When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Does this look like the transfer case actuator has been replaced?
I found a 2008 GX470 I'm interested in buying and the last thing that concerns me is the transfer case actuator. It's from a salt belt state so I asked for some undercarriage pictures to assess the rust situation and I was pleasantly surprised to find it so clean. When I was flipping through the pictures the first one posted below caught my eye. The back of the transfer case actuator has grease pen writing on it similar to what you see on parts in a salvage yard which makes me wonder if it's been replaced with a used unit. In the second picture I noticed that there are pen marks on the right side of the transfer case and the right bottom by the exhaust pipe looks like it might have been leaking. So do you guys think I need to be concerned about the transfer case actuator and the transfer case or am I making a mountain out of a mole hill? Do you guys think the actuator has been replaced with a used one?
It's a one owner with a clean Carfax and good service history, the timing belt was replaced at 70k miles. The Lexus Owners site shows that the fluid has been changed twice in the transfer case and differentials but it doesn't show any kind of service being performed on the actuator. The GX is showing some rust on the front frame of the sunroof panel but other than that it's a really clean.
All thoughts and suggestions are welcome so please let me know what you think. I've been staring at these pictures to long and it's starting to drive me crazy, and unfortunately that's a short ride.
So you think the big blue 5 on the back of the transfer case actuator is normal? I did a Google images search for GX undercarriages but didn't come up with anything useful to compare this one to. It has 90k miles. I know, the frame is really clean for a Northern Atlantic coast truck. Makes me think they might have had Krown spray it.
I looked at mine this afternoon. Mine says “135” in the same color paint. I don’t know if that means it has been replaced or not. 2007 with 158K miles. No record of it being replaced by the stealer.
Yes that blue 5 is factory. Most are covered with grime or color has faded.
Originally Posted by Jreask
I looked at mine this afternoon. Mine says “135” in the same color paint. I don’t know if that means it has been replaced or not. 2007 with 158K miles. No record of it being replaced by the stealer.
Thanks for the replies. Unfortunately I wasn't able to make a deal with the dealer but at least I'll know this is normal when looking at more undercarriage pictures.
07-21-18, 10:14 PM
Does this look like the transfer case actuator has been replaced?
