Thanks for listing my video as a resource you used to make your own video of this repair. It's nice to see people like yourself who have integrity and aren't going to pass off someone else's work as their own. Good luck with your channel. - Timmy the Toolman
Hey Timmy, you’re absolutely welcome. And thank you YOU for the great video - I literally couldn’t have done it with out you. All the other Actuator Repair videos out there that I saw were crap. Yours gave me the confidence to tackle this job!
SUCCESS!!! I just thought I'd let you know that after trying to open the new actuator case to remove the shaft and finding it is glued together which made it impossible to do, I removed the actuator again, dissassembled it and thoroughly cleaned everything. I reassembled it and thanks to your video explaining the timing, I crossed my fingers and reinstalled it. The spring had come out of the seal, which was new, so I just put it back into the seal and slid it back on the shaft. I tested it with the key on but engine not running and I could hear it operating, but still no luck as the light continued flashing and when I drove it a few feet I knew it was still not functioning. So as I pondered removing the transfer case to remove the shaft a couple of days passed. I got into the GX to move it to a spot where I could begin the transfer case removal and decided to push the button....Well what do you know? The light went out and I took it for a drive and all is working!!! I checked it again the next day and still no problem...I am so jacked! So maybe the contacts inside were still a little wet when I first put it back and it just needed a little more time? Anyone who does this fix should give it a couple of days if at first it doesn't work. Thank you for the video!!!
John! Such good news! Great job persevering on this fix! I’m so glad to hear about your success - I’ve been wondering how you were getting on. Thanks for keeping me updated. I hope this means many more happy trails for you in the GX. Adventure on my friend.
Thanks for sharing this video repair on GX470 complete actuator repair. I really admire your video - it's very detailed and I like that the procedures you shared are very thorough. What really struck me was you even shared what kind of tools and cleaners you will be using to perform the tasks. Excellent video procedures indeed. Keep posting more detailed video repairs on GX470 please. Thank you so MUCH and wish you good luck on more video repairs in the future.
Ok, I got the unit out when I opened it up, but like you said, the rod is locked into place. I'll see if there is a way to remove it and hopefully without taking apart the transfer case! I'll let you know. Thank you for helping me!!!
Hi, Yes all 3 bolts are out and electrical and rubber tube are disconnected. The unit comes out about an inch and rotates freely but won't let go. I thought about opening it up and removing the internal parts like you suggested, so that's what I'll do I guess...The new unit comes with a rod installed so I would think the rod would come right out with the old one? Not the case? And if not, do you know how that is removed?
Interesting. I did not remove the rod from the transfer case. It felt like it was blocked from coming out of the t-case so I can’t speak to that part of it.
Yes, I watched his as well and he actually removed the shaft, but doesn't say how to do it. He replied to me that the transfer case needs to be removed. I can hear the actuator move a little, but the beeping never stops and this is new. I have tried moving the shaft in H and in Neutral with the trans in Park and in Neutral...ugh.
Hi, well I got the new actuator and began what I thought was a less than 30 minute job. I am unable to remove the old actuator which is what happened to me before and resulted in me taking the GX to a shop. Trans and H/L are in neutral and no matter how I rotate and pull on the actuator it won't come out. Any tricks? Can I use something to pry on it with?
Im sorry - vehicle repairs can be very frustrating when you hit complications. First, did you get ALL the bolts out? There are one or two tucked up and behind that are hard to access (shown in my video). If that doesn’t work, I would recommend following the steps in my full length video to open the actuator and take out all of the internal components. If the actuator is bound up, there will be pressure on the actuating rod potentially restricting your ability to remove the actuator housing. That’s all I can think of 🤷♂️
I noticed that in your video the rod moves. Mine won't budge as I tried to remove it once I got the acutator off. I also noticed that when I put the old actuator back on since my new one comes with a rod, that the actuator is now beeping? Never did that before...this is making me think I can't fix it myself? I'm pretty good, but I've never done "drive" component work. It seems that I may need to remove that rod and I'm guessing that I'll have to open the transfer case to get the rod out which might require removing it?
Man, John, you are venturing into uncharted waters for me. It’s weird that the rod cannot move in the transfer case. As you saw, the rod in my t-case moved freely. I wonder if you try shifting the t-case gear back and forth (from High, to Neutral, the Low and back again) to see if it will free the rod? The beeping noise is what the actuator does as it’s engaging/disengaging.
Also, I put a link in the description of my repair video to another video that I used as a reference: Timmy the Toolman. His video is longer and more detailed than mine. You might want to give that one a watch too.
Thanks for listing my video as a resource you used to make your own video of this repair. It's nice to see people like yourself who have integrity and aren't going to pass off someone else's work as their own. Good luck with your channel. - Timmy the Toolman
Hey Timmy, you’re absolutely welcome. And thank you YOU for the great video - I literally couldn’t have done it with out you. All the other Actuator Repair videos out there that I saw were crap. Yours gave me the confidence to tackle this job!
