Rear air suspension total failure
#1
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Rear air suspension total failure
Just came back from the worst 3 hours trip I spent in my car... To make a long story short I agreed to spend the weekend in town with my gf as two of her college from Australia were in Montreal for a conference. Decided to bring the Lexus (2008 ls600hl with air suspension) and everything went fine at first. Ironically they commented on how quiet and comfortable the car was (have the reclining seat too). We stopped to eat and as we started to leave and hit the highway I started noticing that when we hit small bump the car started being incredibly unstable. Each bump was rocking the car like a beat up fishermen barge on way bigger waves it could handle. I managed to take an exit and stopped the car safely and I knew it was something with the air suspension. Got out of the car and notice the rear suspension completely collapsed, to a point where the car underbelly was almost dragging on the concrete. Tried to restart the car, pushed the height button, nothing. Front end was fine but rear was completely shot. I then proceed to tell my passengers yeah time to make a u turn and bring them back to their hotel. My gf looking at me "you serious ?" not believing it was something I couldn't handle. I said to her with a smile "well I don't think you realize the extend of the problem". I invited her to take a look and laughed hard as she stared at the car bottoming out like an abused w220 s class from a third world country. The 3 hours trip back was pretty abysmal, and the ride felt like sitting on the last row of those 1990 era school bus as the demented drivers would take a shortcut through hell's gate trail on his way to school... it was that bad.
As I said I just came back and still tired and haven't had the time to take a detailed look but wanted to wrote it there in case someone had any pointers before I start looking. I don't believe that the problems are the shock themselves as it would be extremely unlikely for both failing at the exact same time, plus I changed them just two years ago. I've been on this forum for a while and I don't recall hearing of any compressor failure yet, plus I believe if the compressor was broken then all four shocks would be out of air unless the car have one compressor for the front and one for the rear which I don't think it's the case. Next could be a leak in the rear line. I'm not familiar with the ls460/600 design but if there was a leak wouldn't the front shock gradually loose air when the car is not running (unless there an actuator that can close the front and rear line) ? As of right now both front shock are keeping their air when when the car is turned off. I don't have any warning lights on the dashboard.
Any input or suggestion is welcomed, and I'll share my finding when I sort this out.
As I said I just came back and still tired and haven't had the time to take a detailed look but wanted to wrote it there in case someone had any pointers before I start looking. I don't believe that the problems are the shock themselves as it would be extremely unlikely for both failing at the exact same time, plus I changed them just two years ago. I've been on this forum for a while and I don't recall hearing of any compressor failure yet, plus I believe if the compressor was broken then all four shocks would be out of air unless the car have one compressor for the front and one for the rear which I don't think it's the case. Next could be a leak in the rear line. I'm not familiar with the ls460/600 design but if there was a leak wouldn't the front shock gradually loose air when the car is not running (unless there an actuator that can close the front and rear line) ? As of right now both front shock are keeping their air when when the car is turned off. I don't have any warning lights on the dashboard.
Any input or suggestion is welcomed, and I'll share my finding when I sort this out.
#2
This is a strange one... The fact that it's the entire rear does rule out (as you pointed out) some things. I had little time to research in detail, but fuses came to mind, and upon a quick check of the manual, there is definitely more than one fuse (and in multiple fuse boxes) for the air suspension. At the moment, that's where I would start. Actuators came to mind too at first, but again, the fact that it's two at once makes me think something has powered down (actuators, valves, height control, etc.) - hence the thought on fuses.
Last edited by caha14; 03-26-18 at 06:42 PM.
#3
Intermediate
Thread Starter
No luck in the fuse boxes, all seemed fine. I'll try to hook Techstream tomorrow and run some tests on the suspension.
Edit: Techstream show current error C1761 (continuous current to compressor motor) and past error C1762 (Continuous current to exhaust solenoid). C1761 is likely the compressor running for too long trying to inflate the rear shocks then after a certain time displaying that error.
Additionnal infos:
Edit: Techstream show current error C1761 (continuous current to compressor motor) and past error C1762 (Continuous current to exhaust solenoid). C1761 is likely the compressor running for too long trying to inflate the rear shocks then after a certain time displaying that error.
Additionnal infos:
- *1: The system may output DTC C1761 even when the system is normal if one of the following occurs: 1) the vehicle is full of passengers and the luggage compartment is full; 2) the vehicle is being driven or is stopped on an irregular surface; or 3) the air ducts are frozen.
- *2: The system may output DTC C1762 even when the system is normal if one of the following occurs: 1) the vehicle is being driven or is stopped on an irregular surface; or 2) the air tubes are clogged with snow or are frozen. If DTC C1762 is output, vehicle height control will stop. However, if the power switch is turned OFF and then ON (IG), vehicle height control will start.
