dbw

Bought my 2003 GX last year. The car was not prep for towing. Installed a factory hitch, towing wiring harness that plugged into pre-existing connectors near the spare tire, and the towing tail relay. After all this, I can't still get my boat trailers' brake and turn signal lights to work. Had my trailers' lights checked and everything checked fine. The dealers in California are useless. They can't figure out the problem unless I'm willing to commit $600, which I don't want to. Anybody know what I need to do? Am I missing more relays? Please HELP.

Under the left end of the dash is a connector for a brake controller (wrapped in foam with a rubber band). I suspect that you need to jumper this connector to send power to the hitch wiring at the receiver location.

Hope this helps.

Bruce

I believe the wheel bearing repack is intended for the LX470 and not the GX470.

And that's why the tiny little asterisk and the "Lexus LX470 only" was there, isn't it.

Bruce

My Lexus dealer is several hours away, and my manual says I need to have the front wheel bearings repacked, and have the brake fluid replaced.

Called the local Toyota dealer to see if he could do it. He says the GX470, like the 4Runner does not require front bearing repack, and that they don't replace brake fluid till 70K miles or later? :chairshot:

Anybody know for sure if the 04 requires repack??

Thanks

dbw

I have an 06 GX470 and tow a 21 ft Sea Ray deck boat.

The GX handles the boat well, but I don't have the ability to see anything past the first six feet of the boat in my side mirrors. It makes passing a real risky challenge.

Has anyone out there found a mirror that will give you good visibility and look halfway decent also?

Thanks.

I've used clip-on mirrors for several years with good luck. I found these (http://www.autobarn.net/untowmir.html) at Wal-Mart.

Bruce

Let me re-phrase that, how on earth are you going to save gas by towing a camper around? By changing a chip? I know that a chip can do more than just change shift points. It can also change air to fuel mixture and firing points, but lets get real here, if a chip get you from 10 MPG to 12 MPG while you are towing without sacrificing performance, Lexus would have put that chip in there from the factory. Lets look at what you are trying to move here. The GX itself is almost 5000 pounds and add your camper on top of that, you are talking about around 10000 pounds. Realistically, how many miles per gallon do you think you can improve by? If you want to save gas, dump the GX and the camper and go buy a Prius.

At the risk of beating a dead horse, I bought the GX to tow a camper, but don't tow it all or even most of the time, so am willing to sacrifice performance when not pulling the camper in order to gain fuel economy. I'm aware that I could dump the GX and camper and get a Prius, but my question wasn't how to change vehicles to gain fuel economy, but about the possiblity of altering the GX to acheive that end. Once again, I must apologize for not stating clearly enough that I wanted to keep the GX and the camper, and just wanted to improve mileage when not towing.

If you are worry about fuel economy, why on earth would you buy a GX. You should have done your homework before you buy a car. The only way a chip can improve economy is to shift to higher gears sooner, this will decrease the engine's performance. Almost all the chips out there on the market does the opposite, it tried to increase the engine's performance.

I bought the GX to tow a camper - needed the capacity - based on doing my homework. Since then, the price of fuel has escalated. Chips can do a great deal more than alter the shift points - you should have done your homework - and that's why I asked the question. Sorry if I offended you.

I would go with E85 if the GX can use it, just to stick it to all those oil producing countries that are holding us hostage. We need to become a energy independent country again, at least somewhat independent.

:chairshot: Please excuse me if I chuckle a bit here. You want to stick it to the oil producing countries and you drive a GX.... ;)

Is anyone aware of an aftermarket chip to increase fuel economy :cries: for the GX?

I had a Tekonsha Envoy brake controller installed by the travel trailer dealership. They mounted it to the left of the steering column, very low (almost on the edge) on the dash. They drilled new holes in the plastic. Does that help?. I have bumped it a time or two getting out, but it is pretty well out of the way, yet still easy to reach to adjust the power.

Hope this helps.

Word on the street is that VW of China has counterfited a large number of GX-470s for export to the U.S.

To find out if you have one of them, remove the plastic engine cover; the VW version has a horizontal 4 cylinder engine - two spark plugs on each side. You might also notice a slight lack of passing power compared to the 470 you test drove at the Lexus dealership.

If you have one, you can return it to Wal-Mart, keep your receipt, and take it to the nearest Lexus dealer for a non-counterfeit version.

And for that reason, I think the VW Touareg would be the top choice for the mid-size if you are looking for a car based SUV but with the off-road capabilities of a truck based mid-sized SUV.

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NO, NO, NO! I had a Touareg for almost a year. VW does not have the gremlins worked our of this vehicle yet. They tried hard, and voluntarily bought it back. Stick with your GX - you can park it in your garage, not theirs. The Touareg is a great vehcle whose time has not yet come.

Bruce

OK, I don't have kids, and don't know if I even have a rear entertainment system. I know there is a small control board with a/c controls and a little door that opens with some controls...is that it?? :cries:

My GX470 automatic wipers have develped a mind of their own. When in "auto" mode, I can be driving along, sunny, clear skies, and the wipers either do a single swipe or come on for a few cycles, then turn back off. May happen at start up, or after driving a while. Anybody else have this experience? If so, what was the fix.

I ended up getting charged 8 bucks for an extra quart of Mobil One Oil, but something just seems fishy to me about the whole thing.

Is the owners manual wrong and it really takes 7.5 quarts, or was my service writer hosing me?

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Oil Capacity should not be over 7 quarts Max.

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I had an Avalon several years ago and every time I had the oil changed at the dealer, they added an extra quart of oil. And every time, I made them remove the charge. Turned out it was policy of the parts department to do this on every oil change. I told the GM that the practice sucked, but he said parts runs their own operation.

Seems like your Lexus dealer has decided to tap into the new "profit center". Part of the reason I'am driving a Lexus instead of a 4runner is that experience.

Do I understand correctly that if I live in a blue state, my GX tends to lean to the left, but if I live in a red state, it leans to the right :chairshot: ?

I can cause my GX to do the "thump". I'm a two foot driver, and if I leave my right foot on the accelerator with even the slightest pressure when I come to a stop, I get the thump. It is as though the pressure on the pedal causes the transmission not to fully disengeage. I can also cause it if I am hot rodding and really throw out the anchor to a full stop.

But I've found that if I drive like a gentleman :whistles: , I never notice the thump.

Exactly ;) Where did you find them?

Anybody know where I might find a clear replacement lens for the tail/brake lights on the GX 470? :(

Thanks, I don't have the nav system, so could use the passenger seat. Anyone know how to tap hot and cold (pos and neg) under the passenger seat?

I tow a camper, so would like to install a Cobra "all in the handset CB radio". I need to find 12v. and ground (preferably switched) under or near the driver seat. The little control box mounts there, needs power, and has plug in for the antenna and handset CB.

Andybody been there, done that? B)

Thanks, dbw

:D Actually, you the mpg output is based on the price of fuel. It may not be very accurate, but it sure makes you feel good about your purchase