About to pull the trigger on a 2006 GX470

[Mark_Davis]

I'm about to buy my wife a 2006 GX470 and wanted to check the forums for anything we should check before signing the papers on it. What are the common trouble areas? It has 120k miles on the clock. I'll be adding this to my growing collection of Toyota vehicles, also have a 2011 Tundra 4x4 and a 2014 Corolla. Thanks for any advice.

 

[new2012jeep]

I am right there with you, will be following this thread. Good Luck

 

[ZJumper]

Can't go wrong with a GX IMHO. I sold my 2011 T4R and got a 2007 GX470 just for a bit of added room. The only thing I don't like on the GX is the rear barn door vs flip up gate.

Things to check:

With that mileage, has the timing belt/water pump been done? If not it needs it. Use that as a tool to knock down the price. It's going to be about $900 at the Lexus dealer for them to do it.

At that mileage spark plugs are also due. Pretty easy to DIY. Takes about an hour tops.

Other maintenance been done? Diffs, trans case, trans? Another easy DIY

Check the shocks to see if they are leaking. Shocks are about $600 per for the rears if you have the dealer do it.

Does the rain sensing wiper feature work?

Warped front rotors are also a common issue on the GX.

Dash cracks?

No real major problem areas to speak of with the GX in all the research I did before getting mine.

 

[M1911]

It has basically the same frame as the 4Runner. So get it up on a lift, drop the skid plate and spare tire, and check carefully for frame rust. The frame on my '03 4Runner rusted to oblivion. That's probably less of an issue if the truck has been in TX for its entire life, but I'd still check.

 

[470SNC]

Also make sure to check CV axle for leaking grease and transfer case for leaks as well.

 

[IanB]

Front calipers tend to seize, which can lead to warped rotors. Try if you can to find one without navigation, as it's old and terrible, and makes swapping in an aftermarket deck very difficult if that's your thing (being able to add Bluetooth, USB, iphone/android support, etc). KDSS is nice if you can find one equipped with it. Stripped/snapped bolts on the skidplate are common in the rust belt, so watch for that. Check the rad for dried coolant trails, they are not uncommon to see fail at this age.

Very nice trucks, we've been very happy with ours. The rear hatch should swing open the other direction had they been thinking at all, and it sucks the rear window doesn't roll down, but you can't win them all.

 

[Ed_C]

Rear Air Suspension
While it's idling and in Park,play around with the height switch. The indicator should blink until it reaches the selected height. If it continues blinking or height doesn't change at all,there's a problem. Most of the time it's the ride height sensor. Same issue if the ride height is stuck on high and doesn't adjust.
If the ride height is low and bottoms out,blown airbag(s).

There are several coil spring conversion kits available and at least one aftermarket replacement air bag that I know of https://www.arnottindustries.com/part_LEXUS_yid7_pid141.html

 

[J-Fonz]

Fellow 06 GX owner. Most everyone above has hit it nicely. Look for the 90K service to be completed, leaky radiator and CV boots, etc.

I went with OME for lift and run Cooper 285 AT3's with running boards removed. It is very capable off road and the heavy OME's have greatly reduced the body roll on road.

 

[TFJ-4runner]

I'm late to this part but if you are still looking for advice make sure the seal on the transfer case is not leaking this Will happen at some point and if you don't know anyone it will be costly. Same as the other 120 transfer cases.

 

[b.miller123]

Front calipers tend to seize, which can lead to warped rotors. Try if you can to find one without navigation, as it's old and terrible, and makes swapping in an aftermarket deck very difficult if that's your thing (being able to add Bluetooth, USB, iphone/android support, etc). KDSS is nice if you can find one equipped with it. Stripped/snapped bolts on the skidplate are common in the rust belt, so watch for that. Check the rad for dried coolant trails, they are not uncommon to see fail at this age.

Very nice trucks, we've been very happy with ours. The rear hatch should swing open the other direction had they been thinking at all, and it sucks the rear window doesn't roll down, but you can't win them all.

