TM8000

Nica, have you already received any information about ETA of the parts for fixing clunk? It seems that there's the updated driveshaft ready but the rear control arms are still back order. I do not know if this is a really truth or not and the situation is still same that I am left in the dark.

Thank you for your comment. I will consult with Lexus dealership for this unusual wear.

Apart from "Clunk" problem which I still have, I noticed that only front two tires are wearing more than rear ones. Left and right are wearing equally but the difference between front and rear are noticable only at 1.5 months(about 2500 miles) after I purchased certified pre-owned 2003 with brand new tires(Yokohama Goelander H/S・T P265/65R17). Is it normal? I understand that I should rotate tires at every oil change (maybe every 5000 miles) but I wonder if such a difference of tire wearing between front and rear is really normal for GX470...(in such a short drive like 2500 miles) Please someone kindly advise me if I should consult this with a dealer, or this is just a matter of tire rotation?

I also used to own Escalade 2004 and ESV Platinum 2005. They both are good trucks but I do not think ESV Platinum is worth $70,000.-. GM are anyway GM even though they make super luxuary vehicle.... However, Lexus(Toyota) make really good quality. GX is really worth its price with no doubt.

Hi! My wife was pulled over by the police since the tint was too dark according to him(police).... Is there a window tint law in Ausutralia? We do have it here in Georgia and the police in my county is really strict. Lots of drivers are pulled over by police here due to their dark tinted window.

Nica, I think GX470 is a great vehicle and it's definitely worth money you spent. Such a smooth and quiet drive cannot be experienced with other SUV. My 2003 will be taken to the dealership next week for a repair. Unfortunately, it isn't for a "clunk" but for a "new catalyst" to solve sulfur odor problem which isn't very serious, though. I again asked the dealer about a lead time for the updated drive shaft to fix the clunk problem, but they replied that no further info available....

Lenore, I think that service might be depending on dealership's policy, education or sales person itself, but I strongly believe that there are some people in Toyota dealers who DO NOT know how to treat customers. I herad from one of my friends that Toyota dealerships in Atlanta area seem to be ranked rather low in terms of customer service in comparison to the other state or city. My friend also had a terrible experience with one of Toyota dealerships here in Atlanta area recently.(this is a different one from where I was badly treated) Maybe..I should stop complaining Toyota dealers anymore as some people(Toyota fan) might get unhappy which is not my intention at all.

Laley, I bought a brand new Toyota vehicle there at that time unfortunately....then I sold it after 4 months since I did not like it. I deeply regret that. Finance manager was also unfriendly and put 18.7% APR since there's no credit history been established right after my arrival from Japan. Sales person has never wanted to discuss about finance details which I found very tricky. Anyway this was my fault and I spent shuch a lot of money to learn how some dealership is badly treating customers here in the U.S.. Japanese car makers produce very reliable cars but sometimes some dealership damages their reputation which is very sad. I never ever come back to this particular Toyota dealership in the future!! In addition... I have GX470 now and Lexus dealership where I purchased one treat me as a customer while Toyota did not.

I checked with the dealership today for updates. There's nothing progressed and the service consultant said that Lexus has been aware of this problem which causes customer dissatisfaction.... There's still no date(lead time) for the parts' arrival promised.... Nica, please let me know when yours got fixed in a few weeks... The G Man, I agree that Lexus naturally puts priority to use the parts for production of new vehicle, however it sounds very strange that they cannot tell the lead time for TSB at all. Lexus must have some plan, I think. new vehicle Message from denslexusgx470 (P.S. TM8000 I got your original post back that I accidentally edited and posted as my message. Sorry for any inconvenience)

Well, updated drive shaft has been long back order. What I am very unhappy about is that the dealership can not tell me the lead time. They said that it could be for several months till the parts get available. They can not even tell me estimated lead time, but it does not seem to be 1 or 2 months but probably much much longer, I am afraid. My dealer keep silence for a few weeks..... If there's somebody who might get updated information about the lead time of updated driveshaft, please let me know.

You can ask the same question to the two dealers. "Do you have any inventory of the updated driveshaft to fix the clunk? " I asked two defferent Lexus dealer about their inventory of the parts but both of them answered me the same..."Very very long back order and it is the right thing which I put my name on the waiting list." Please let me hear what happened when you talked to dealers.

Nica, Thank you for your story. I still have not heard anything from the dealership about the lead time of updated driveshaft needed for fixing the "clunk". I purchased GX470(pre-owned) on 9/9. I recently received a survey from Lexus and I wrote how frustrated I am. I know I should not expect too much on Lexus but I really want them to speed it up before they might finally give it up down the road. Some people waited a few years, so I should not copmplain about it, however I am really afraid that Lexus might cancel TSB in the near future.