SUCCESS!!! I just thought I'd let you know that after trying to open the new actuator case to remove the shaft and finding it is glued together which made it impossible to do, I removed the actuator again, dissassembled it and thoroughly cleaned everything. I reassembled it and thanks to your video explaining the timing, I crossed my fingers and reinstalled it. The spring had come out of the seal, which was new, so I just put it back into the seal and slid it back on the shaft. I tested it with the key on but engine not running and I could hear it operating, but still no luck as the light continued flashing and when I drove it a few feet I knew it was still not functioning. So as I pondered removing the transfer case to remove the shaft a couple of days passed. I got into the GX to move it to a spot where I could begin the transfer case removal and decided to push the button....Well what do you know? The light went out and I took it for a drive and all is working!!! I checked it again the next day and still no problem...I am so jacked! So maybe the contacts inside were still a little wet when I first put it back and it just needed a little more time? Anyone who does this fix should give it a couple of days if at first it doesn't work. Thank you for the video!!!
John! Such good news! Great job persevering on this fix! I’m so glad to hear about your success - I’ve been wondering how you were getting on. Thanks for keeping me updated. I hope this means many more happy trails for you in the GX. Adventure on my friend.
Thanks for sharing this video repair on GX470 complete actuator repair. I really admire your video - it's very detailed and I like that the procedures you shared are very thorough. What really struck me was you even shared what kind of tools and cleaners you will be using to perform the tasks. Excellent video procedures indeed. Keep posting more detailed video repairs on GX470 please. Thank you so MUCH and wish you good luck on more video repairs in the future.
Hey there, you’re welcome for the video and thank you for your feedback and the compliments- they are much appreciated!
I got it! I was able to enlarge the image...Mass Air Flow Sensor Cleaner :)
Yep. That’s it. MAFS cleaner is safe for plastic. Good luck!
Ok, I got the unit out when I opened it up, but like you said, the rod is locked into place. I'll see if there is a way to remove it and hopefully without taking apart the transfer case! I'll let you know. Thank you for helping me!!!
You’re welcome. You may not need to remove the rod but simply reuse it - it doesn’t really go bad unless some teeth are missing.
Great video...I loosened the cover and out came the oil...What was the spray cleaner you used?
Thanks John. Mass Air Flow Sensor Cleaner - safe for plastic parts.
Hi,
Yes all 3 bolts are out and electrical and rubber tube are disconnected. The unit comes out about an inch and rotates freely but won't let go. I thought about opening it up and removing the internal parts like you suggested, so that's what I'll do I guess...The new unit comes with a rod installed so I would think the rod would come right out with the old one? Not the case? And if not, do you know how that is removed?
Interesting. I did not remove the rod from the transfer case. It felt like it was blocked from coming out of the t-case so I can’t speak to that part of it.
Yes, I watched his as well and he actually removed the shaft, but doesn't say how to do it. He replied to me that the transfer case needs to be removed. I can hear the actuator move a little, but the beeping never stops and this is new. I have tried moving the shaft in H and in Neutral with the trans in Park and in Neutral...ugh.
Dude, I am so sorry. That would be so frustrating and discouraging. Wish I could be of more help.
Hi, well I got the new actuator and began what I thought was a less than 30 minute job. I am unable to remove the old actuator which is what happened to me before and resulted in me taking the GX to a shop. Trans and H/L are in neutral and no matter how I rotate and pull on the actuator it won't come out. Any tricks? Can I use something to pry on it with?
Im sorry - vehicle repairs can be very frustrating when you hit complications. First, did you get ALL the bolts out? There are one or two tucked up and behind that are hard to access (shown in my video). If that doesn’t work, I would recommend following the steps in my full length video to open the actuator and take out all of the internal components. If the actuator is bound up, there will be pressure on the actuating rod potentially restricting your ability to remove the actuator housing. That’s all I can think of 🤷♂️
I noticed that in your video the rod moves. Mine won't budge as I tried to remove it once I got the acutator off. I also noticed that when I put the old actuator back on since my new one comes with a rod, that the actuator is now beeping? Never did that before...this is making me think I can't fix it myself? I'm pretty good, but I've never done "drive" component work. It seems that I may need to remove that rod and I'm guessing that I'll have to open the transfer case to get the rod out which might require removing it?
Man, John, you are venturing into uncharted waters for me. It’s weird that the rod cannot move in the transfer case. As you saw, the rod in my t-case moved freely. I wonder if you try shifting the t-case gear back and forth (from High, to Neutral, the Low and back again) to see if it will free the rod?
The beeping noise is what the actuator does as it’s engaging/disengaging.
Also, I put a link in the description of my repair video to another video that I used as a reference: Timmy the Toolman. His video is longer and more detailed than mine. You might want to give that one a watch too.