SeattleMike
New member
Take it to a Lexus dealer.
Alert: Riverside CA Dealer refused to check KDSS on lifted Trail
- Thread starter bluebaron
- Start date
That's a very good idea. KDSS was available on the GX (and I'm sure the LX) for years. They probably have a lot more experience with it.
iDRiVaT4R
New member
As of right now, a Lexus dealer sounds like your best bet. I would search the Lexus SUV forums and see if anybody there might have experience with this.
On a different note, how does it handle on road with less fluid, I would imagine it has lots of body roll in corners, as if you didn't have any sway-bars at all. Does that sound about right?
On a different note, how does it handle on road with less fluid, I would imagine it has lots of body roll in corners, as if you didn't have any sway-bars at all. Does that sound about right?
Crazy thing is that if for any reason any part of the KDSS system breaks none of the dealers even have the tools to fix it. They need a Toyota Special Tool which is a high pressure hydraulic pump to force the oil through the pipes to the front and back cylinders.
iDRiVaT4R
New member
I remember reading that in the repair manual somewhere. That sucks!!
I just reread parts of the FSM, looks like the job of refilling it, bleeding it, etc. looks like its a real PITA!!
Hopefully some dealer down here in So-Cal has the tool or can get the tool to get your KDSS back into operation.
I just reread parts of the FSM, looks like the job of refilling it, bleeding it, etc. looks like its a real PITA!!
Hopefully some dealer down here in So-Cal has the tool or can get the tool to get your KDSS back into operation.
I didn't notice on the short drive I took to just check it the other day. Doing some work on it this weekend. I'll take it out after and give you an impression. I'll take some pics too.
I might have found an independant Toyota Service Center about 35 miles South of me that can do the job....they knew what KDSS is and have a pump they've used on Land Cruisers. Taking it down Monday morning for them to take a look.
Sorry about the late reply.....unfortunately they did not have the correct size fitting for their hydraulic pump to attach to the controller unit.
I actually went and bought the original Toyota KDSS hydraulic pump kit!! Amazingly it does not have the correct fitting for the 4Runner either...the hoses are for the Lexus.
So now trying to find the correct Toyota SPX part number for the correct hose fitting. It looks like it's a 1/4" NPT.....but not sure yet. It's not listed in the SPX catalog.
Well it's not a 1/4"NPT. It's almost a 1/8th thread. anyone know what it is?
UPDATE
Got some good news!!
I am very pleased to say that a technical services guy for SPX based at Toyota HQ contacted me today to talk about my connection problem. Sent some pics and had a few chats on the phone.
Long story short......turns out that I'm an idiot and the quick connect does actually fit....just not the way I was trying. I just have to ignore the Lexus part of the setup.
Now I'm good to go once my hydraulic fluid arrives next month :bigok:
BTW, the guy I talked to actually was one of the designers of the pump!!
Got some good news!!
I am very pleased to say that a technical services guy for SPX based at Toyota HQ contacted me today to talk about my connection problem. Sent some pics and had a few chats on the phone.
Long story short......turns out that I'm an idiot and the quick connect does actually fit....just not the way I was trying. I just have to ignore the Lexus part of the setup.
Now I'm good to go once my hydraulic fluid arrives next month :bigok:
BTW, the guy I talked to actually was one of the designers of the pump!!
UtahSooner
New member
Where did you get the hydraulic pump kit and how much did it cost? I managed to dump the fluid from the lower KDSS chamber on my garage floor this evening when I attempted to do the system calibration (and misread the diagram showing to back the shutter valve bolts off 10-12 mm -- I was trying to back off 10-12mm of threads which is, of course, not what the instructions say...). Guess that's what I get for trying to skim the instructions and rush the task before heading out to run some errands after work.
Anyway, a year after this thread was originally started and my local Toyota Dealer still doesn't have the SST high pressure pump required to do the KDSS system bleeding service (and they don't have the fluid either). Gonna call the local Lexus dealer in the morning...
What was supposed to be a quick (and free) job is probably going to cost me $100. Hooray for me!
tlflow
New member
sorry to hear that, sounds like something I would do
So sorry to hear that. It cost me around $1000 in the end to get it done myself. The funny thing is I found out later that all the Toyota dealers actually do have the pump....they just don't realize what they've got!!
The pump is a crazy $2500 but I was super lucky and found one new on Ebay for $300. I then had to buy a 30 gallon air compressor to run it and of course get the oil. Had to do a special order for that and it took about 4 weeks.
I tried Lexus myself but they refused to work on a Toyota. Hope you have better luck than I did.
If you try your Toyota dealer again show them these pics. The pump is in the box and most dealers have never opened it.
Attachments
Just realized I never updated this thread with the final solution. The connectors were correct on the pump....it was me just being a dumb ass and not understanding how it clipped on. Toyota HQ (that's how far I went with this) put me in touch with the designer of the pump and he put me straight.
