Newbie - hi there!!

[fish2live]

Picking up my used 2003 UZJ100 tomorrow, Great condition, Nav, 18" rims, Thundercloud, Beige Leather, 59K mile for $27K - it feels like a great deal to me and it's pristine!!. Anyway - just some general questions....

There is no hitch, must have been an option that year I guess. Do I just get the class III OEM hitch put on (about $500 they told me) or do I go with some cool ARB bumber or something? I like going with something other than the stock set-up - suggestions? Towing capacity?? The slee thing looks HOT!!

I need a new Key/remote combo - suggestions on a good place to get one? Dealer quoted me $160 for key and $100 to program - ouch...

Need new tires, getting the Revo 275/65/18 after reading several threads on here, seem like a great on/off tire. Will that same size spare fit under the rig since it's a tad bigger than stock??

Power steering wheel controler will move the wheel in/out but NOT up/down - anyone know of this issue? Quick fixes?? Or take it to the dealer and pay??

Any other issues/gotchas I need to be aware of on this year of rig??

This is a KILLER site, just like www.ktmtalk.com for us orange bike freaks, or www.speypages.com for the crazy fly fisherman in us...

It's my 4th LC and I'll have one until the day I day....

FishOn...

 

[e9999]

Welcome!

Enjoy!

 

[_JP_]

you'll fit right in around here. post pics of the rig. TC is a great color.

welcome (official mud greeting)

tight lines

jp

 

[Jim_Chow]

That's a great price on a '03. The hitch is added at port. My '03 came w/ a drawtite underneath. I replaced it w/ a Kaymar towbar (7700 lbs capacity), so the hitch is collecting dust. The '03+ LX's have a plastic cover on the OEM bumper where you can bolt on a trailer receiver attachment, but my feeling is the bolt on the bottom towbar is better, and a one-piece dedicated towbar like the Kaymar, Slee, TJM or ARB is even better. $160 for the key isn't too bad, but $100 for programming is steep. The lexus dealer charged me $200 for the key and $45 for programming. You can have any missing keys removed from the car's ECU (you need to provide all the keys you have to the tech so he can ensure they are the only ones programmed in there). You should get 2 master keys. If you lose one, have it replaced ASAP. Otherwise, if you lose both, you're hosed...need to replace the ECU (> $1K). Toyota/lexus usually offers a one-time replacement where they replace the ECU and you pay the labor. I think your power steering wheel controller isn't working properly. It should telescope in/out and move up/down. 275/65R18 should easily fit in the spare position. If the vehicle is under warranty, make sure the dealer doesn't have any problem with the larger tire since it does alter the odometer reading by 3%.

 

[fish2live]

Good info

Great info Jim, thanks... so this is really strange. The truck is a Land Cruiser for sure, not an LX (if by LX you mean and Lexus LX470)- HOWEVER, there IS a plastic cover in the center of the rear bumper - do you think it was rear ended and replaced with a Lexus bumper and not a Land Cruiser bumper?

Anyway, I think I'll probably go aftermarket anyway instead of OEM...

Thanks,
Fish

 

[100 TD]

Power steering wheel controler will move the wheel in/out but NOT up/down - anyone know of this issue? Quick fixes?? Or take it to the dealer and pay??

If you purchased from a dealer take it back and have it fixed under warranty. IIRC (they cant sell it like that), it is a safety issue, the steering wheel must be able to move in all directions so if there is an accident it can be pushed up and away from you. It will have power all the time I believe even when the key is off so this can happen. Same goes for the electric seats.

 

[SC4Hundred]

good price

 

[Josh9180]

welcome, that was a great price

 

[fish2live]

update

OK, update - the dealer has the key/remote and it works to unlock/lock door (but key is broken though) - so I guess I avoid the $1k charge for a new ECU (at least I HOPE)....

I actually think the color is Sonora Gold Pearl - not Thundercloud. Either way it's just awesome looking.

Revo's on order for $190 each, plus installation - so probably $900 there. 275/65/18

I'll have the shop look at the power steering adjust mechanism and hope it's only a couple hundred....

I need to look CAREFULLY at the rear bumper and frame since it's off an LX - I sure hope I don't find that it's been wrecked in a big way, maybe is was a fender bender and they just replaced the plastic bumber with an LX and not the LC... seems kinda weird though. Anyone know where I would find the VIN on the rear door and quarter panels to see if they have been replaced or not??

Out for now... pick it up this afternoon.

Fish

 

[LXPearl]

Welcome, and great price.

The LC and LX both had the hitch standard in the bumper in 03. It is rated for only 5000 lbs though. You can add the frame based hitch - like previous LCs and they are rated at 6500 lbs.

Ask the dealer about a TSB to get the improved case for the remote key. Lexus has one, I expect Toyota to be the same. They have an improved housing for the key now.

It is great you have at least one master key. You can program additional keys with it. Newer models have a limit of how many masters and valet keys can be programmed - I am not sure what the 03 limits are.

You may want to check out Natergator's thread on automated manuals from Toyota. It will give you a quick script for getting the manuals, plus you can download on your own all the TSBs and tech items. Just pay the $10 fee for 24 hours access - it works great.

 

[fish2live]

great news

Thanks, I found one on e-bay with the bumper hitch insert cover in the bumper like mine, and it didn't have the factory under bumper hitch. My guess is that if the hitch option wasn't ordered then the truck gets a bumper with the hole/cover. Becuase I've looked at about 10 other 2003's WITH a factory hitch and none of them had my kind of bumper.... good to know!!!

Also good news on the key, I'll look for the upgrade at the dealer.

Thanks.

Fish