Howdy from a new LX 450 Owner

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Joined
Nov 21, 2025
Threads
17
Messages
85
Location
Austin, TX
I just pulled the trigger and bought an LX450 after I bought my wife a new (to us) 2017 200 series. I absolutely fell in love with her car and needed my own!

I’m getting the truck baselined with the following from Duggy’s Garage in Houston—I’m based in Austin, but the truck wasn’t in highway shape, so figured I’d get the baseline done in Houston before I drive it up.

I’m doing the following:
Cooling system refresh
  • Radiator (replace if age unknown)
  • Upper + lower radiator hoses
  • Heater hoses (including Pesky Heater Hose / PHH)
  • Thermostat (OEM only)
  • Fan clutch (test/replace)
  • Radiator cap
Fluids – ALL of Them
  • Engine oil
  • Transmission fluid
  • Transfer case
  • Front + rear diffs
  • Power steering
  • Brake fluid
  • Coolant
Belts & Rubber
  • Serpentine belt
  • Vacuum lines (replace brittle lines)
Brakes
  • Pads + rotors
  • New brake lines
Front axel rebuild
Diff service

New tires: Faulken Wildpeak AT4s

I’m also getting dents on the body and a few rust spots on the running boards replaced.

Anything I’m missing? Anything else I should know?

I’m holding off on suspension until I decide what I want to do.
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Technically you don't have a serpentine belt. You have 3 V-belts-- one single for the AC compressor alternator and one pair on the alternator AC compressor. The pair comes as a matched set from Toyota.

edit-- corrected since I was just guessing and manofthewoods actually looked at his
 
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Technically you don't have a serpentine belt. You have 3 V-belts-- one single for the alternator and one pair on the AC compressor. The pair comes as a matched set from Toyota.
Just double checked my LX450...
the matched pair drives the alternator & water pump. The single belt drives the AC compressor.
Happy holidays to ALL:santa:
 
Nice looking 80. I wouldn't rebuild front axle unless there were indications it's necessary. When I bought mine four years ago there was no service history but the knuckles looked good so I haven't touched it. Has it been done in the past by a previous owner? Perhaps.
What do the seats look like and how do the windows work?
Suspension-my suggestion would be to not lift it if you enjoy the current ride. I have not lifted mine, just replaced the shocks.
 
Nice looking 80. I wouldn't rebuild front axle unless there were indications it's necessary. When I bought mine four years ago there was no service history but the knuckles looked good so I haven't touched it. Has it been done in the past by a previous owner? Perhaps.
What do the seats look like and how do the windows work?
Suspension-my suggestion would be to not lift it if you enjoy the current ride. I have not lifted mine, just replaced the shocks.
There’s a lot of grease wrapping out of the axel. It was rebuilt at 90k miles and never again. I’m at 230k right now.

Seats are all good aside from front seats. I’ll need to buy new leather and foam for them.

Windows and everything else works well.

The suspension is shot, but I’m waiting a bit. I think if I lift it I’ll just do an inch or so. I do like it stock as much as I can keep it stock. I do light overlanding. Big Bend trails. No crazy crawling or anything, so I don’t think I need to go too crazy with the lift.

I lucked out and this thing was taken to Lexus since purchased until it was put in a garage. It’s sat and only been driven 4 times a year or so for the last 10 years. So there are issues due to that…
 
congrats

How much did Duggy’s garage quote you for all that?
I’m getting a second opinion because it’s around 11k. 6k for the cooling system rebuild, which seems insane to me. My problem is it’s sitting in Houston and it’s not safe to drive to Austin right now. I do want to save as much as I can for the suspension rebuild, dry ice cleaning, and my planned moved to a stainless oem style exhaust.
 
I’m getting a second opinion because it’s around 11k. 6k for the cooling system rebuild, which seems insane to me. My problem is it’s sitting in Houston and it’s not safe to drive to Austin right now. I do want to save as much as I can for the suspension rebuild, dry ice cleaning, and my planned moved to a stainless oem style exhaust.
This is exactly why I asked. They are running a scam in my opinion. You’re getting ripped off.

I just did two trips back to back to and from Austin. 700 miles in two days.. my 320k mile LX450 didn’t skip a beat.

If you are unfamiliar with these and need someone to put an eye on it let me know. I’m in Houston.

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This is exactly why I asked. They are running a scam in my opinion. You’re getting ripped off.

I just did two trips back to back to and from Austin. 700 miles in two days.. my 320k mile LX450 didn’t skip a beat.

If you are unfamiliar with these and need someone to put an eye on it let me know. I’m in Houston.

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I’ll DM you my quote and get your take. I’m just torn on saying to hell with it and getting ripped off so I’m not on 290 waiting for a tow or just risking it and going to my shop in Austin. I don’t want to blow anything with highway driving.
 
I’ll DM you my quote and get your take. I’m just torn on saying to hell with it and getting ripped off so I’m not on 290 waiting for a tow or just risking it and going to my shop in Austin. I don’t want to blow anything with highway driving.
Worst case scenario, you just pay to have it towed over so you are not rushing to have someone do the work here in Houston. I will look over it in a minute
 
Have you considered either getting it towed back or you getting a uhaul and towing it back yourself?

Also, from what you described, nothing seemed that doom and gloom that may warrant the possibility of it breaking down on the drive.

IMO check the fluids, bring a friend and make a road trip, this will also give you a chance to see "how the truck drives" and from that you can make a prioritized list of repairs. It will also put the truck in your home town and hopefully with a mechanic you trust.