Last edited by Vansibel; 03-26-18 at 09:44 PM. Reason: More infos
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satiger (03-29-18)
#4
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Resetting the code this morning forced the pump to turn on again and with the cold outside I could clearly see a major air leak from the rear driver side. Removed the wheel and leak seems to come from under the car between the 2 rear shock. Need to go to a garage so they can lift the car on a 2 post lift so I can clearly see the source of the leak.
#7
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Those price are just comical so much it's ridiculous, but needed the part asap. Will be able to install the part next week and hopefully the suspension will sort itself because now it's a mess and uneven on all corner.
Last edited by Vansibel; 03-29-18 at 05:05 AM.
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mckellyb (03-31-18)
#9
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Absolutely, and it's also people choice to heed this advice from someone who lived it's inconvenience first hand. The ls600hl only come with air suspension so there nothing to choose here here unless you buy another car. I'm just sharing my experience here to help people make an enlighten choice and learn from the experience of others. To be honest I wouldn't have though a car with air suspension could get so low that the underbelly would rub on the ground. Suspension have been know to be the Achilles heel on this gen of the ls and consumer report also list the suspension as unreliable. At least with springs you have some kind of fail safe and your car cant bottom out like when it's on air. In the end we live and learn.
#10
Lexus Test Driver
The suspension reliability issues reported by CR are related to control arm issues that were resolved halfway through the 2010 production run.
Air suspensions will always fail.... ALWAYS. It's just a matter of time. I have a feeling that if you had 1) anticipated the failure, and 2) not had it fail at the beginning of a long trip where others were dependent upon you for transportation, this would not be as big of an issue.
IMO, the air suspension is worth it, but you gotta pay to play.
Air suspensions will always fail.... ALWAYS. It's just a matter of time. I have a feeling that if you had 1) anticipated the failure, and 2) not had it fail at the beginning of a long trip where others were dependent upon you for transportation, this would not be as big of an issue.
IMO, the air suspension is worth it, but you gotta pay to play.
#11
Intermediate
Thread Starter
The suspension reliability issues reported by CR are related to control arm issues that were resolved halfway through the 2010 production run.
Air suspensions will always fail.... ALWAYS. It's just a matter of time. I have a feeling that if you had 1) anticipated the failure, and 2) not had it fail at the beginning of a long trip where others were dependent upon you for transportation, this would not be as big of an issue.
IMO, the air suspension is worth it, but you gotta pay to play.
Air suspensions will always fail.... ALWAYS. It's just a matter of time. I have a feeling that if you had 1) anticipated the failure, and 2) not had it fail at the beginning of a long trip where others were dependent upon you for transportation, this would not be as big of an issue.
IMO, the air suspension is worth it, but you gotta pay to play.
#12
Lexus Fanatic
The suspension reliability issues reported by CR are related to control arm issues that were resolved halfway through the 2010 production run.
Air suspensions will always fail.... ALWAYS. It's just a matter of time. I have a feeling that if you had 1) anticipated the failure, and 2) not had it fail at the beginning of a long trip where others were dependent upon you for transportation, this would not be as big of an issue.
IMO, the air suspension is worth it, but you gotta pay to play.
Air suspensions will always fail.... ALWAYS. It's just a matter of time. I have a feeling that if you had 1) anticipated the failure, and 2) not had it fail at the beginning of a long trip where others were dependent upon you for transportation, this would not be as big of an issue.
IMO, the air suspension is worth it, but you gotta pay to play.
#13
I wouldn't buy a car with air suspension. If the car was given to me or seriously discounted (like 1/2 price) from a friend or relative I would take it. Cars are enough trouble let alone dealing with a surprise air suspension failure on a trip or anywhere for that matter.
#14
I wouldn't buy a car with air suspension. If the car was given to me or seriously discounted (like 1/2 price) from a friend or relative I would take it. Cars are enough trouble let alone dealing with a surprise air suspension failure on a trip or anywhere for that matter.
#15
I never understand this line of thinking. Stuff breaks, and stuff breaks more often on 10 year old cars. Complicated systems that deliver superior results, like air suspension, cost more when they break. Some things are expensive because they are built to last, some things are expensive because they are technologically advanced, some thing are expensive because they are a luxury and economy of scale can't drive price point down.
The air suspension on the LS is one of the two latter options, and the fact that it lasts without issue for 8-10 years is pretty damn impressive if you ask me. I bought an LS SPECIFICALLY to get stuff I can't have on other cars not on this level. It makes no sense to me to buy a luxury car without the things that make it luxurious.
The air suspension on the LS is one of the two latter options, and the fact that it lasts without issue for 8-10 years is pretty damn impressive if you ask me. I bought an LS SPECIFICALLY to get stuff I can't have on other cars not on this level. It makes no sense to me to buy a luxury car without the things that make it luxurious.
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mckellyb (03-31-18)