Ls600hl suspension woes.

aero-hot · April 1, 2018

Well, I am into the 4th day of owning my 2008 Ls600, purchased from an independent garage specialising in expensive sports cars. After only 48hrs in my possession the front suspension decided to raise up and won't go back down. The drivers side more so. The Height High button does nothing. It has been taken to the local main Lexus agent under the instruction of the garage I bought it from but whilst they can see there is an obvious fault they seem unable to find out why. Apparently the ride level should be at 29inches but when they lower one side the other goes up. All the components and compressor appear to be in working order and there are no fault codes recorded or warning lights on the dash. Any ideas? I am beginning to think I should reject the car and get my old Honda back, at least it never let me down. I thought these were supposed to be reliable.

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Neil E · April 1, 2018

With air suspension if one corner goes up, it's usually a height controller.

Neil E · April 1, 2018

Had a quick search but can't find very much info on the LS600 air suspension components. If it is one of the front height controllers, it should be quite easy to replace. The last one I did on an RX300 only took a few minutes.

sorcerer · April 1, 2018

2 hours ago, Neil E said:

With air suspension if one corner goes up, it's usually a height controller.

Am I being silly or is that a tyre valve on the inside of the wheel???

aero-hot · April 1, 2018

Had a quick search but can't find very much info on the LS600 air suspension components. If it is one of the front height controllers, it should be quite easy to replace. The last one I did on an RX300 only took a few minutes.

Thanks a lot, it would certainly make the most sense, Strange that the dealers aren't thinking that this could be the cause. Hopefully I'll have an update soon.

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Neil E · April 1, 2018

39 minutes ago, sorcerer said:

Am I being silly or is that a tyre valve on the inside of the wheel???

It puzzled me too. It certainly looks like a valve. The picture is from a thread on clublexus where the guys are talking about using aftermarket height control systems to go lower.

I couldn't find any good info on the LS600 air suspension set up. That may point to my search deficiency or it being a rare failure or perhaps always referred to the dealer. Assuming it works in a similar way to older LS models, Soarers, GXs RXs etc. I would be very surprised if it wasn't a fault with the height controller in the corner that's raised up. Some have managed to take the sensor unit apart and revive it by delicately cleaning/freeing it up with electrical cleaning fluid but in my experience, it's best to replace them.

I wonder if the car has had new tyres or an inspection requiring it to be jacked up recently. With air it's best to switch off the ignition when lifting the car so that the suspension doesn't adjust to the movement. The Soarers had a switch in the boot to turn it off when required for servicing, etc. No doubt Lexus connect Techstream or a special scan tool to it when they work on the LS600 but do all of the technicians have real world experience of air suspension?

aero-hot · April 1, 2018

Interesting comments, the car has indeed just been fitted with new suspension arms, however, it drove like a dream for the 200 plus miles back home from the dealer - it was a day later just after very slowly and carefully driving over some bumpy waste ground which is now our staff car park! I have heard that the ride height sensors fill up with "black snot" for want of a better description, but the main agent say they are not showing any faults and do communicate with their equipment. I am wondering if its more a compressor issue or worse a body control module! [emoji848]

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Neil E · April 1, 2018

The air compressor is working as the suspension is in the air, not on the ground.

All 4 height controller sender units may be communicating to the control module but if I'm right, the one at the high corner is stuck. I've seen this a few times before and every time where one corner is very high, it's been a broken or faulty height controller.

I haven't been able to confirm the genuine Toyota/Lexus part number for the LS600 front right but I think it's 89405-50100

aero-hot · April 2, 2018

The air compressor is working as the suspension is in the air, not on the ground.
All 4 height controller sender units may be communicating to the control module but if I'm right, the one at the high corner is stuck. I've seen this a few times before and every time where one corner is very high, it's been a broken or faulty height controller.
I haven't been able to confirm the genuine Toyota/Lexus part number for the LS600 front right but I think it's 89405-50100

Thanks again, this has been valuable help, I will ask the dealers to check this out first. It looks as though Lexus send the car down the road to Toyota as the actual workshop is based there, it is likely that a lexus trained tech isn't working on it.

