Test drove 99 LX470 ... Height control "OFF" light blinking

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danmm7

10 Year
Joined
Aug 11, 2012
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11
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For those of you who don't keep an eye on the 80-series forum, i am looking for a used, earlier year LX450/470 for trips to mountain cabin during the winter. It won't be a daily driver for the most part, but i has to be reliable and capable in the mountains...and on the freeway. I've been looking at couple LX450s but some forum members here advised me that i may be happier with a 100-series truck. I do not want to spend too much $$$ for SUV that will be driven only 6-7k miles a year...this is why i am considering older LX models to keep the cost down.

So, I went to test drive a 1999 LX470 this morning.
The truck has only 68k miles, clean carfax, second owner. Looks like it was never abused. Interior and exterior are in great shape, just needs some detailing and new tires ASAP. (many cracks on the Michelin tires).

Something that i noticed right away was that on the dashboard i see a blinking "OFF" light next to the Height Control. I pressed the height control button few times, but whatever i tried to do, the light kept blinking. I could not feel the height changing either.
The ride seems to be 'fine', maybe a bit too bouncy, not sure. The light is blinking when driving or sitting still at idle - makes no difference.
The current owner tells me that the light "is on because the computer needs to be reset" ;) Sounds like the light has been on for some time.

I know that this is hard to diagnose on a forum...but since i am considering potentially buying this SUV, i need to know worst case scenario - what could be causing this light to be blinking and what $$$ am i looking at if i need to buy parts? I have some mechanical skills and good tools, but IF this is a complex repair that must be done at dealer - what will be the $$ damage - worst case?

The other thing i noticed....was that the car pulls a bit to the right if i try to keep the steering wheel straight. Could be bad alignment or bad tires...or both. Or something else?

Any other hidden $$$ surprises i should expect with this production year and miles on the odometer? Under the hood ...everything looks clean, dry and only a bit dusty. Did not see any obvious leaks.

Seller is asking almost $16k for the SUV. I am still trying to decide if this is a good deal given the condition, the 1999 year and the 68k miles on the odo. He has no service records.

Overall, i like this LX470 a lot better than the '97 LX450 i test drove last week..... but the price is almost double too....and it is still only 1999 model. :)


Any feedback is well appreciated.

Thanks!
Dan
 
The price is too high IMHO I paid 18k 2 years ago for a one owner rust free garage kept 01 LX with 84,000 and no pulling, AHC light etc.

The AHC system could be shot. Swap it out and replace it for OEM non AHC suspension. Many threads on here about that.

HTH

Good Luck,
 
Did you by any chance get the vin? If so go to Lexus site and sign up as a Lexus owner. You can input the vin and get service history if done at Lexus dealer.
At that mileage your looking at timing belt and water pump PM. Cost 600 on up depending on where it's done.
You can always remove AHC and go with OEM shocks as your only driving on roads.
 
DanInDenver said:
....
You can always remove AHC and go with OEM shocks as your only driving on roads.
Click to expand...

Yes, i will be driving on roads for sure. Some covered in snow, but it will not be any extreme off-road driving for sure.

I read a number of discussions around the AHC to OEM conversion and people going to Bilstein shocks and ride quality and complications... and etc, etc.

My question is... if i decide to do AHC to OEM non-AHC conversion on older LX (or GX470), aside from getting the right parts, are there any other expected issues around removing the existing AHC components? I can imagine that i need to gut out the entire AHC system completely before i can install the OEM components. Will this introduce any other warning lights and issues? I could not find a clear step-by-step DYI guide on the whole process. Does the existing AHC suspension require ANY modifications (welding, drilling) before it can accept the OEM setup?


Thanks!
 
Having purchased a LX, if I were to do it again I'd just go ahead and get a LC. The only real benefit to the LX is the cabin air filter which is missing on the LC.

Other than that, you're paying for the badge and forcing yourself to pay even more to rip out the AHC.

Save yourself 3-5k and go with the LC unless you really want the LX.
 
IMHO $16k for a vehicle that old with no records is steep. Basically my reasoning is this:
1) parts go bad from wear (miles) or rot (sitting too much). Therefore if mileage is unusually high OR unusually low you can expect to have to fix things.
2) no records equals high risk. Did it get regular service or not? Without records all you have is this guy's word. 1999 was 13 years ago. That he has a flashing dash light and no idea what exactly it is suggests that it has not been serviced IMHO.
3) AHC is great and very durable. However if parts go bad and are not fixed it goes tits up very expensively.
4) ditto timing belt, serpentine belt, and water hoses.

So I would expect the price to be discounted heavily for risk OR for him to repair it first:
1) cost of either AHC repair or LC stock suspension cost (including install). I would ask $2-3k discount for that alone.
2) cost of new tires and any other rubber that looks bad enough that you are worried. Timing belt falls in this category. Divide by 2 since you wouldn't expect it to be flawless. Maybe another $2k all in.
3) well kept interior is nice, and the trucks are super durable, but low miles is almost more of a worry to me than high miles because it usually means neglect. Rot, rodents, and insects kill an idle vehicle.

I'd throw out $10k and see what he says after he stops choking. Maybe come up to $12-13k max.

Call Lexus though and give them the VIN. If they can come up with records then re-evaluate.

J
 
flood said:
Having purchased a LX, if I were to do it again I'd just go ahead and get a LC. The only real benefit to the LX is the cabin air filter which is missing on the LC.

Other than that, you're paying for the badge and forcing yourself to pay even more to rip out the AHC.

Save yourself 3-5k and go with the LC unless you really want the LX.
Click to expand...

My 2000 LC has cabin air filters. And if you dont have them you can easily retrofit them http://tlcfaq.com/main/2012/05/cabin-air-filter-installretrofit/
 
And the LX has automatic folding down mirrors when reversing, darkens automatic at night when light hits the sensor, memory seats.
 
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