Thank you so much for your comment, kimber33! This is also a good reference and I will try to test 89 myself to see the difference. Upcharge of $0.10/gallon isn't bad if I can expect a better ride, is it? Meanwhile, I am really concerned with the information about a cancellation of TSB for "clunk". The dealer keep telling me that updated driveshaft is very long back order and they do not know how many more months I have to wait for the clunk of my GX470 to be permanently fixed. I checked with the other Lexus dealership around Atlanta but they also said the same. They said that all I can do is to just wait as long as my name has been on the waiting list.

The service consultant of the Lexus dealership told me that he and his colleagues have not heard anything about cancellation of TSB from Lexus. He said my name is still on the waiting list but the updated driveshaft has been so long back order... I really hope "greasing" is just a temp solution but Lexus will keep providing TSB. If Lexus officialy announce a cancellation of TSB in the near future, should I make a claim to Lexus customer service though I am afraid that it wouldnot be any help... or, all I can do is to live with such an uncomfortable clunk? If this would be the case, it is a disappointment.

Thank you all for your comment. I understand from you that the quality of gasoline is same wherever I purchase but additives varies. I usually use QT as it offers good price.(one of the cheapest...)

The G Man, are you really sure that Lexus will no longer provide updated drive shaft for permanently fixing "clunk"? I am still told by Lexus dealership that I am in their list and they will let me know when uodated driveshaft got available for me..... If what you say is truth, I am so disappointed and so sad as I keep experiencing such a uncomfortable clunk every time I break.

Thank you for all of your comments. I still have not receive a call from Lexus dealership for a new Catalyst. Also, updated driveshaft is a loooong back order... They said that my name is on their list and all I have to do is just to wait for these parts......

Thank you so much for your advice, The G Man! I have just received a comment from the dealer. The service consultant said that he will install a new catalyst and recalibrate to my car's ECM, which will reduce sulfur dioxide odor. He also stated that the noise seems to be coming from engine fan.... I will bring my GX470 to the dealer for a new catalyst to solve odor problem, but do I have to just get used to the noise from engine fan(clutch fan)? It sounds like so, doesn't it.

Yes. service consultant of Lexus' dealership told me so. He also told me that this is because of VVT-i though mine is 2003 which he even checked it. I am getting confused. Do you think that I should again bring my vehicle to this dealership for 1)noise and 2)smell to be checked up?

Thanks for your comment, denslexusgx470. I understand that the vehicle gets noisy when the temperature gets higher, which is normal for GX470.... Smell like something burnt comes from the rear part. Lexus dealer told me that it smells when you drive up the hill by accelerating, which is also normal for this vehicle. If these two things are just normal for GX470, I have to get used to that....though these are a little bit uncomfortable.

Has somebody who drives GX470 ever experienced bigger engine noise? I don't know if this noise coming from the engine or from somewhere else but my car(2003 GX470) is very quiet when I start the engine but this noise starts after I drive for a while. My experience is as follows:- After driving on highway for a while(like 20-30 miles), once stopping at the light after getting out of highway, then I hear bigger noise as if I drive in low gear when starting again though the shift changes normal. Lexus service person said it is absolutely normal and no transmission or engine problem found..... There's also a smell like something burnt only when I drive a little rough(at higher RPM). Are these things normal for 2003 GX470?

Thank you denslexusgx470 for your advice. I wonder why the dealer's service consultant does not know about a car he treats... Anyway, I am happy with my 2003 which 235hp engine gives enough power. I used to drive Escalade ESV(345hp) but I do not feel any weakness of power in my GX470. GX470 is really a nice vehicle even though it is 2003 model.

Hi. Reggie, Thank you for your advice. I will definitely use 87 for my 2003 GX470 since my wife is primarily driving this vehicle with absolutely normal ride almost at the legal speed.... By the way, dearler advised me that I should not purchase a gas from discount station like Racetrac, Kroger etc...but I do not believe that the quality is so much different among stations.

I was told by Luxus dealershi service person that my 2003 GX470's engine is VVT-i but specification does not say that while 2005/2006 models are equipped with VVT-i according to the manufacturer's website. Is it true that 2003 is VVT-i engine??? I asked him twice but he keeps telling me so.

I purchased certified pre-owned 2003 GX470 with 51,500 mi on 9/9 from Lexus dealership. Right after I started to drive, I noticed so called "clunk". I did not pay attention to it when I test drived, though... After I learnt the fact of the clunk from all of you in this Forum, I took my car to the same dealership for repair. Service person told me exactly what I expected. "We need to order the updated drive shaft" Obviously Lexus knew that this car had a clunk problem unfixed yet, but they certified it. Service guy said this drive shaft is long back order and I may have to wait for a few months!!!! I am not happy but I really believe that my vehicle will be perfectly fixed when this updated drive shaft got available after a few months..... Can somebody tell me whether it won't be a big help if I ask the other Lexus dealership in the same area to check the inventory of this parts? If one dealership has no inventory, the others also have nothing in stock? Or, is it worth trying?