gx470 has a transfer case leak issue where if you bring it to a dealership they will crack it open for $2000 to replace the o-rings in the transfer case actuator motor. It can be fixed for $45 by just removing the actuator motor and replace the o-ring. I have that issue on mine and got a nice discount because of that issue. Fixed the leak by buying o-ring from rocket seals in Colorado (dealer don't have those seal available or for sale)
One "last ditch" place I use for finding O-rings is the local heavy equipment maintenance place. They sell parts as well, and will size my O-ring to find one like it.
I have a December 2004 built 2004 GX470 (Black). Purchased used in 2008 with 40,000 miles. Since then, I have put 100,000 miles on the odometer. It is a great vehicle and I have a great mechanic. Based on my experience, here are few items to check. First, the spare tire. Where it sits under the car allows salt and water to puddle between the tire and rim. This will corrode the wheel and you will eventually get a tire pressure warning light. Only cure is a new/rebuilt rim. Second, gas gauge. Make sure it works. Not an expensive part but a real pain to replace the float (figure about $800 to $1,000 labor). You have to drop the tank and to do that, you must disconnect the driveshaft. Third, rear shocks. They can rust out and are expensive to replace. The shocks alone are $500 each. Fourth, stuck brake calipers. It is great that they use four piston calipers. Unfortunately, that gives you a greater chance of one of them sticking. Radiators are not a lifetime part. Look for telltale pink stain on the radiator. Last but not least, check the CV joint boots for leaking.
I couldn’t have found this channel at a better time - I’m going to look at and hopefully buy a gx470 next week and I’m already fantasizing about doing the same mods as you. Subscribed!!
@@bikerbud3903 that sounds like an incredible find but unfortunately I’m only looking to spend around half that- the one I’m looking at has much higher mileage. If you’re not in a hurry to sell it, I would list it on Bring a Trailer and I don’t think you’d have any trouble bringing in 30k with how much people want these.
Great tip with the Lexus service history site. There’s a 04 GX that I was on the fence about due to limited info from carfax. With the Lexus driver site I was able to find out it’s had timing and water pump replaced within the last 60k!
That’s how I found mine. A one owner that had been dealer serviced in Orange County, California its entire life. They had done literally EVERYTHING. Transmission fluid drain and refills every 100k miles even! Truck looked 4 years old. With 313k miles on it
Sold my 1998 Lexus ES 300 with beautiful & soft tan interior and got a 2013 Lexus GS 350 with Luxury package. I love my GS and the rear wheel drive is amazing BUT I really do miss the ole 98 ES LOL 😂 Now that I have a kid (6 yrs old) I’ve been thinking about getting a larger vehicle and have been interested in the GX for many years now! They look bad ass and those engines are solid. Maybe I’ll buy one in the future. As of now, I’ll continue driving my GS 350 which may become a collectors item one day since they stopped making GS models. Informative video, thank you!
Excellent information I own a 2007 I have 81000 orig miles runs perfectly only service by Lexus I was thinking of trading it in or selling it a couple years ago but now I realize I probably want to keep this since I have taken such good care of it since the beginning this video only helped me make that decision thank you.
I'm in jersey. Looked at a few in a row here and in PA with way too much rust. Found one I could have lived with but it had the cracked exhaust manifold issue. Dealer wouldn't budge either. He actually admitted he'd just sell it to someone that didn't notice it or wouldn't care rather then take money off for it. Anyway, finally got a near perfect for its age and mileage (07 144k). Gray interior. Had the dash recall too. California and Georgia car. Zero rust. Actually looks better underneath then new cars around here. Drove down south to get it. Gave it to my wife, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm shopping for a second now. I see why so many of you guys have 2 or more of these trucks. Unbelievably awesome.
I'm in NW Pa and have a rust free from Arizona an 06 GX470 SPORT Package with KDSS. 76,500. Excellent condition that I am selling. Love it but I need a PU truck. Email buddy ebs at hot mail
Kinda glad to see high gas prices landing some fresh GX 470 Lexus on the local market for not bad prices… one even has dark grey leather! I could get into one of these, but I’m not going to give away a spare 5 or 10 grand. These are an insanely good deal anyway.
You can check the trans fluid, It's under the vehicle. There is a fill plug you pull out and can get a sample of the fluid from. It should just barely pour out if its full. Yeah it's not as easy as a dip stick but its not terrible either. I can't remember what the fastener type is but it's the only one of its kind that you will see and is smaller than the rest. Drain and fills are easy on these too so you can easily keep the fluid clean if you do drain and fills on time.
This information is priceless. thank you. I wish I'd seen this video before buying a gx470 two weeks ago. I might have known to look for the manifold issue because I didnt discover it until after the purchase.
Good vid. Sticky calipers are common - easy to upgrade to 460 calipers, rotors, pads. Folks have replaced 470 with OEM and then they still fail so good idea to go 460. They are beefier. Also some AC evaporators are failing - mine failed but has had to fight texas heat.
Thanks! Great points. I am actually planning on doing the 460 brake upgrade on my off-road 470 so idk why I forgot to include that in the video 😅 anyway, that’s what comments like these are for!
@@lexus_offroad_adventures my friend has a 460 and he has warped rotors @50k miles, it seems to be a common issue with 460. Not sure why this upgrade is better.
@@highmilesgarage9131 It’d be his braking style on long downhills. He needs to use the gears to help control the car’s speed. Upgrading the rotors to slotted & dimpled helps a lot.
@@cliffbooth7075 yup, I learned that poor braking habits that ignore the dynamics of heat and friction costs you warped rotors. Worst thing is having red hot discs & then holding the brakes down at a stoplight. Keep releasing them so they can cool and you avoid damage.
One other bonus of a non VVT-i engine is it's a non-interference engine, the valves and the piston never occupy the same space. If your timing belt breaks, the engine just stops running and won't destroy the valves/head.
I’ve heard mixed answers on this, actually. Part of me is skeptical since changing from interference to non-interference would require a completely different head design. Not sure why Toyota would do that but if true that would definitely be a huge advantage to the non-VVT engines. I’d be very interested to check out any sources you have on this since I can’t seem to find anything official on the subject
Rust is the biggest issue. I checked out a GX here in MN and was able to poke through the frame in several spots. I told the owner that they should not drive the vehicle let alone sell it.
It's tough getting a good price on a car these days as people become more and more away of what they've got. And most people don't like hearing negative points about the item that they're trying to sell. If you start pointing out negatives, they'll just get offended and tell you that you're wasting their time with all that criticism. It also makes it look like, in their mind, that the car you're looking at, isn't for you. You're not the right buyer for it and they'll move onto the next guy.
Great video, I am in the market for one around $20k and both I have looked at have rusted out frames. I am looking at a 3rd one tomorrow in Indiana 2008 with 107k miles and very clean service history at Lexus of Merriville it’s whole life. I hope that frame is not rusted out 😢😢
I'm in Socal looking for a GX470, just worried it may have trouble fitting in my car port and about and pissing off my neighbors too much by switching from a Civic SI Sedan to a GX470. Thanks for making the video I think it is very applicable to my situation. I'll keep looking for that "ruined airbags, bald tires, scratched wheels and no NAV, but otherwise perfect GX". Thanks Again!
@@vincentalvarado9478 they mark those things wayyyyy up. I found an unmolested example with great service history and in great condition in San Diego for $12K... Not going to pay $25 to $30K for a vehicle that was $9K a year ago.
@@CG-ggg sorry I missed this reply. I got my silver one for 6500, 155k miles, bad paint and a minor rear fender bender on the carfax but it had a hitch so no real damage. An immaculate example with same mileage would have probably been 7-9 back then, now that would be around 15-17
Great tips, fortunately for my unsight unseen GX470 timing belt was done at 123K miles, I haven’t tested the 4wd control lever yet. Just need to get part of rocker panels pulled and doors done.
