masdevsd

We just bought a 2009 460L with 14K miles on it. The issue my wife has is that when you turn the car off, you can hear some fairly loud "popping" sounds coming from the undercarrige. It sounds to me like maybe A/C condensation dripping onto hot exaust but wanted to see if anyone else has this issue?

Thanks in advance for your time.

Diego

- 2004 GX 470
- 2009 LS 460L

Nospinzone

Water on hot exhaust may have a sizzling sound, but certainly not a popping sound.

It may be dieseling. Are you using less than 91 octane fuel?

masdevsd

Thanks,

Yes we are using premium fuel and the engine if definately off. Not sure how else to describe the sound, but popping/cracking is all that comes to mind, not really a sizzle

cmasten

there are two vent tubes right behind the front wheels, but not near the exhaust so I would say the probability of it being from the AC are slim to none.

There are many sounds on the LS after you turn it off, the pump in the brake system among others, but none that make a pop sound, they are more like pumps etc that are equalizing lines etc. wonder if what your hearing is the cooling shield on the exhaust that is cooling?

memphisLS

It definitely sounds like the exhaust cooling. Mine makes the same noise. Kind of annoying, but I'm not sure there's much that can be done about it...

JFNash

To be sure that we're on the same page, turn the AC on in a 10-minute ride in a warm afternoon. Open the door, step out of the car. If you hear it, then it's the AC cooling or whatever it is.

I hear it all the time. Non issue.

masdevsd

I had her check on her drive to work today and make sure the A/C was so we could eliminate that. When she got there, it still made the noise so not A/C releated. I guess it must be the exhaust shield cooling. While it does not bug me personally, it does surprise me that an car as expensive as this would make that kind of noise.

Thanks for the help.

MikeE12345

Try comparing the noise after the engine hasn't really heated up much with a hot engine. If only the latter produces the popping sound then it could be related to metal cooling noises. I wouldn't think that was a problem. I haven't had any such experience or seen any other reports on this forum.

Mike

cmasten

Both of my Lexi (plural for Lexus?) are completely quiet after running for a while. I did experience this on my sons Honda Pilot where part of a heat shield had been pressed over onto the exhaust pipe making it "pop" as it ran much hotter, once i figured that out, I bent the shielding back away from the pipe and its never made the sound since, might be worth a check under the car after its been running to see if you can locate the general area of the popping sound. Dealer could also put it on a lift when you get your next oil change etc and they could certainly check it out.

masdevsd

cmasten - Thanks for the tip, I will see if I can get under it and see if anything is bent. Not sure I hope things are bent but at least it would help explain this as our GX and other Lexi we have owned never had this issue.