this web site of interest.

http://yhst-76231485467161.stores.yahoo.net/buylx470ac.html

I found this web site via the US Lexus owners club site:

http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t32387.html

It's an American chap who rebuilds the supplied parts and also makes new suspension accumulators for the Lexus LX 470 and the Landcruiser 100. He offers them at a lower price than the Toyota parts and claims they can be recharged with gas (which can't be done with the originals, again at a low price).

Even with shipping, his prices look attractive.

Returning to the sensors, I understood from another thread on this forum that it's worth taking them off, cleaning and and resealing them as the main problem is damp getting into the contacts.

In the same area, some of the older 100 series Amazons also have a problem with the wiring to the sensors so there's another problem to watch out for!

Willy

Nor · **** Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 286 Location: Oslo, Norway

I believe that in some cases (maybe most?) it is both faster and more durable to open the sensors for a repair and reseal, than trying to get anything from the dealer.
(See half of the sensor's innards to the left)
_________________
2004 HDJ100 AHC Auto 158'km, ex 2000 HDJ100, ex 1997 HZJ80GX Africa edition.

aj8282 · Newbie Joined: 17 Feb 2008 Posts: 2 Location: London

Toyota said they will replace the sensors free of charge as Toyota GB have acknowledgedt he fault. Ive saved over £600 thanks to you guys on the forum.

I hope it doesnt happen again Sad

Many thanks for your help! Very Happy

marklord · Newbie Joined: 30 Aug 2008 Posts: 2 Location: Sheffield

Hi
I've just had a problem with height sensors on my Feb 2005 Landcruiser LC5 D4D. Unfortunately it is out of warranty and Toyota GB refuse to acknowledge there is a problem with these units although I did discover that they issued a warranty extension for the Amazon 100 series which had the same problem. They extended this to 5 years/100,000 miles but do not advertise the fact. Can anybody tell me whether this is the same sensor as on my LC5? I am having two sensors fitted on Monday and it is costing me a whooping £700.00. The dealers know there is a problem and I feel Toyota should do the honourable thing and stand by their product.

london mc · * Joined: 15 Apr 2004 Posts: 27

Hi all, been reading this thread with some interest, my X reg Amazon VX recently adopted the 'no prisoners' style of suspension i.e. absoloutley no give at all, it;s like riding a penny farthing!

I wonder if someone could clarify if Toyota have extended tyhe warranty on the sensors that would be fitted to my car? it's well under 100K so heres hoping..

It wasn't clear from the thread if this fault is attributable to the sensors, and if clearing them was the answer..but if it's a warranty opportunity I'll let the dealer handle it.

Does anyone have anything official from Toyota referencing this item? i.e. something I can show th edealer if it will help get the problem fixed without costing me an arm and a leg.

(the horn has failed, and the steering colum adjustments have all failed, the reversing sensor bleeps but does not adjust as you near an obstacle..only had the car two years, not impressed at all, I will not be getting another one. Landrover 90 I think Smile

Anyu pointers much appreciated...

Thanks

Tom

wildsmith · Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 0:05 Post subject:

Sounds like the accumulators have gone on yours rather than the sensors, different problem but still expensive to fix. If you search ih8mud you should find some threads about tests you can perform to identify where the fault is.
_________________
Jon m0zxj

01 UZJ100 lifted (AHC & 40mm BL), ARB locked f&r, cryo'd 4.88's, TJM front bumper, 12k goldfish, sliders, rack, snorkel, 35's, storage, aux power etc.
93 HDJ80 sold
94 HDJ80 RIP

london mc · * Joined: 15 Apr 2004 Posts: 27

wildsmith, thanks for the info, ok excuse my ignorance, but is Ih8mud a topic, forum, website or thread ? I did a search and couldn't find anything specific..

I searched accumulators too and ended back in this thread..

thanks

tom

marklord · Newbie Joined: 30 Aug 2008 Posts: 2 Location: Sheffield

I've had a result on this. Went ahead with the repair £700.00 for the 2 sensors fitted by Gordon Lamb the Toyota dealers in Chesterfield. In the meantime I emailed my

with Toyota to What Car and they seemed quite interested. A week later Gordon Lamb rang me to say that Toyota had instructed them to give me a full refund. It's surprising what a bit of bad press will do. Very Happy

Nor · **** Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 286 Location: Oslo, Norway

wildsmith · Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 23:17 Post subject: Re: ih8mud?

london mc · * Joined: 15 Apr 2004 Posts: 27

Ok, thanks for the extra data..I'll go take a look through the posts..

while I'm here...

Anyone swapped the spheres on their car? is it DIY-possible?

Any ideas on cost of the bits? do I need main dealer parts?

Am guessing these items are not covered by the extended warranty Sad

anyoneknow a good landcruiser mechanic/garage in Medway or Kent that would do the work ?

thanks for everythig tom

wildsmith · Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 9:34 Post subject:

I've not done the work but from what I've read it's not really very difficuly. From Toyota the parts are expensive, there's some on e bay on a semi-regular basis that are cheaper but still v expensive and there's a guy in the states selling some custom ones who you should be able to find a link to somewhere in the ih8mud threads I think. The other option is second hand of course but they'll probably still be quite expensive and have an unknown life expectancy. If I ever have to do mine it would be with the uprated parts from the chap in the states.
_________________
Jon m0zxj

01 UZJ100 lifted (AHC & 40mm BL), ARB locked f&r, cryo'd 4.88's, TJM front bumper, 12k goldfish, sliders, rack, snorkel, 35's, storage, aux power etc.
93 HDJ80 sold
94 HDJ80 RIP

jvoelcker · Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 9:41 Post subject:

Hi Tom,

Yes you should be able to swap the sphere yourself, however make sure you drain the fluid properly before you start and also that when you finish you replace it with genuine Toyota fluid.

There is a nut on top of the chassis rails holding the spheres on, it is a complete pig to get to and undo - it really helps to have a ratchet spanner to remove these.

As for parts, the only option is Toyota or second hand - I have a full set of AHC kit (pump, sensors, accumulators, etc) from an '02 model that may fit, but I haven't decided if/how I am going to sell them yet.
_________________
Cheers,

Julian
1994 HDJ80, Slinky Long Travel Suspension set up, 3" lift, 12" stroke shocks, Allisport Intercooler and hacked exhaust, Grooved disks, EBC pads and SS brake lines.
1997 KZJ95 with blown engine and working 1KZTE waiting to go in.