Don't let the navigation models scare you away. Phoenix automotive makes a radio that includes the air controls and it's plug and play. Also makes your GX 470 feel a lot younger in the cabin.
Yes absolutely. Thanks for sharing sharing your experience. I’ve heard mixed reviews about the performance of those units but I’m sure they’ll get better as the software improves. For my Nav GX I went with the Grom system. Making a review for it soon
@@lexus_offroad_adventures The Phoenix automotive radio definitely has some drawbacks but it's definitely a huge upgrade to the stock radio. Looking forward to seeing the review on your radio.
I have a 2003 GX470 w/ Nav (Original owner - 228K miles w/ lots of mountain/snow driving). I just installed the Pheonix PX6 - "10.4" Vertical Screen Android 9 Fast boot", It's a little quirky, but overall an excellent upgrade. REally gives teh truck that "new car" feeling. Now I want to upgrade the rest of the truck. Thanks fro the fun video!
I had a 2004 and now have a 2008. The 2004 felt faster (not sure why - it should have been slower without the VVTi). I also preferred the sound system in the 2004. Here are some of the other differences I noticed over the years: 2004: Less undercarriage rust. No driveshaft clunk. Rear air suspension was really noisy when it pressurized. Nakamichi amp failed after 10 years. Got it repaired by a repair shop in NY. 2007: Feels slower off the line. Driveshaft clunk (but can be mitigated with regular lubrication). Lots of undercarriage rust (both cars spent their entire life in the D.C. suburbs). In fact, the rust is so bad now, I’m getting concerned. Problems common to both: Headlights are weak by today’s standards. Power window switchgear fails (probably from leaving the window down in the rain). O2 sensors. Gas cap. Undercarriage rust. Plastic runners under front seats don’t stay in place. Wheel corrosion. Brakes are undersized. Tip: use cryo-treated rotors up front to eliminate vibration/pulsing. Brake calipers typically seize around 100k miles. Rear barn door opens the wrong direction (optimized for right-hand drive countries). Wheel bearings tend to start failing around 100k miles. Otherwise, pretty bulletproof.
Alternator had to be replaced on my 2008 GX470 !!! Had my GX470 truck for 9 years. Bought it with 29,500 miles, currently has 149,590 miles. Preventive maintenance has been kept with great results, except alternator.
Awesome! Thanks for watching! Do you have the transfer case actuator leak? If so, one of my first videos was how to fix that without pulling/ splittting the TC: ruclips.net/video/5kj8n8BC92w/видео.html
Quick note: Toyota never recommends a transmission fluid flush, it could actually cause problems with the transmission. I would do a drain and fill only. Toyota actually does recommend this for severe driving, but I’d do it regardless.
I’d be very interested to see where Toyota has said they never recommend a flush. Can you leave a link here for everyone? I’ve heard it both ways and want to make sure everyone’s voice is heard.
I've read the same thing all over the forums and facebook pages for pretty much any vehicle, not just Toyotas. When they're higher mileage, you risk dislodging larger particulates in the trans that might not find their way out during the flush. I've always seen it advised to do multiple drain and fills instead of a flush for a high mileage car. i.e drain and fill, drive 1-3k miles, and repeat.
@@lexus_offroad_adventures Toyota Australia tell customers who’ve asked about getting their AFT changed that it never needs replacing. I replaced mine shortly after buying my 120 Prado at 210,000km (131,000 miles) and it was black & smelled burned. The transmission was developing a thump when changing to R or D. After the ATF was flushed it changed to R & D smooth again.
@@lexus_offroad_adventures every Toyota master tech I've ever spoken to has said drain and fill is the way to go. Also, make sure it's done at a Toyota/Lexus dealership as it's best to use the OE transmission fluid
Are these Bulletproof and Reliable...LOL Did you say it enough.. Remind us again..are these Bulletproof and Reliable?? Just messing with you...Great Video!!! At 16:10 is that a homemade CV boot...LOL
in 20 years I've put over a million miles on Lexus cars and trucks. LS 400, 430, 460 LX's and two GX's. My mint 2004 GX was totaled 2 months ago by a distracted driver. Just had it's 90K mile service. I searched all over PA, NJ, NY for a replacement. Found a clean 2005 with 180K for $9K. Needed a few things. I replaced the air springs, found out during the process that it was just a cracked air line. But new springs and today I did the axles as one side had a torn boot. A caliper last week and some brake pads. All work that I did on my own. Cost me around $400 in parts. She's going in for timing belt service on Friday at the Toyota dealer. $800 for that service. Overall I'll have about $10K invested in a truck that will last me 4 or 5 more years. Nothing better than a Lexus.
The other nice thing about the 2003-2004 models is that 87 octane fuel is ok to use. I have both an 04 and an 08 GX470. While I’ve heard of people using 87 octane in their VVTi motor, it isn’t recommended, and there’s a noticeable difference in (lack of) power.
I bought my 06 gx with 180k miles back in July 2021. I’ve only ran 87 octane once I bought it and all the way up to 245k miles a few months ago. I never had any issues since then until Earlier this summer with the fuel pump starting to stall the car out from time to time. Now i fill up with premium . Not sure if it was because I was running 87 or maybe the fuel pump replacement was due anyway. Either way it’s not another risk I’m willing to take. I don’t mind spending an extra $15 bucks per fill up. I assumed since it has the same motor as the v8 4runner and sequoia that run on 87 it would be ok on the gx but after some research i was told because it has vvti it’s better to run 91
Looking at an 04 with 180k miles on it. Dealership wants $9,000. It is a GA truck, with an immaculate undercarriage. 3 previous owners, which is a little much, but none of them put a ton of miles on it. Still up in the air as far as pulling the trigger on it.
thanks for the lexus garage tip. I'm shopping now and have 3 I'm looking at.. some crazy things to be found in those service records! none of them have had the 90K mile service done all are around 120K miles so their prices will need to come down....
This video was another plus huge help on Wednesday i am going to look at 04 gx470 silver on black with 129K carfax checks out one minor accident and since im at Chicagoland area got in hold of That Car Care Nut to get em on lift go over and tell me what needed to be done If the sell go on the first upgrade will be joying radio and prado vents thanks to you
Nice, yeah I bought mine at 155k as well and the previous owner had just done a radiator+timing belt+water pump. No issues at all other than the transfer case actuator leak, which I fixed for a couple bucks and made a video about
@@lexus_offroad_adventures i have 210k on it now and am getting ready to do the timing belt and water pump again. I saved that actuator video just in case I need to fix that issue if it arises. Thank you for all of the great info!!✌🏻
BUY THE ASIN Timing belt/water pump kit. The previous owner went with a cheap water pump and it failed after 40k. It's a big job to replace the water pump.
You still have a bit to learn, but keep it up. I will throw one out. If you see aftermarket wheels on a vehicle there is a 98% chance they are inferior to factory wheels. The Japanese went to far as to make a casting mark to signify the quality of the alloy (looks like a little cursive m). Potmetal "rims" that you buy are of such low quality that a pothole that a factory wheel would shake off with no problem will split or break and aftermarket wheel. Thats not all though. You will wonder why you keep losing air, and its because the cheap metal will develop corrosion pitting in the wheel lip and start leaking. If you want to upgrade to some Methods or other VERY high quality wheel, go ahead. Otherwise you are literally buying problems you didnt have to begin with.
Til the 70 gets stuck on its rear spring perches! Lol kidding, we are so jealous of the mighty 70 over here in the states. I personally love the irony of rock crawling in a soccer mom car though
Brakes have a few problems.. abs motors and rotors warping.. only thing I think you missed besides the info screen and heater control shared system.. sucks for aftermarket radios.. and a pain to add on anything easy.. no reasonable plug and play setup.. all stupid high for just ok stuff.. and I'm saying this owning a car audio shop for over 10 years...