UtahSooner
New member
KDSS Service Done
Dang, that sucks man and I hesitate to tell you that I got it all fixed at the Lexus Dealer for $209 + tax. Their master tech had worked on the Lexus KDSS and auto-height systems a few times and was familiar with the system (I guess Lexus uses a 2 port system and ours only has one port so he had a few questions he had to read up on before starting...). He and the Service Rep thought it would take "an hour or so" and quoted me $50-$100 for the labor + parts (the fluid). Well, ended up taking ~3 hours!!! I wasn't upset at all (I had actually planned for it to take longer than the hour) -- I'd rather that the tech do the job right than rush it... The service rep told me that he'd honor the $100 labor quote + parts and that now he knew to quote more time/labor cost in the future -- it probably helped that he and one of the other techs are 4x4 guys (he has a lifted Lexus LX 450 and the tech has a lifted Taco).
It's weird that your Lexus dealer refused to work on a Toyota. Their master tech had spent years as a Toyota tech before Lexus was introduced and the owner of the Lexus dealership (Larry H Miller) also owns the Toyota Dealership that happens to be directly across the street. I also didn't get any grief about having a lifted rig...
I think you're probably right that my local Toyota dealership probably has the tool but doesn't know it. I traded e-mails with a mountain biking buddy that happens to be the Rocky Mountain Region Toyota Service Trainer and he said that every dealer was shipped the high pressure pump (P/N 09760-60020) for the KDSS service when the 5th gens were introduced. My local dealer definitely didn't stock the AHC fluid though (P/N 08886-01805)-- it is the same stuff that Lexus uses for the Automatic Height Control systems (i.e. "AHC") and they had it on the shelf. In hindsight, I'm glad that I had it done by the master tech at Lexus since he knew his stuff rather than some well-intentioned newbie at Toyota that had never seen a KDSS system before.
All that said, if you're in the Salt Lake Area and have to get this service done, go see John Fabbi at LHM Lexus and ask to have Mike do the service. It'll probably cost more than the $209 but they'll do the job right (and you'll get breakfast muffins/cookies/sandwiches while you wait!). For those in other areas that have to get the KDSS service done -- if your local Lexus dealer won't touch your system, have them call John as well and he can clue them in on the details.
Dang, that sucks man and I hesitate to tell you that I got it all fixed at the Lexus Dealer for $209 + tax. Their master tech had worked on the Lexus KDSS and auto-height systems a few times and was familiar with the system (I guess Lexus uses a 2 port system and ours only has one port so he had a few questions he had to read up on before starting...). He and the Service Rep thought it would take "an hour or so" and quoted me $50-$100 for the labor + parts (the fluid). Well, ended up taking ~3 hours!!! I wasn't upset at all (I had actually planned for it to take longer than the hour) -- I'd rather that the tech do the job right than rush it... The service rep told me that he'd honor the $100 labor quote + parts and that now he knew to quote more time/labor cost in the future -- it probably helped that he and one of the other techs are 4x4 guys (he has a lifted Lexus LX 450 and the tech has a lifted Taco).
It's weird that your Lexus dealer refused to work on a Toyota. Their master tech had spent years as a Toyota tech before Lexus was introduced and the owner of the Lexus dealership (Larry H Miller) also owns the Toyota Dealership that happens to be directly across the street. I also didn't get any grief about having a lifted rig...
I think you're probably right that my local Toyota dealership probably has the tool but doesn't know it. I traded e-mails with a mountain biking buddy that happens to be the Rocky Mountain Region Toyota Service Trainer and he said that every dealer was shipped the high pressure pump (P/N 09760-60020) for the KDSS service when the 5th gens were introduced. My local dealer definitely didn't stock the AHC fluid though (P/N 08886-01805)-- it is the same stuff that Lexus uses for the Automatic Height Control systems (i.e. "AHC") and they had it on the shelf. In hindsight, I'm glad that I had it done by the master tech at Lexus since he knew his stuff rather than some well-intentioned newbie at Toyota that had never seen a KDSS system before.
All that said, if you're in the Salt Lake Area and have to get this service done, go see John Fabbi at LHM Lexus and ask to have Mike do the service. It'll probably cost more than the $209 but they'll do the job right (and you'll get breakfast muffins/cookies/sandwiches while you wait!). For those in other areas that have to get the KDSS service done -- if your local Lexus dealer won't touch your system, have them call John as well and he can clue them in on the details.
joecordero76
New member
I live in Ontario, and I have not found a dealer that can remove and replace my fluid on my KDSS. I even tried the Lexus Dealers around, none have responded to the emails sent to Service Managers.
By any chance does anybody have a service advisor at a So Cal dealer that know how to service a KDSS?
I made the mistake to open one valve too much when tried to set my suspension height, since i noticed I was a bit higher on the passenger side. Fluid spilled out on one fluid circuit, but it was not a large quantity. Problably 3/4 quart of a quick burst of fluid on my garage floor.
I can live with the slight lean on side, bud I do notice there more wobble when turning and going over bumps.
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