Air Suspension Urgent Help Needed

mikesands · May 13, 2013

After replacing a rear ride height sensor I have no error codes showing, and yet the rear is still collapsed on its haunches. The compressor is working because I can watch it raise the bonnet line when I switch from normal to High ride height.

We have heard that there is some gubbins that splits the air between front and back and that it may be located in the right rear wheel arch. Anyone know anything about this?

Or if anyone has any other ideas please shout up (the back end went down overnight and I didn't notice any unusual ride beforehand - ie as if one strut was failing).

Thanks

Mike

messi · May 13, 2013

I have an idea. Buy an ls400, you want get any issues like the one your experiencing with your ls430

mikesands · May 13, 2013

Thanks Lionel, maybe I'll do that once I've got the 430 working so I can sell it. Looks like I need a air pump. Anyone know where I could try to get a used one?

Thanks

Mike

mikeyv · May 14, 2013

I typed "breaking LS430" into eBay and got a few results, but the 430 is such a rare sight on the road, I guess the numbers are against you.

Is it possible to convert the suspension to conventional shocks and springs, as this does seem to be the Achiles heel of an otherwise excellent car.

It's the main reason I went for 400 over 430, but if a kit was available, I might consider a 430 again in the future.

Best of luck anyway.

ipwn · May 14, 2013

You can go to conventional shocks and springs no problem.

Anyway, OP you didn't trick the ECU by having the engine running with the car in the air did you? This can confuse the air suspension to hell.

You need to leave it running for 10 - 15 minutes then go for a drive to let it calibrate it self back to normal.

mikesands · May 14, 2013

Don't think we did that .... but anyway Lexus Teesside sent one of their guys with the fancy diagnostic kit to my house. He was puzzled because we could see the front rise slowly when set to high (it's always been very slow since I got it) - but nothing happened at the back. So he used his laptop to actuate all 4 solenoids which worked. Then he let the air out of all airbags and that worked. Problem then was that the car would not then pump any of the suspnesion up, so his conclusion was a fault either in the pump or close to it. I think I agree.

Here's a question. Remember I got them to strip and clean the seals on the pump a couple of years ago because of groaning noises, and ever since I got it at 75000 miles the up/down height adjustment has always been almost imperceptible (but I thought that was normal). Maybe I have had an underperforming air pump since I got it. So could this explain all the failing sensors - maybe if the suspension cannot adjust itself quickly enough to rough terrain (my drive is rough), it somehow damages the sensors?

Mike

39buss · May 14, 2013

Hope you get this sorted. I'm sure I've read on here you can fit normal shocks to the 430. Here is a number from eBay of a breaker who had 2 x 430's. Might be worth a shot. Dont know if they're still there.Have you tried 'benfur' on here. breakingcars20122012

08446639089

39buss · May 14, 2013

Here you are Mike, just seen this up the road from you at Peterlee and he will P/X. On the bay, Item number...300905397456

Dave76 · May 14, 2013

Hope you get it sorted Mike, you had more than enough with the LPG fiasco

cruisermark · May 14, 2013

think of the positive side - mike probably knows the LPG system and the Air suspension inside out now so hopefully he can share his knowledge with us in the near future when we run out of LS400s and have to buy LS430s - I know most of us cant wait to upgrade to the 430s (not )