Let's not forget the absolutely most important aspect of non vvti 2uzs TRD SUPERCHARGER BAYYBEE That and the rear axle gussets were weaker in 03 and 04 which is important for off road in rocky conditions SAIS is only on vvti SAIS causes emissions test states to fail the vehicle and will set on lights it does nothing mechanically. There are bypasses that will cut the lights and codes, but they won't pass emissions. Idle air control is usually a loose vac line That t case actuator is not an oring. It's an oil seal which sounds similar if you don't know what you're talking about. It's a bitch to get it seated right.
That’s right! TRD S/C compatibility is a good one. Lol everything here except the snarky o-ring vs. oil Seal comment 😂 I was not referring to the t-case shift shaft oil seal, that’s not what failed on mine. It was the o-ring that seals the outer part of the actuator to the t-case that got flattened. Part number 90301-56009 which is literally labeled “Ring, O” See below video: ruclips.net/video/5kj8n8BC92w/видео.html
@@lexus_offroad_adventures I know what oil seal you're talking about. It's not an entirely negligible difference. The oil seal has a spring inside of it and is very prone to not seating correctly and leaking. Some people have had problems with the actuator going out of alignment as well. I can 3d print the brittle dust covers on the actuator as well if you need one. Mine broke. I think about 30-50% of them break in the seal replacement
Yes it’s designed to have a 1-6% reduction in fuel consumption but when there’s an extra 10% of power on tap, it would be hard to resist being a little more heavy-footed (for me and others I’ve talked to at least lol)
Seem like this vehicle has some high and expensive concerns, no different from a Range Rover LR4...I have a 2002 RR P38 on its 22nd yr...not sure which one would cost me less between my p38 and getting a used GX470....
Good review and good tips. Makes my garage kept all original 2006 Non -Nav southern baby even more special, never seen snow or 4-wheel drive! 155K and still have original timing belt...alt the only major item replaced.
Awesome! Definitely going to want to cycle that center differential actuator. Some say if it doesn’t get used, it can sieze up. Wow original timing belt?! That’s should get changed out ASAP lol
@@lexus_offroad_adventures I asked Lexus technicians when I had the alternator replaced how many timing belts they've seen bad...of course none. I'm monitoring the water pump as the key to doing that major job, should add that the truck and only towed twice and for only short distances. The way they are driven had alot to do with the drive train and components. Wifes car so yeah it is babied.
Great video! You briefly mentioned the KDSS that can be found in some of these models. After doing some research on the functionality of the system it seems to be a very good at improving the road handling but due to the geometry of the system and the complexity it can be very difficult to increase the height of the lift and suspension travel. Since you own a very capable GX, can you go over any issues that you may have had with KDSS and possible solutions? I Really want a late model Gx470 to build but I'm on the fence about KDSS. TIA
Thanks for watching! KDSS is great to get the best of both worlds for on/off-road handling. Problem is, you’re mostly limited to 2.5” of front lift and only about 1” of rear lift to not run into issues with “KDSS Lean” or a stiff ride. This is really the only tried and true solution, just don’t lift it too high and it should perform fine. Actually would perform better to a normal GX. But a lot of people don’t want to be lift-limited like that. I just don’t run anti-sway bars in mine when I go wheeling lol that’s a great thing about not having to worry about KDSS: It’s not the limiting factor in lifting (if you just add the Icon front sway bar spacer to help clear the front coils) and you can just remove your sway bars if you want to go hard wheeling and rock crawling. A lot of people like their KDSS and I believe Treaty Oak and other companies have some KDSS spacers to allow for more lift without running into issues www.treatyoakoffroad.com/product/kdss-spacer-kit Not sure how well they work but I’m sure companies have come up with solutions to the above issues.
@@lexus_offroad_adventures thanks for the helpful information. I've been on treaty oaks' site and found a few possible ways to increase travel without the issues. Dr. KDSS has endlink corrections that bolt on to the lca to improve geometry. Maybe one day I'll be able to swing the $15k for portal axles and not worry about it. 😂
thanks for the video. its very informative. i currently own a 2005 4runner with the same V8 2wd. im deciding on a 5th gen 4runner or one of these. your thoughts?
It’s hard to say. The 5th gen 4 runners are nice, newer cars. A lot of it will depend on how new/nice the trucks you’re looking at are. I’d take a great condition 2007 GX470 over a run-down high mileage 2014 5th gen for example.
@@lexus_offroad_adventures thanks for replying. the fact is my current 4runner works great im not making any moves until probably 2024. the car market is still kinda crazy. im leaning more 4runner because of the timing chain. idk yet because i love that V8. thanks again!
Between an older gx and the 5th gen, the 5th gen is the better car. If you can get it for the right price, id get the 5th gen. Now between the 5th gen and the new gx, get the gx. Saw a post on reddit where a 5th gen trd pro was more expensive than a new gx, everyone was saying to get the gx, its just the better car if its the same year as the 4runner.
Thanks for watching! The consensus in the GX community seems to be to buy the latest/lowest mile GX you can afford or are in the market to spend, regardless of generation. The later ones with the 4.6 are more efficient and powerful, but that comes with more complexity. I believe there is a coolant leak issue that is common around 100-120k miles in those. However, the 4.6 has a timing chain vs. timing belt so you won’t need to spend $1k every 90k miles to change out the timing belt/water pump/bearings/pulleys. HOWEVER (haha) changing out those components semi-regularly on the 4.7 may be a contributing factor to why they last so long and are so reliable. There’s always going to be trade-offs. It depends what you’re in the market for. For me, I wanted a cheap, reliable, capable overland rig. Others may want a luxury SUV like Lexus designed these things for. *If the former*, I recommend a 03-04 GX without VVT-i since there are more of those in the market and hence *should* be lower priced. If you need more power and can spend a bit more, get the latest (07-09) VVT model you can find if possible to postpone the inevitable secondary air injection pump issue. *If you’re looking for the latter* a 2010+ 460 would be a good place to start, specifically post 2014 with the facelift. The 2010-13 has a face only a mother could love in my opinion lol but for me it would be worth it to get the benefits of the updated power train.
Towing factor is the only reason I would consider selling my 2006 GX 470 with 137,500 miles on it. Its tows a 12' enclosed trailer but to tow more than its towing capacity is NOT a good idea. Therefore I would buy a truck with higher towing capacity because the GX 470 is not able to tow higher payloads.
Spectacular video. I am on the fence and thinking about adding this as my second and weekend car. I own a 200 series Land Cruiser which I love but want some thing reliable that I can not worry about. Should I be scared of 150,000 miles with good service records? Can this engine and platform really last 250,000 miles?
Thanks for watching! It’s essentially the same powertrain as the 100 series Land Cruiser, so yes, the longevity is legit. As I always recommend to people looking for a 470, get a pre-purchase inspection by a reputable shop (preferably a Toyota/Lexus specialist) before buying. It’s a few hundred bucks but it’ll do 2 things for you: 1) tell you everything that the truck needs in terms of maintenance or repairs, or 2) tell you that the truck is a lemon that you need to run away from.
Looking at an 04 with 180k miles on it. Dealership wants $9,000. It is a GA truck, with an immaculate undercarriage. 3 previous owners, which is a little much, but none of them put a ton of miles on it. Still up in the air as far as pulling the trigger on it. What do you think?
what would be the range of driving mileage to get a GX in a good condition? I love your video because I wanna buy one but I don't know so much about those cars. Thanks for your information
Good condition depends on how well the car was maintained, not as much mileage on these cars. As with other cars, lower mileage is usually better, but not if it’s beat up or if it’s over-priced for your budget. I bought my GXs at 155k and 100k miles. Not a single issue really, other than some CV boots leaking and the transfer case actuator leak, which i show how to fix in an older video
I would just try to find one with a recent timing belt service that looks like it’s in good condition inside and out. Test all the off road controls and make sure they work. I made a video on how to operate all the off road controls: ruclips.net/video/o_7ZrNIk70Q/видео.html
Good job on the review, and analysis. If you see this what is the most desirable used Lexus 4xx. I used to have land cruisers fj40, fj60,etc… got away from them for years. I Don’t want to have GM trucks, anymore and I like the one you’re discussing. I’m definitely buying one that has never seen off road, a soccer mom used one. I’ve seen a nice 2011,GX 460, very clean. It says 4 wheel drive but are these AWD, also if they ran them on regular gas is that a bad thing with the ethanol?
