looknow12

I traded my 03 for an '04 GX470 last Saturday. The new one has KDSS, 3rd row seats, Rear Entertainment, and Navigation. While we are all quite aware of the documented changes to the '04 over the '03, here are some items I noticed in addition to those.

Remember I had two 03 GX's so a lot of this I am pretty sure of, a couple due to mileage issues I am not. If you have an '03 and you have these items, let me know.

• Lit ring (whitish blue) around the ignition key slot
• Volume in Nav system now saves when you select OFF. Previously a BUG in my opinion.
  This was an annoying one, everytime I would casually use the GPS, the voice guidance would be heard. I had to constantly hit menu, then volume, then off. As soon as the car was restarted, had to do the process over again.
• Larger cage between two front skid plates
  I don't know if there is any functional reason for this, perhaps more airflow was required to the front differential.
• Roll Sensing Off Switch
  A button located near the A/C Power switch.
• Rear wiper seems to extend higher cleaning the very top of the window
  My wiper almost looks like it hangs off the window.
• Engine does not smell like antifreeze when car is stopped (still only 800 miles on the vehicle, time will tell on this one)
  To test this, pull your car into a small garage after driving it. Let it sit for about a minute, and take a sniff near the wheel wells (I think passenger side). You'll smell antifreeze on the 03.
• No sulfur smell from exhaust (again mileage?)
  Haven't smelled this yet.
• Metal caps around tire air stems instead of plastic ones
  It appears they have upgraded the stem caps.
• If you leave the rear door open while backing up, you receive a warning message on the display stating this cannot be used while rear gate is open. Makes sense, you'd be looking at the passenger side direction anyway.

Kash

i think these are needed for the tire pressure monitoring thingiee

177mph

The ring around the ignition is on my early 03 model

Fusion400

I bought my GX470 back in Dec with 9700C and I got a black plastic stem caps instead of a metal caps as stated in the OR post.

msjszd

If you don't mind my asking, how did the dealer treat you on the trade-up/in? I'm in a late '03 and would be very interested in doing the same thing. Apologies if you've already posted about it. Thanks.

looknow12

Hmm, I guess I never noticed it. Thank you for correcting me.

looknow12

The KDSS was a disadvantage to me the buyer because they dealers are getting very few of them. Each dealer I have spoken to has said Lexus is only making 10% of the vehicles this way.

So to get to the point I was given 45,500 for my 03 GX with 13k miles. It was fully loaded with nav, rear entertainment, and 3rd row seat. They charged me 54,500 for the new GX. The trade in was 9k.

<VENOM>

I got a question does your 04 have a dip stick on the trans and if the 04 has no stick did your 03 have 1, came across a thread about the changes on the 04 4Runner and it seems Toyota did away with the dip stick on the trans and put in fluid that never needs to be changed, the coolant is now super long life and can go 100k before it ever needs to be changed.

The service interval, maintanance items have changed between 03 and 04 models, front and rear diff along with the transfer case fluid only need to be changed if you tow

looknow12

I could not find out how to check the tranny fluid, but I don't have the actual manual with me. Here's a clip from the specifications of the owners manual ONLINE.

— AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Fluid capacity
Drain and refill Up to 3.0 L (3.2 qt., 2.6 lmp. qt.)
Fluid type Toyota Genuine ATF WS*
*: Change automatic transmission fluid only as necessary.
Generally, it is necessary to change automatic transmission
fluid only if your vehicle is driven under one of the Special
Operating Conditions listed in your “Owner’s Manual
Supplement/Scheduled Maintenance”. When changing the
automatic transmission fluid, use only “Toyota Genuine ATF
WS” (ATF JWS3324 or NWS9638) to aid in assuring optimum
transmission performance.
NOTICE
Using automatic transmission fluid other than “Toyota
Genuine ATF WS” may cause deterioration in shift
quality, locking up of your transmission accompanied
by vibration, and ultimately damage the automatic
transmission of your vehicle.
Please contact your Lexus dealer for further details.

looknow12

Sounds like it's not necessary to change it under normal driving.

looknow12

One other minor thing. There appears to be a safety label by the rear gate. It cites precautions when lowering the rear tire as it might shift back and forth causing injury.

<VENOM>

I found what I was looking for and you posted what was in your manual matched it, the 2004 GX has the new WS long life fluid, only needs to be changed at 60k if you fall under the severe category of towing other wise it never needs to be changed, hence it is lifetime fluid, how long it actually last is unknown I know of BMW with lifetime fluid but no clue as to how long before it is recommended to keep it in their, Im gonna stop by the BMW dealer and ask what is the mileage life then I'll go over to Toyota and Lexus and ask.

The 2003 models have Toyota Trans Fluid Type IV, this stuff is expensive can't imagine what the WS cost and Toyota says the WS is 1 of a kind nothin else out on the market like it.

This change has taken place in the Toyota/Lexus Trucks with 5speed autos Landcruiser/LX470/GX470 and V8 4runner.

Now I wonder what and if I can have Toyota flush my trains and fill it up with WS lifetime fluid.

looknow12

What is the maintenance interval if you use normal fluid?

<VENOM>

With the normal fluid Toyota/Lexus recommends changing the fluid every 15k and flushing every 30k

looknow12

One other change for 04 I noticed is the rear gate seems to have more defined stops (possible 2) so that when you're loading the vehicle the gate doesn't swing back on you. It seems to be much better than my 03 which also had stops but they never seemed to hold the gate in place under normal conditions.

This is different than the gate lock which will hold the gate in place under any conditions. This is more similar to regular driver and passenger doors.