Is it really that bad? Are your issues mostly with the actual navigation feature or the way the entire unit functions?

I've been looking at GX's for a little while now and I'd really like to get something with the NAV system, but more for the backup camera than anything. It is pretty rare that I actually use navigation, and if I do I can use my phone.

Another question since you mentioned bluetooth: doesn't the GX have Bluetooth? Most of them that I have seen have the steering wheel controls for the phone, but I don't know if they support anything other than the phone function (thing like streaming music over Bluetooth from your phone). I know the later models came with an aux cable jack, so I'm not really worried about too much.

Rolling the rear window down is really nice, and almost a deal killer for the GX. I think I'd actually prefer the barn door over the hatch, but I could see the barn door being a pain if you were on a slope. Why do you say it should open the other way?

I currently have a 2005 4Runner, but it has issues and is missing some features I'd like. So I've been debating between getting an 06-09 limited 4Runner or just getting a GX470. Most of the features I want come standard on the GX, and oddly enough, the prices aren't that diffeent now. It's also easier to find low mile GX's than 4runners.

 

[Ed_C]

Is it really that bad? Are your issues mostly with the actual navigation feature or the way the entire unit functions?

I've been looking at GX's for a little while now and I'd really like to get something with the NAV system, but more for the backup camera than anything. It is pretty rare that I actually use navigation, and if I do I can use my phone.

It's not that bad. If your current '05 4Runner has nav then you know how "bad" it is,i.e. have to come to a total stop to enter a new destination. Other than that it's pretty functional. I've driven 2014-2015 Aston Martins and those have terrible navigation systems,they use pretty much the old-school Garmin based Ford/Volvo systems from the early 2000's both companies (Volvo and Aston) were owned by Ford

Another question since you mentioned bluetooth: doesn't the GX have Bluetooth? Most of them that I have seen have the steering wheel controls for the phone, but I don't know if they support anything other than the phone function (thing like streaming music over Bluetooth from your phone). I know the later models came with an aux cable jack, so I'm not really worried about too much.

Just phone functions,no audio streaming.

 

[IanB]

Is it really that bad? Are your issues mostly with the actual navigation feature or the way the entire unit functions?

I've been looking at GX's for a little while now and I'd really like to get something with the NAV system, but more for the backup camera than anything. It is pretty rare that I actually use navigation, and if I do I can use my phone.

Another question since you mentioned bluetooth: doesn't the GX have Bluetooth? Most of them that I have seen have the steering wheel controls for the phone, but I don't know if they support anything other than the phone function (thing like streaming music over Bluetooth from your phone). I know the later models came with an aux cable jack, so I'm not really worried about too much.

Rolling the rear window down is really nice, and almost a deal killer for the GX. I think I'd actually prefer the barn door over the hatch, but I could see the barn door being a pain if you were on a slope. Why do you say it should open the other way?

I currently have a 2005 4Runner, but it has issues and is missing some features I'd like. So I've been debating between getting an 06-09 limited 4Runner or just getting a GX470. Most of the features I want come standard on the GX, and oddly enough, the prices aren't that diffeent now. It's also easier to find low mile GX's than 4runners.

It's nice to have a map on the dash, assuming you pony up for the new map disks and they are remotely current. Other than that, I find the nav completely awful, and would much prefer a windshield mounted Garmin any day, or even my iphone with a decent mount. It's 11 years old at this point, there's just no getting around that.

Our GX is an '04, and there was no Bluetooth yet, I want to say that came in '06 but you'd have to check for sure, and as mentioned it would work for calls only, no streaming.

The rear door swings towards the curb, so if you're parked on the street you need to leave enough room for the door to be open, and you to get around between the door and the car behind you with whatever you're carrying, ends up being 6-8 feet of room needed! That's why I say the door should swing open towards the driver's side. Tailgate with roll down rear window is far superior IMO.

All in all, minor gripes about an overall excellent truck.