Yes they are AWD with a Torsen limited slip center differential/transfer case. They become proper 4WD when you hit the center differential lock button and it splits power 50/50 between front and rear. 460s need premium.
@@lexus_offroad_adventures thanks for that. I’ve always shyed away from AWD, old school mindset. Like to have the front warn hubs unlocked. But the GX460/70 are new generation, I think I’ve waited long enough for them to iron out any issues with the new designs. I do kinda laugh when I see all the young guys, adding the big wheels & tires, lift kits, body accessories and then saying they don’t get good mileage ! I just think it’s funny. I will keep a tall set of studded truck tires for going off road. Thanks for response to questions. Now that I’ve decided what vehicle I want, I will wait until I find and un modified, well maintained, never towed, gx470.
@@peterparsons7141 the AWD system is all mechanical (Torsen), so nothing to really worry about. The only electronic component is the center diff lock actuator, which is a potential pain point since then never get “exercised” by the owners, but just test it out when on your test drive to make sure it works and use it every so often if you buy the vehicle. Oh yeah, can’t go wrong with old school stuff. But if you’re going to go with a late model off-roader, the GX platform whether 1st gen (470, 03-09) or second gen (460, ‘10-present) is comfortable and fairly well proven in terms of reliability. My GX470 is 20 years old next year and, amazingly, everything still works! I’m sure if you find a clean example with the criteria you mentioned, it’ll be a nice vehicle for you. But yeah, no matter the year, if you put on big tires, they get thirsty 😅
@@lexus_offroad_adventures thanks , that’s exactly the info I wanted and just the broad information. I’m definitely going with the 467/470. The land cruisers are over priced and parts are hard to find. Regards to the center diff lock , it was a similar issue the the warn fron hubs in the old stuff. If you never used them or maintenance them, then they could get stuck/locked . Etc. So we serviced them when doing wheel service, and used them regularly. I do the same in my 5th gen, GMC trucks. Nothing worse than not using something for 18 months, 3 seasons, and then turn it on and go 100% full power.. dosnt make sense and never ends well with any machine or tool. I just dismissed most of the new stuff, I happened on a very clean 460. Original owner, well maintained and started to look at them and realized these were pretty good machines. There’s no getting away from touch screens and computers etc, so my experience with Toyota’s tells me this is the way to go. But not new one, I’m not paying 80k for something that I may push hard. Insurance dosnt cover for roll overs in bad places.
Really appreciate your thoughtful informative response. I’m starting to get a good feel for the GX, and am actively monitoring what’s available. I will do my work up front so as not to have to learn about potential problems when they appear. Do you have a quick way of differentiating between models. I’m going second gen, 2014-201x. As I understand there’s three models. Base,Premium, Ultra. With the used car sales people obfuscating between these. Base is easy. Premium.. with options Ultra with options. Crawl mode, and lane change indicator . Is this a telling feature which differentiates Premium/Ulta..? Do car people still use VIN codes as an easier way to know what we’re dealing with ? (That’s an old dude question). How do you quickly identify the most desirable? Thanks again for you previous responses.
anybody else having problems with squeaking when driving on rough terrain? mine was coming from the 2nd row seats. I lubed all the 2nd row joints and that fixed the problem.
I personally got a professional transmission flush done on my rig at 155k miles. The tech said the fluid was completely black and contaminated. Shifted way smoother after and I’ve been problem-free ever since. But yeah, I also wish they just put a 60k mile interval on it in the maintenance schedule like this Toyota master tech recommends: ruclips.net/video/OJZLMIl6XPo/видео.html
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Thanks for watching, everyone. Please SUBSCRIBE! It really helps me out. Thanks!
gx470 has a transfer case leak issue where if you bring it to a dealership they will crack it open for $2000 to replace the o-rings in the transfer case actuator motor. It can be fixed for $45 by just removing the actuator motor and replace the o-ring. I have that issue on mine and got a nice discount because of that issue. Fixed the leak by buying o-ring from rocket seals in Colorado (dealer don't have those seal available or for sale)
So awesome! 👏 fun job. I did the same right after I got my GX too
ruclips.net/video/5kj8n8BC92w/видео.html
follow-up question: what happens when that leak is never fixed and how would you look for that?
@@SR-te2db you'll see oil puddles in the floor and if it goes low or empty it will destroy your transfer case.
Thx. Don't go to dealers unless you have to. Find an honest mechanic who knows lexus
One "last ditch" place I use for finding O-rings is the local heavy equipment maintenance place. They sell parts as well, and will size my O-ring to find one like it.
I have a December 2004 built 2004 GX470 (Black). Purchased used in 2008 with 40,000 miles. Since then, I have put 100,000 miles on the odometer. It is a great vehicle and I have a great mechanic. Based on my experience, here are few items to check. First, the spare tire. Where it sits under the car allows salt and water to puddle between the tire and rim. This will corrode the wheel and you will eventually get a tire pressure warning light. Only cure is a new/rebuilt rim. Second, gas gauge. Make sure it works. Not an expensive part but a real pain to replace the float (figure about $800 to $1,000 labor). You have to drop the tank and to do that, you must disconnect the driveshaft. Third, rear shocks. They can rust out and are expensive to replace. The shocks alone are $500 each. Fourth, stuck brake calipers. It is great that they use four piston calipers. Unfortunately, that gives you a greater chance of one of them sticking. Radiators are not a lifetime part. Look for telltale pink stain on the radiator. Last but not least, check the CV joint boots for leaking.
Dude. Your spare tire was mounted upside down.
I’m saving up for my first right now ! Can’t wait
Same here hopefully in 2 weeks
I couldn’t have found this channel at a better time - I’m going to look at and hopefully buy a gx470 next week and I’m already fantasizing about doing the same mods as you. Subscribed!!
Woohoo 🙌 thanks for watching!
@@bikerbud3903 that sounds like an incredible find but unfortunately I’m only looking to spend around half that- the one I’m looking at has much higher mileage. If you’re not in a hurry to sell it, I would list it on Bring a Trailer and I don’t think you’d have any trouble bringing in 30k with how much people want these.
@@bikerbud3903 An LX470 with 79k miles sold for $37,500 recently on BaT
@@bikerbud3903 where in Pa. ? I am in NEPA
@@artvanderlay2110 NW Pa
Great tip with the Lexus service history site. There’s a 04 GX that I was on the fence about due to limited info from carfax. With the Lexus driver site I was able to find out it’s had timing and water pump replaced within the last 60k!
👏👏👏
Same…I was adding cars left and right just to check lol
That’s how I found mine. A one owner that had been dealer serviced in Orange County, California its entire life. They had done literally EVERYTHING. Transmission fluid drain and refills every 100k miles even! Truck looked 4 years old. With 313k miles on it
You can still check the trans fluid, it’s a bit more involved. Good content sir
Thanks for the correction! I enjoy your content as well! Cheers
Sold my 1998 Lexus ES 300 with beautiful & soft tan interior and got a 2013 Lexus GS 350 with Luxury package. I love my GS and the rear wheel drive is amazing BUT I really do miss the ole 98 ES LOL 😂 Now that I have a kid (6 yrs old) I’ve been thinking about getting a larger vehicle and have been interested in the GX for many years now! They look bad ass and those engines are solid. Maybe I’ll buy one in the future. As of now, I’ll continue driving my GS 350 which may become a collectors item one day since they stopped making GS models. Informative video, thank you!