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Neil E · April 2, 2018

If it's in a Toyota workshop, it's in the right place, the LS was once the Toyota Celsior. The LS is a fantastic piece of engineering, hopefully someone with experience of air suspension will figure it out.

aero-hot · April 3, 2018

An unusual update from the dealers this morning. Apparently the bottom arm is the culprit on the drivers side. The car is detecting movement and lifting the suspension up on that side as a form of protection. It has just had the top arms replaced due to an advisory on the MOT, but no mention at all of any issues with the bottom arm. Apparently all the sensors and the compressor are working A1. I think I will only be convinced when I get it back working!!!

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Malc · April 3, 2018

good luck with this ........ sounds terrifying to me .... an old boy with the simple Ls400 mk3 . I had thought to update my motoring with a Ls600 but now reading more instances of unrelenting issues I think my Mk3 has many more years and miles before it ..... and with me ( hopefully )

I feel that i might like to have a Ls600 but am perplexed as to the sane reason why i would change !

Malc

aero-hot · April 3, 2018

good luck with this ........ sounds terrifying to me .... an old boy with the simple Ls400 mk3 . I had thought to update my motoring with a Ls600 but now reading more instances of unrelenting issues I think my Mk3 has many more years and miles before it ..... and with me ( hopefully )
I feel that i might like to have a Ls600 but am perplexed as to the sane reason why i would change !
Malc

Hahaha quite!! The LS400 would have been a more sensible choice in hindsight. Stick with it!!

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Neil E · April 4, 2018

On 4/3/2018 at 11:09 AM, aero-hot said:

An unusual update from the dealers this morning. Apparently the bottom arm is the culprit on the drivers side. The car is detecting movement and lifting the suspension up on that side as a form of protection. It has just had the top arms replaced due to an advisory on the MOT, but no mention at all of any issues with the bottom arm. Apparently all the sensors and the compressor are working A1. I think I will only be convinced when I get it back working!!!

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Really? So are they going to replace the arm or a bush to cure the movement? If they disconnect the height controller rod in the process and it's seized at its highest point, that might actually free it up. However it gets fixed, I hope it's done soon so that you can enjoy the car.

@MalcI thought all LS400 models had height adjustable air suspension? I never had a LS400 just the 2 door coupe with air and the LS430.

Malc · April 5, 2018

Neil, never the one apart from the Jap imports to my knowledge

Malc

aero-hot · April 5, 2018

The dealers are supposed to be replacing the bottom arm, but, I have only been told this by the garage I bought it from. Nobody from Lexus has been in contact at all. It is a shame, but unless I get the car back today I will formally reject it and buy something else from somewhere else. To be honest, I don't think I even want the car now. Maybe I'll fee differently if they ever bother to call and say its fixed!!

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Neil E · April 5, 2018

13 hours ago, Malc said:

Neil, never the one apart from the Jap imports to my knowledge

Malc

Oh I see, not on the early models apart from the Celsior but it was an option on the later LS400. The 2 cars I remember both had air, they were from 1995/6.

My first Soarer was a 1991 4 ltr ltd with air, another awesome piece of kit. I wish I still had it.

9 hours ago, aero-hot said:

The dealers are supposed to be replacing the bottom arm, but, I have only been told this by the garage I bought it from. Nobody from Lexus has been in contact at all. It is a shame, but unless I get the car back today I will formally reject it and buy something else from somewhere else. To be honest, I don't think I even want the car now. Maybe I'll fee differently if they ever bother to call and say its fixed!!

I hope they sort it properly and win you over as it really is a cracking car.

aero-hot · April 6, 2018

Car finally arrived back today, but it still seems high at the front. The dealer has offered to pick it back up and lower it an inch, but they also sent me pictures of other LS600's with a similar ride height. A small scratch has appeared on the passenger seat too but again they said they would repair this. The "height high" button still doesn't seem do anything but at least it seems level. I know that the car does lower anyway at speed, is there anything I need to ask the dealer to check? I am guessing that an inch wouldn't cause any issues if it's still within the dealers suggested parameters??