For reference, I just put together an order through my local dealership (Toyota is having 25% off everything) to refresh my cooling system and the parts alone (does not include a radiator, mine is good) were less than $500. Around here shop labor is about $150/hr and even factoring in 8 hours labor (which it should not take that long) you are not near that figure from the shop quote.

Also, if you don't want to take the time to find all the parts, @cruiseroutfit also has a sale going and can put a quote together for you. They are reliable, fast and competitive.
 
What I would do:
  • Buy an ODB2 bluetooth sender these are cheap from amazon ($20 ish) and then install the torque app on my phone and get it connected to the 80.
    • This will give you accurate coolant temperature for the drive.
  • Check all fluids and top them up as needed including bringing a grease gun and adding moly grease to the knuckles and shafts.
  • Check the air pressure in the tires and set appropriately.
  • Pack basic metric tools, screwdrivers, a few adjustable wrenches, jumper cables, a 12v air pump for tires and possibly a tow strap.
  • Hit the road.
As long as you don't overheat it or run anything without lube/fluids you shouldn't make things worse and if it's been sitting your likely to make things better. If you break down en route you can pay for a tow (or use AAA if you are a member) but that seems pretty unlikely based on what I see. You can pick up all of the above items / supplies as needed at most auto supply stores so if you need to fly down you can just make an early stop at Autozone or wherever and knock the above tasks out, buy some tools and be set. If you buy a decent tool set, tow strap and air pump they can live in 80 long term, or another vehicle, so aren't a waste at all. Pickup a tool roll for the tools and then you can likely tuck all of these items away in the rear quarter panel storage locations.

What I wouldn't do: pay $11k for the work/items you listed to be performed by any shop, especially not an out of town shop, just to make that trip. So many reasons I wouldn't do this but a few include:
  • I'd feel safer just checking fluids myself and then driving the rig as is vs having a shop do a bunch of work right before I hit the road. My experience with shops is very hit or miss and I expect them to make mistakes even if they often don't. If a shop, or I, do a bunch of work I like to drive around town a few days to cycle things and make sure all is well before hitting the road.
  • It's too much to pay.
  • If the shop messes anything up you will be dealing with an out-of-town shop with any follow up which is inconvenient and may prevent proper follow up.
It's just a 165 miles from Houston to Austin so you can stop regularly to keep an eye on things, drive carefully and still be home in very little time. If there's a specific problem then yeah, you may need to fix it depending on what it is, but if it's just been sitting a bit I wouldn't sweat that drive at all, just stop a few times early on in the trip to make sure nothings leaking, overheating or similar and then drive on :)

Looks like a nice 80, congrats.
 
What I would do:
  • Buy an ODB2 bluetooth sender these are cheap from amazon ($20 ish) and then install the torque app on my phone and get it connected to the 80.
    • This will give you accurate coolant temperature for the drive.
  • Check all fluids and top them up as needed including bringing a grease gun and adding moly grease to the knuckles and shafts.
  • Check the air pressure in the tires and set appropriately.
  • Pack basic metric tools, screwdrivers, a few adjustable wrenches, jumper cables, a 12v air pump for tires and possibly a tow strap.
  • Hit the road.
As long as you don't overheat it or run anything without lube/fluids you shouldn't make things worse and if it's been sitting your likely to make things better. If you break down en route you can pay for a tow (or use AAA if you are a member) but that seems pretty unlikely based on what I see. You can pick up all of the above items / supplies as needed at most auto supply stores so if you need to fly down you can just make an early stop at Autozone or wherever and knock the above tasks out, buy some tools and be set. If you buy a decent tool set, tow strap and air pump they can live in 80 long term, or another vehicle, so aren't a waste at all. Pickup a tool roll for the tools and then you can likely tuck all of these items away in the rear quarter panel storage locations.

What I wouldn't do: pay $11k for the work/items you listed to be performed by any shop, especially not an out of town shop, just to make that trip. So many reasons I wouldn't do this but a few include:
  • I'd feel safer just checking fluids myself and then driving the rig as is vs having a shop do a bunch of work right before I hit the road. My experience with shops is very hit or miss and I expect them to make mistakes even if they often don't. If a shop, or I, do a bunch of work I like to drive around town a few days to cycle things and make sure all is well before hitting the road.
  • It's too much to pay.
  • If the shop messes anything up you will be dealing with an out-of-town shop with any follow up which is inconvenient and may prevent proper follow up.
It's just a 165 miles from Houston to Austin so you can stop regularly to keep an eye on things, drive carefully and still be home in very little time. If there's a specific problem then yeah, you may need to fix it depending on what it is, but if it's just been sitting a bit I wouldn't sweat that drive at all, just stop a few times early on in the trip to make sure nothings leaking, overheating or similar and then drive on :)

Looks like a nice 80, congrats.
What would be fair for what I listed at a shop? Trying to gauge how much they’re ripping me off now. If some things are reasonable ish I may do them, but the 6k coolant system rebuild is the one I’m flabbergasted by.
 
I’m getting a second opinion because it’s around 11k. 6k for the cooling system rebuild, which seems insane to me...
It is insane. I thought you were planning on doing these things yourself. Dunno what a "reasonable" figure would be. If they're not using Toyota parts, which actually would be a very good idea when possible, I can't envision it being more than half your quoted figure for the cooling system.
 
What would be fair for what I listed at a shop? Trying to gauge how much they’re ripping me off now. If some things are reasonable ish I may do them, but the 6k coolant system rebuild is the one I’m flabbergasted by.
Tow it home for a 20th of that bill and find someone else, or even better, do it yourself. You'll save so much you can upgrade your suspension now, and even get started on mods.
 
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