Excellent information I own a 2007 I have 81000 orig miles runs perfectly only service by Lexus I was thinking of trading it in or selling it a couple years ago but now I realize I probably want to keep this since I have taken such good care of it since the beginning this video only helped me make that decision thank you.
Thanks for watching! Yeah I’d definitely hold on to it, sounds like a beautiful rig
With the mileage it has. What do u think ur trucks true value is today if u chose to sell it
Serious question
I’ll give you $16k cash. Lemme know.
I'm in jersey. Looked at a few in a row here and in PA with way too much rust. Found one I could have lived with but it had the cracked exhaust manifold issue. Dealer wouldn't budge either. He actually admitted he'd just sell it to someone that didn't notice it or wouldn't care rather then take money off for it. Anyway, finally got a near perfect for its age and mileage (07 144k). Gray interior. Had the dash recall too. California and Georgia car. Zero rust. Actually looks better underneath then new cars around here. Drove down south to get it. Gave it to my wife, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm shopping for a second now. I see why so many of you guys have 2 or more of these trucks. Unbelievably awesome.
Awesome job with that Second one! Ya I can’t believe I ended up with two of these things either, but they just found me lol
I'm in NW Pa and have a rust free from Arizona an 06 GX470 SPORT Package with KDSS. 76,500. Excellent condition that I am selling. Love it but I need a PU truck. Email buddy ebs at hot mail
@@bikerbud3903 I'm interested but my email came back undeliverable
@@bikerbud3903 still available?
So what did u pay ??
Kinda glad to see high gas prices landing some fresh GX 470 Lexus on the local market for not bad prices… one even has dark grey leather! I could get into one of these, but I’m not going to give away a spare 5 or 10 grand. These are an insanely good deal anyway.
You can check the trans fluid, It's under the vehicle. There is a fill plug you pull out and can get a sample of the fluid from. It should just barely pour out if its full. Yeah it's not as easy as a dip stick but its not terrible either. I can't remember what the fastener type is but it's the only one of its kind that you will see and is smaller than the rest. Drain and fills are easy on these too so you can easily keep the fluid clean if you do drain and fills on time.
Is there a trans fluid filter that can be replaced?
This information is priceless. thank you. I wish I'd seen this video before buying a gx470 two weeks ago. I might have known to look for the manifold issue because I didnt discover it until after the purchase.
What issue are you referring to?
Good vid. Sticky calipers are common - easy to upgrade to 460 calipers, rotors, pads. Folks have replaced 470 with OEM and then they still fail so good idea to go 460. They are beefier. Also some AC evaporators are failing - mine failed but has had to fight texas heat.
Thanks! Great points. I am actually planning on doing the 460 brake upgrade on my off-road 470 so idk why I forgot to include that in the video 😅 anyway, that’s what comments like these are for!
@@lexus_offroad_adventures my friend has a 460 and he has warped rotors @50k miles, it seems to be a common issue with 460. Not sure why this upgrade is better.
@@highmilesgarage9131
It’d be his braking style on long downhills. He needs to use the gears to help control the car’s speed. Upgrading the rotors to slotted & dimpled helps a lot.
@@cliffbooth7075 yup, I learned that poor braking habits that ignore the dynamics of heat and friction costs you warped rotors.
Worst thing is having red hot discs & then holding the brakes down at a stoplight. Keep releasing them so they can cool and you avoid damage.
I had the same issue with a sticky front left caliper. One of the 3 pistons seized up.
I just learned so much about GX470. Thanks
I've been interested in a gx470, thanks for the informative vid!!!
Thanks for watching!
One other bonus of a non VVT-i engine is it's a non-interference engine, the valves and the piston never occupy the same space. If your timing belt breaks, the engine just stops running and won't destroy the valves/head.
I’ve heard mixed answers on this, actually. Part of me is skeptical since changing from interference to non-interference would require a completely different head design. Not sure why Toyota would do that but if true that would definitely be a huge advantage to the non-VVT engines.
I’d be very interested to check out any sources you have on this since I can’t seem to find anything official on the subject
Plus you can replace the camshaft seals without having to remove the cams.
The 2UZ-FE is an interference engine. Don’t wait to break a timing belt to find out.
So, that's only the 2003 model, right?
Rust is the biggest issue. I checked out a GX here in MN and was able to poke through the frame in several spots. I told the owner that they should not drive the vehicle let alone sell it.
It's tough getting a good price on a car these days as people become more and more away of what they've got. And most people don't like hearing negative points about the item that they're trying to sell. If you start pointing out negatives, they'll just get offended and tell you that you're wasting their time with all that criticism. It also makes it look like, in their mind, that the car you're looking at, isn't for you. You're not the right buyer for it and they'll move onto the next guy.
they not wrong and have every right to sell at whatever price
Sales guys just want to make the sale!
Great video, I am in the market for one around $20k and both I have looked at have rusted out frames. I am looking at a 3rd one tomorrow in Indiana 2008 with 107k miles and very clean service history at Lexus of Merriville it’s whole life. I hope that frame is not rusted out 😢😢
how much is it pls?
I'm in Socal looking for a GX470, just worried it may have trouble fitting in my car port and about and pissing off my neighbors too much by switching from a Civic SI Sedan to a GX470. Thanks for making the video I think it is very applicable to my situation. I'll keep looking for that "ruined airbags, bald tires, scratched wheels and no NAV, but otherwise perfect GX". Thanks Again!
There is a spot called miramar motors that sells great gx470 built up a little that are super well maintained. Got mine there and it was amazing
@@vincentalvarado9478 they mark those things wayyyyy up. I found an unmolested example with great service history and in great condition in San Diego for $12K... Not going to pay $25 to $30K for a vehicle that was $9K a year ago.
@@vincentalvarado9478 markup on those are insane tho. I can find an identical vehicle private owned for 20k less than the ones they list.
Thanks @Lexus Off-Road Adventures for this very well put together clip , and for also putting up with dumb questions. Keep it up Mate.
Exceptional vid brother! Thank you.
Thanks for watching! 🙏
Bought a 05' in June 2020 ... just before the prices went crazy.
Nice! Same here, bought mine in June 2020 as well!
@@CG-ggg sorry I missed this reply. I got my silver one for 6500, 155k miles, bad paint and a minor rear fender bender on the carfax but it had a hitch so no real damage. An immaculate example with same mileage would have probably been 7-9 back then, now that would be around 15-17
Thank you so much. That was a good analysis. Nice one.
Great tips, fortunately for my unsight unseen GX470 timing belt was done at 123K miles, I haven’t tested the 4wd control lever yet. Just need to get part of rocker panels pulled and doors done.
Nice! I’m no stranger to the sight-unseen GX life haha
Hope it works out with the body work!
@@lexus_offroad_adventures thanks I’m excited crazy even with the side damage the sob still drives straight as an arrow these rigs are tanks.
I did mine at just over 100K and the original still looked new.
I kept factoring in all the questionable unknowns when negotiating, and finally got the GX handed over for free. Thank you.
This is the way
@@lexus_offroad_adventures On a serious note. Thanks for putting this one together. Really helpful.
@@mbadi5735 🙏thanks for watching!
Absolutely perfect and USEFUL information. THANK YOU !!!!!!!!
Thanks for watching! 🙏
Don't let the navigation models scare you away. Phoenix automotive makes a radio that includes the air controls and it's plug and play. Also makes your GX 470 feel a lot younger in the cabin.
Yes absolutely. Thanks for sharing sharing your experience. I’ve heard mixed reviews about the performance of those units but I’m sure they’ll get better as the software improves. For my Nav GX I went with the Grom system. Making a review for it soon
@@lexus_offroad_adventures The Phoenix automotive radio definitely has some drawbacks but it's definitely a huge upgrade to the stock radio. Looking forward to seeing the review on your radio.