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Chris Skelton · April 6, 2018

Always reminds me (he said again....) of the old 2CV ad that promised no features, and said 'Nothing to go wrong' at the bottom!

Just been reading up on these with the same combination of 'want one/scared of the complexity' mixed emotions.

I had thought I was 'over' Lexuses, but......(AND its a hybrid)

Neil E · April 7, 2018

3 hours ago, aero-hot said:

Car finally arrived back today, but it still seems high at the front. The dealer has offered to pick it back up and lower it an inch, but they also sent me pictures of other LS600's with a similar ride height. A small scratch has appeared on the passenger seat too but again they said they would repair this. The "height high" button still doesn't seem do anything but at least it seems level. I know that the car does lower anyway at speed, is there anything I need to ask the dealer to check? I am guessing that an inch wouldn't cause any issues if it's still within the dealers suggested parameters??

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Good to hear the car has returned, hope that you can start to enjoy the drive. When the suspension is set to 'high' is there a dashboard light to confirm it? With the car stood still, it's usually easy to see the car raise up. The RX and Soarer had significant height adjustment differences, the LS430 was more of a subtle lift but still visible.

On level ground if you check that the gap between the tyres and the wheel arches on both sides is equal then that's probably all you can do. If the dealer has replaced the arm then they probably did a geometry check, there may be a print-out to confirm the settings are as they should be. It's a shame you can't talk directly to the technician as they may be able to fully explain the fix.

aero-hot · April 7, 2018

Good to hear the car has returned, hope that you can start to enjoy the drive. When the suspension is set to 'high' is there a dashboard light to confirm it? With the car stood still, it's usually easy to see the car raise up. The RX and Soarer had significant height adjustment differences, the LS430 was more of a subtle lift but still visible.
On level ground if you check that the gap between the tyres and the wheel arches on both sides is equal then that's probably all you can do. If the dealer has replaced the arm then they probably did a geometry check, there may be a print-out to confirm the settings are as they should be. It's a shame you can't talk directly to the technician as they may be able to fully explain the fix.

Dashboard light confirms the Height is set to high and with a moaning Mrs plonked into the drivers seat it did rise up when pressed. It is subtle though, I used to have an XJR which always reminded me of a camel getting up as it would lift the back then the front. I'm hoping it's just a final tweak now as the drivers side is only a cm or two more than the passengers. I forgot how phenomenal these cars are and had kind of given up on it but driving it again today was a pleasure. I just need to find out how to dial out using the Bluetooth!!

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Neil E · April 8, 2018

Good news, glad it's sorted.

aero-hot · April 10, 2018

Well, that's it finally back from Lexus, they have lowered it as much as the factory settings allow and levelled it again and to my eye it looks a million percent better. Ride is slightly firmer, but I don't mind that, besides it has a "comfort" switch. The car must have some kind of self levelling though as on some surfaces it is marginally higher on one side than the other. The main thing is that it's safe and the damaged arms have been replaced. Fair play to the Lexus dealers service department though, and I have to say Matt at Yorkshire Vehicle Solutions was as true to his word and got the car sorted. I would recommend getting a car from him for this reason alone. So, we will see. Hopefully I can now concentrate on enjoying what an awesome car this seems to be, 5 jags have taught me how cruel cars can be to you though!!!

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cruisermark · April 11, 2018

Hi Jon

Glad you got your car back all sorted and that you are happy with it.

It is sitting to low for my liking - it appears as if the suspenision has collapsed ( although it has not) I have googled images of the 600h and the found the space around the sides of the arch is same all the way round including the top.

aero-hot · April 11, 2018

Well, the car was dropped off last night and I drove home 2 miles with no problems, I thought it was too good to be true though, now there is a loud clanging noise from the front offside whenever the brakes are pressed at low speed or if manoeuvring into a parking space. I first noticed it this morning whilst reversing into a parking space at work. I drove it about 40 miles tonight and it's definitely prominent. Driving over cats eyes on the road makes it do it, but normal driving even over bumpy roads doesn't every time. Sounds like something is definitely loose, even the Mrs. heard it and she'll side with anyone but me!! Back to the dealers. Maybe time to get something more reliable like a 2003 Renault Megane !!!

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