I have a 2003 GX470 w/ Nav (Original owner - 228K miles w/ lots of mountain/snow driving). I just installed the Pheonix PX6 - "10.4" Vertical Screen Android 9 Fast boot", It's a little quirky, but overall an excellent upgrade. REally gives teh truck that "new car" feeling. Now I want to upgrade the rest of the truck. Thanks fro the fun video!
What’s the cost of the unit
@@kahncreationsable what was the cost of the unit
I had a 2004 and now have a 2008. The 2004 felt faster (not sure why - it should have been slower without the VVTi). I also preferred the sound system in the 2004. Here are some of the other differences I noticed over the years:
2004: Less undercarriage rust. No driveshaft clunk. Rear air suspension was really noisy when it pressurized. Nakamichi amp failed after 10 years. Got it repaired by a repair shop in NY.
2007: Feels slower off the line. Driveshaft clunk (but can be mitigated with regular lubrication). Lots of undercarriage rust (both cars spent their entire life in the D.C. suburbs). In fact, the rust is so bad now, I’m getting concerned.
Problems common to both:
Headlights are weak by today’s standards. Power window switchgear fails (probably from leaving the window down in the rain). O2 sensors. Gas cap. Undercarriage rust. Plastic runners under front seats don’t stay in place. Wheel corrosion. Brakes are undersized. Tip: use cryo-treated rotors up front to eliminate vibration/pulsing. Brake calipers typically seize around 100k miles. Rear barn door opens the wrong direction (optimized for right-hand drive countries). Wheel bearings tend to start failing around 100k miles. Otherwise, pretty bulletproof.
best of the best
Awesome tips. Tons of research into this.
Alternator had to be replaced on my 2008 GX470 !!! Had my GX470 truck for 9 years. Bought it with 29,500 miles, currently has 149,590 miles. Preventive maintenance has been kept with great results, except alternator.
Information intense! Thank you.
Trying to get one and even though the info is a lot and very well laid out I’ll try hold as much as I can come purchase day.
Thanks for the tips -- picked up an '05, non-nav sport out of Dallas. Ash blue over gray.
Thank you for sharing the video with great content, wish you always happy and have a lot of strength and success in your work!!
Very good info! Thanks for sharing! I will be posting transfercase tear down soon.... and timing belt eventually...
Awesome! Thanks for watching! Do you have the transfer case actuator leak? If so, one of my first videos was how to fix that without pulling/ splittting the TC: ruclips.net/video/5kj8n8BC92w/видео.html
I live in the Appalachian Mts.... drove a buddies gx w/ the KD... so much more fun on mt curves than my own
Do NOT do a trans flush!!!! Huge mistake and trans will start slipping. Drain and refill.
Thank you so much this was an amazing video!!!
Thanks for watching!
Quick note: Toyota never recommends a transmission fluid flush, it could actually cause problems with the transmission. I would do a drain and fill only. Toyota actually does recommend this for severe driving, but I’d do it regardless.
I’d be very interested to see where Toyota has said they never recommend a flush. Can you leave a link here for everyone? I’ve heard it both ways and want to make sure everyone’s voice is heard.
I've read the same thing all over the forums and facebook pages for pretty much any vehicle, not just Toyotas. When they're higher mileage, you risk dislodging larger particulates in the trans that might not find their way out during the flush. I've always seen it advised to do multiple drain and fills instead of a flush for a high mileage car. i.e drain and fill, drive 1-3k miles, and repeat.
@@lexus_offroad_adventures
Toyota Australia tell customers who’ve asked about getting their AFT changed that it never needs replacing. I replaced mine shortly after buying my 120 Prado at 210,000km (131,000 miles) and it was black & smelled burned. The transmission was developing a thump when changing to R or D. After the ATF was flushed it changed to R & D smooth again.
@@lexus_offroad_adventures every Toyota master tech I've ever spoken to has said drain and fill is the way to go. Also, make sure it's done at a Toyota/Lexus dealership as it's best to use the OE transmission fluid
My Toyota dealer did recommend flushing. It hadnt been done it’s whole life until 225,000 miles. No problems soo far.
Are these Bulletproof and Reliable...LOL
Did you say it enough..
Remind us again..are these Bulletproof and Reliable??
Just messing with you...Great Video!!!
At 16:10 is that a homemade CV boot...LOL
Very informative video. Thank you 🙏 for sharing your knowledge.
Thanks for watching!
Thanks! I am just starting my search...
Super informative. Thanks man!
Thanks for watching!
in 20 years I've put over a million miles on Lexus cars and trucks. LS 400, 430, 460 LX's and two GX's. My mint 2004 GX was totaled 2 months ago by a distracted driver. Just had it's 90K mile service. I searched all over PA, NJ, NY for a replacement. Found a clean 2005 with 180K for $9K. Needed a few things. I replaced the air springs, found out during the process that it was just a cracked air line. But new springs and today I did the axles as one side had a torn boot. A caliper last week and some brake pads. All work that I did on my own. Cost me around $400 in parts. She's going in for timing belt service on Friday at the Toyota dealer. $800 for that service. Overall I'll have about $10K invested in a truck that will last me 4 or 5 more years. Nothing better than a Lexus.
Sounds like it’ll be a solid rig! Awesome work 👏
So what did ur insurance company pay by for ur gx.. sometimes they try to lowball customers
@@thesinfultruth7697 $10,200
@@twowayyo11 sheesh they lowballed their fuck out u
@@twowayyo11 no way ur truck was it worth 18k
This was very helpful! Thank you very much!
Thanks for watching! 🙏
Thank you for this.May be looking at a 419k 1999 model tomorrow.
Very nice walk through inspection
Super helpful, thanks
The other nice thing about the 2003-2004 models is that 87 octane fuel is ok to use. I have both an 04 and an 08 GX470. While I’ve heard of people using 87 octane in their VVTi motor, it isn’t recommended, and there’s a noticeable difference in (lack of) power.
First time hearing this, where can I find information on this?
I bought my 06 gx with 180k miles back in July 2021. I’ve only ran 87 octane once I bought it and all the way up to 245k miles a few months ago. I never had any issues since then until Earlier this summer with the fuel pump starting to stall the car out from time to time. Now i fill up with premium . Not sure if it was because I was running 87 or maybe the fuel pump replacement was due anyway. Either way it’s not another risk I’m willing to take. I don’t mind spending an extra $15 bucks per fill up.
I assumed since it has the same motor as the v8 4runner and sequoia that run on 87 it would be ok on the gx but after some research i was told because it has vvti it’s better to run 91
This video helped a whole lot I am a female looking for a car you just enlighten me on so many things to look for
Woohoo! 🙌 Thanks for watching and good luck with your search
Super helpful. Couple things I didnt already know. I'm going to look at an 03 tomorrow
Excellent video, thank you.
Thanks for watching!
Fantastic bud thx!
Great vid!!
Great tips!
Looking at an 04 with 180k miles on it.
Dealership wants $9,000. It is a GA truck, with an immaculate undercarriage.
3 previous owners, which is a little much, but none of them put a ton of miles on it.
Still up in the air as far as pulling the trigger on it.
Great video!!!
thanks for the lexus garage tip. I'm shopping now and have 3 I'm looking at.. some crazy things to be found in those service records! none of them have had the 90K mile service done all are around 120K miles so their prices will need to come down....
Definitely try to factor that into the purchase price. That old rubber needs to get replaced. Good luck!
Great video fam!
Thanks! 🙏
This video was another plus huge help on Wednesday i am going to look at 04 gx470 silver on black with 129K carfax checks out one minor accident and since im at Chicagoland area got in hold of That Car Care Nut to get em on lift go over and tell me what needed to be done If the sell go on the first upgrade will be joying radio and prado vents thanks to you
Right on! Yeah definitely check for rust on cars from that area. The Car Care Nut will no doubt get it sorted.
THANK YOU / YOU DID A GREAT JOB / THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL THE GREAT INFO / KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND MOST OF ALL KEEP THE FAITH / JESUS SAVES
Amen brother God bless
I had to replace my radiator first thing when I bought my ‘04 with 155k miles. Other than that it’s been a great reliable vehicle.
Nice, yeah I bought mine at 155k as well and the previous owner had just done a radiator+timing belt+water pump. No issues at all other than the transfer case actuator leak, which I fixed for a couple bucks and made a video about
@@lexus_offroad_adventures i have 210k on it now and am getting ready to do the timing belt and water pump again. I saved that actuator video just in case I need to fix that issue if it arises. Thank you for all of the great info!!✌🏻
BUY THE ASIN Timing belt/water pump kit. The previous owner went with a cheap water pump and it failed after 40k. It's a big job to replace the water pump.
Excelent information
You still have a bit to learn, but keep it up. I will throw one out. If you see aftermarket wheels on a vehicle there is a 98% chance they are inferior to factory wheels. The Japanese went to far as to make a casting mark to signify the quality of the alloy (looks like a little cursive m). Potmetal "rims" that you buy are of such low quality that a pothole that a factory wheel would shake off with no problem will split or break and aftermarket wheel. Thats not all though. You will wonder why you keep losing air, and its because the cheap metal will develop corrosion pitting in the wheel lip and start leaking. If you want to upgrade to some Methods or other VERY high quality wheel, go ahead. Otherwise you are literally buying problems you didnt have to begin with.
The Prado 120 is very good but you’ll find mainly landcruisers 70 series in the outback … A lot of 4x4 users see the 120 as a soccer mum’s car…
Til the 70 gets stuck on its rear spring perches! Lol kidding, we are so jealous of the mighty 70 over here in the states.
I personally love the irony of rock crawling in a soccer mom car though
Very usefull video...thanks,
Brakes have a few problems.. abs motors and rotors warping.. only thing I think you missed besides the info screen and heater control shared system.. sucks for aftermarket radios.. and a pain to add on anything easy.. no reasonable plug and play setup.. all stupid high for just ok stuff.. and I'm saying this owning a car audio shop for over 10 years...
Mine frame was so bad. I needed to spend $4,000 to get it fixed. Still love my Gx
Man I’m sorry to hear that. It’s really a shame that Toyota built such great vehicles around such rust susceptible frames
Waiting for my 2022 GX…🤩
🙌🔥🔥🔥🔥
I guess I have a ultra rare one, I have a 05 Lexus Gx470 sport package kdss non navigation with only 80k miles.
Let's not forget the absolutely most important aspect of non vvti 2uzs
TRD SUPERCHARGER BAYYBEE
That and the rear axle gussets were weaker in 03 and 04 which is important for off road in rocky conditions
SAIS is only on vvti
SAIS causes emissions test states to fail the vehicle and will set on lights it does nothing mechanically. There are bypasses that will cut the lights and codes, but they won't pass emissions.
Idle air control is usually a loose vac line
That t case actuator is not an oring. It's an oil seal which sounds similar if you don't know what you're talking about. It's a bitch to get it seated right.
That’s right! TRD S/C compatibility is a good one.
Lol everything here except the snarky o-ring vs. oil Seal comment 😂 I was not referring to the t-case shift shaft oil seal, that’s not what failed on mine. It was the o-ring that seals the outer part of the actuator to the t-case that got flattened. Part number 90301-56009 which is literally labeled “Ring, O” See below video:
ruclips.net/video/5kj8n8BC92w/видео.html
@@lexus_offroad_adventures I know what oil seal you're talking about. It's not an entirely negligible difference. The oil seal has a spring inside of it and is very prone to not seating correctly and leaking. Some people have had problems with the actuator going out of alignment as well.
I can 3d print the brittle dust covers on the actuator as well if you need one. Mine broke. I think about 30-50% of them break in the seal replacement
So much over my head. Maybe you'd be my consultant??? Great vid. Thx.
Vvti was made for better gas mileage and power when needed.
Yes it’s designed to have a 1-6% reduction in fuel consumption but when there’s an extra 10% of power on tap, it would be hard to resist being a little more heavy-footed (for me and others I’ve talked to at least lol)
Seem like this vehicle has some high and expensive concerns, no different from a Range Rover LR4...I have a 2002 RR P38 on its 22nd yr...not sure which one would cost me less between my p38 and getting a used GX470....
Good review and good tips. Makes my garage kept all original 2006 Non -Nav southern baby even more special, never seen snow or 4-wheel drive! 155K and still have original timing belt...alt the only major item replaced.
Awesome! Definitely going to want to cycle that center differential actuator. Some say if it doesn’t get used, it can sieze up. Wow original timing belt?! That’s should get changed out ASAP lol
@@lexus_offroad_adventures I asked Lexus technicians when I had the alternator replaced how many timing belts they've seen bad...of course none. I'm monitoring the water pump as the key to doing that major job, should add that the truck and only towed twice and for only short distances. The way they are driven had alot to do with the drive train and components. Wifes car so yeah it is babied.
06, 250k, air suspension failed but I replaced it with coils. That's been the only major issue I've had.
What coils did you replace with?
Great video! You briefly mentioned the KDSS that can be found in some of these models. After doing some research on the functionality of the system it seems to be a very good at improving the road handling but due to the geometry of the system and the complexity it can be very difficult to increase the height of the lift and suspension travel. Since you own a very capable GX, can you go over any issues that you may have had with KDSS and possible solutions? I Really want a late model Gx470 to build but I'm on the fence about KDSS. TIA
Thanks for watching!
KDSS is great to get the best of both worlds for on/off-road handling. Problem is, you’re mostly limited to 2.5” of front lift and only about 1” of rear lift to not run into issues with “KDSS Lean” or a stiff ride.
This is really the only tried and true solution, just don’t lift it too high and it should perform fine. Actually would perform better to a normal GX. But a lot of people don’t want to be lift-limited like that.
I just don’t run anti-sway bars in mine when I go wheeling lol that’s a great thing about not having to worry about KDSS: It’s not the limiting factor in lifting (if you just add the Icon front sway bar spacer to help clear the front coils) and you can just remove your sway bars if you want to go hard wheeling and rock crawling.
A lot of people like their KDSS and I believe Treaty Oak and other companies have some KDSS spacers to allow for more lift without running into issues www.treatyoakoffroad.com/product/kdss-spacer-kit
Not sure how well they work but I’m sure companies have come up with solutions to the above issues.
@@lexus_offroad_adventures thanks for the helpful information. I've been on treaty oaks' site and found a few possible ways to increase travel without the issues. Dr. KDSS has endlink corrections that bolt on to the lca to improve geometry. Maybe one day I'll be able to swing the $15k for portal axles and not worry about it. 😂
thanks for the video. its very informative. i currently own a 2005 4runner with the same V8 2wd. im deciding on a 5th gen 4runner or one of these. your thoughts?
It’s hard to say. The 5th gen 4 runners are nice, newer cars. A lot of it will depend on how new/nice the trucks you’re looking at are. I’d take a great condition 2007 GX470 over a run-down high mileage 2014 5th gen for example.
@@lexus_offroad_adventures thanks for replying. the fact is my current 4runner works great im not making any moves until probably 2024. the car market is still kinda crazy. im leaning more 4runner because of the timing chain. idk yet because i love that V8. thanks again!
Between an older gx and the 5th gen, the 5th gen is the better car. If you can get it for the right price, id get the 5th gen. Now between the 5th gen and the new gx, get the gx. Saw a post on reddit where a 5th gen trd pro was more expensive than a new gx, everyone was saying to get the gx, its just the better car if its the same year as the 4runner.
Thanks for the video. What are your thoughts of the 2010 models?
Thanks for watching! The consensus in the GX community seems to be to buy the latest/lowest mile GX you can afford or are in the market to spend, regardless of generation. The later ones with the 4.6 are more efficient and powerful, but that comes with more complexity. I believe there is a coolant leak issue that is common around 100-120k miles in those. However, the 4.6 has a timing chain vs. timing belt so you won’t need to spend $1k every 90k miles to change out the timing belt/water pump/bearings/pulleys. HOWEVER (haha) changing out those components semi-regularly on the 4.7 may be a contributing factor to why they last so long and are so reliable. There’s always going to be trade-offs. It depends what you’re in the market for. For me, I wanted a cheap, reliable, capable overland rig. Others may want a luxury SUV like Lexus designed these things for. *If the former*, I recommend a 03-04 GX without VVT-i since there are more of those in the market and hence *should* be lower priced. If you need more power and can spend a bit more, get the latest (07-09) VVT model you can find if possible to postpone the inevitable secondary air injection pump issue. *If you’re looking for the latter* a 2010+ 460 would be a good place to start, specifically post 2014 with the facelift. The 2010-13 has a face only a mother could love in my opinion lol but for me it would be worth it to get the benefits of the updated power train.
@@lexus_offroad_adventures thank you. Appreciate your thoughts.
I’m thinking about getting rid of my 3rd gen Tacoma for a GX
It's definitely nice if you need an SUV.
Great video, i have been looking at a 2004 gx
Towing factor is the only reason I would consider selling my 2006 GX 470 with 137,500 miles on it. Its tows a 12' enclosed trailer but to tow more than its towing capacity is NOT a good idea. Therefore I would buy a truck with higher towing capacity because the GX 470 is not able to tow higher payloads.
Spectacular video. I am on the fence and thinking about adding this as my second and weekend car. I own a 200 series Land Cruiser which I love but want some thing reliable that I can not worry about. Should I be scared of 150,000 miles with good service records? Can this engine and platform really last 250,000 miles?
Thanks for watching! It’s essentially the same powertrain as the 100 series Land Cruiser, so yes, the longevity is legit. As I always recommend to people looking for a 470, get a pre-purchase inspection by a reputable shop (preferably a Toyota/Lexus specialist) before buying. It’s a few hundred bucks but it’ll do 2 things for you: 1) tell you everything that the truck needs in terms of maintenance or repairs, or 2) tell you that the truck is a lemon that you need to run away from.
mine (279k when I bought it) had leaking valve cover gasket, bought it for $3300, looked brand new in and out
Looking for one of these as a daily here in Dallas!
🔥🔥
Good luck! Just found an 08 with 232k in Dallas, such a sweet ride!
I have a super clean 06 Sport Edition with KDSS available with only 76k miles
Looking at an 04 with 180k miles on it.
Dealership wants $9,000. It is a GA truck, with an immaculate undercarriage.
3 previous owners, which is a little much, but none of them put a ton of miles on it.
Still up in the air as far as pulling the trigger on it.
What do you think?
I haven’t spent much time looking into current prices but hard to beat a clean frame
what would be the range of driving mileage to get a GX in a good condition? I love your video because I wanna buy one but I don't know so much about those cars. Thanks for your information
Good condition depends on how well the car was maintained, not as much mileage on these cars. As with other cars, lower mileage is usually better, but not if it’s beat up or if it’s over-priced for your budget. I bought my GXs at 155k and 100k miles. Not a single issue really, other than some CV boots leaking and the transfer case actuator leak, which i show how to fix in an older video
I would just try to find one with a recent timing belt service that looks like it’s in good condition inside and out. Test all the off road controls and make sure they work. I made a video on how to operate all the off road controls: ruclips.net/video/o_7ZrNIk70Q/видео.html
Good job on the review, and analysis. If you see this what is the most desirable used Lexus 4xx.
I used to have land cruisers fj40, fj60,etc… got away from them for years. I Don’t want to have GM trucks, anymore and I like the one you’re discussing. I’m definitely buying one that has never seen off road, a soccer mom used one.
I’ve seen a nice 2011,GX 460, very clean. It says 4 wheel drive but are these AWD, also if they ran them on regular gas is that a bad thing with the ethanol?
Yes they are AWD with a Torsen limited slip center differential/transfer case. They become proper 4WD when you hit the center differential lock button and it splits power 50/50 between front and rear. 460s need premium.
@@lexus_offroad_adventures thanks for that. I’ve always shyed away from AWD, old school mindset. Like to have the front warn hubs unlocked.
But the GX460/70 are new generation, I think I’ve waited long enough for them to iron out any issues with the new designs.
I do kinda laugh when I see all the young guys, adding the big wheels & tires, lift kits, body accessories and then saying they don’t get good mileage !
I just think it’s funny. I will keep a tall set of studded truck tires for going off road. Thanks for response to questions. Now that I’ve decided what vehicle I want, I will wait until I find and un modified, well maintained, never towed, gx470.
@@peterparsons7141 the AWD system is all mechanical (Torsen), so nothing to really worry about. The only electronic component is the center diff lock actuator, which is a potential pain point since then never get “exercised” by the owners, but just test it out when on your test drive to make sure it works and use it every so often if you buy the vehicle. Oh yeah, can’t go wrong with old school stuff. But if you’re going to go with a late model off-roader, the GX platform whether 1st gen (470, 03-09) or second gen (460, ‘10-present) is comfortable and fairly well proven in terms of reliability. My GX470 is 20 years old next year and, amazingly, everything still works! I’m sure if you find a clean example with the criteria you mentioned, it’ll be a nice vehicle for you. But yeah, no matter the year, if you put on big tires, they get thirsty 😅
@@lexus_offroad_adventures thanks , that’s exactly the info I wanted and just the broad information. I’m definitely going with the 467/470. The land cruisers are over priced and parts are hard to find. Regards to the center diff lock , it was a similar issue the the warn fron hubs in the old stuff. If you never used them or maintenance them, then they could get stuck/locked . Etc. So we serviced them when doing wheel service, and used them regularly. I do the same in my 5th gen, GMC trucks. Nothing worse than not using something for 18 months, 3 seasons, and then turn it on and go 100% full power.. dosnt make sense and never ends well with any machine or tool.
I just dismissed most of the new stuff, I happened on a very clean 460. Original owner, well maintained and started to look at them and realized these were pretty good machines. There’s no getting away from touch screens and computers etc, so my experience with Toyota’s tells me this is the way to go. But not new one, I’m not paying 80k for something that I may push hard. Insurance dosnt cover for roll overs in bad places.
Really appreciate your thoughtful informative response.
I’m starting to get a good feel for the GX, and am actively monitoring what’s available. I will do my work up front so as not to have to learn about potential problems when they appear. Do you have a quick way of differentiating between models. I’m going second gen, 2014-201x.
As I understand there’s three models. Base,Premium, Ultra. With the used car sales people obfuscating between these.
Base is easy.
Premium.. with options
Ultra with options.
Crawl mode, and lane change indicator . Is this a telling feature which differentiates Premium/Ulta..?
Do car people still use VIN codes as an easier way to know what we’re dealing with ? (That’s an old dude question).
How do you quickly identify the most desirable?
Thanks again for you previous responses.
Do one for the GX460 too 👍
And you also forgot to cover the axles boots that tent to tear apart, as soon as I saw yours wrapped up with DUCK TAPE I instantly remember that also.
Lol yeah there’s that too.
Thanks
IMO, the GX470 looks better than the J120 Prado, and it's mainly because of the grille and headlights.
anybody else having problems with squeaking when driving on rough terrain? mine was coming from the 2nd row seats. I lubed all the 2nd row joints and that fixed the problem.
Mine had squeaking because of the 3rd row seats! Take em out!
They understood changing the transmission fluid ruins an older transmission much, much, much faster.
I personally got a professional transmission flush done on my rig at 155k miles. The tech said the fluid was completely black and contaminated. Shifted way smoother after and I’ve been problem-free ever since. But yeah, I also wish they just put a 60k mile interval on it in the maintenance schedule like this Toyota master tech recommends: ruclips.net/video/OJZLMIl6XPo/видео.html
Guess your friend needs the right smog guy
2008-2009 хочу себе такой!!! Очень)