IS - 2nd Gen (2006-2013) Discussion about the 2006+ model IS models

Engine cranking/startup noise (merged threads)

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Old 06-14-07, 01:00 PM
  #151  
caudlek
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Originally Posted by caudlek
An update:

Well after emailing off the link to my sound byte, a few weeks back, to Lexus (Canada), I got a call from a generic Lexus “customer representative” last week ,,,,, and from the local service manager today. He agreed the sound was not normal but had NO suggestion as to what it was.

Dropped the car off tonight and they will try and reproduce the noise over the next few days, starting it every few hours. They need a TECH to witness the sound before any work will be done …… makes sense.

KC
An update to the update - June 13th/14th - 2007 !

The IS350 spent a day and a half at the dealer being started every hour or two ….. no unusual sound detected. No too much of a surprise to me since I told them it only occurred every 15-20 starts.

They have heard the sound byte though, and for the first time speculated it might be a valve train “actuator” issue …. of which there are 4 per engine (all different part numbers, 1 per intake/exhaust, per bank).

This is the first time I have heard the term “actuator” used, so the service manager may just be using the term in a general sense to describe the “camp gear”.

Until the sound appears on a regular basis I’m not too worried about it, and now that its on my service record any failures I may experience over the next few years will be an issue they failed to resolve under warranty.

In a way I am kind of relieved as I don’t really want to have these guys strip the top off the engine, replace one unit, only to have another start to make noise a year down the road (or find they have pulled the wrong one now). I won’t press them till I get the noise every day (or 4-6 starts ??).

KC
Old 06-14-07, 01:15 PM
  #152  
caudlek
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Originally Posted by caudlek
...
The IS350 spent a day and a half at the dealer being started every hour or two …......
On the lighter side, after a day and a half driving a ES300 loaner (87000klm, 2003???) I was freaking glad to get back into the tighter IS ,,,,,, no offence intended to ES owners.

KC
Old 06-15-07, 12:42 AM
  #153  
ES3
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Some have also been told it's the idler tensioner for the timing belt.

Could it be ALL of these things?
Old 06-15-07, 11:05 AM
  #154  
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Woohoo! pocky now has this dreaded noise!! Ugh....

Just heard it this morning. It sounds very unpleasant.

Thankfully I already have a appt tomorrow. I'm just going to ask for a new engine. haha
Old 06-16-07, 12:07 AM
  #155  
ES3
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Originally Posted by pocky
Woohoo! pocky now has this dreaded noise!! Ugh....

Just heard it this morning. It sounds very unpleasant.

Thankfully I already have a appt tomorrow. I'm just going to ask for a new engine. haha
Let us know how that request goes!
Actually I got a RX400H, while they search for my engine noise, kinda fun, electric torque is AWESOME!
Old 06-18-07, 09:40 PM
  #156  
lobuxracer
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Originally Posted by ES3
Some have also been told it's the idler tensioner for the timing belt.

Could it be ALL of these things?
There's no timing belt in the 2GR or 4GR series engines. They have multiple timing chain tensioners, but they do not use oil pressure exclusively for their tensioning action, so it really can't be the tensioners.

I have never heard of camp gears. What are they? Is this a misspelling of cam gears?

My understanding of this fault/failure is the VVTi control valve is failing (for some reason or another) and this is the root cause of the noise until the engine's oil pressure comes up to standard. It is difficult to access these valves, and replacing them requires removing more parts than you would like it to just to be able to remove and replace these electro-mechanical control pieces.
Old 06-18-07, 11:46 PM
  #157  
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Originally Posted by lobuxracer
There's no timing belt in the 2GR or 4GR series engines. They have multiple timing chain tensioners, but they do not use oil pressure exclusively for their tensioning action, so it really can't be the tensioners.

I have never heard of camp gears. What are they? Is this a misspelling of cam gears?

My understanding of this fault/failure is the VVTi control valve is failing (for some reason or another) and this is the root cause of the noise until the engine's oil pressure comes up to standard. It is difficult to access these valves, and replacing them requires removing more parts than you would like it to just to be able to remove and replace these electro-mechanical control pieces.
Thx for the info! Clearly you know your stuff.

Curious, what then is meant when the diagnosis is an "actuator" problem?
Old 06-19-07, 12:54 AM
  #158  
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The oil control valve (or OCV) operates the cam gear. The cam gear contains an "actuator" that allows the cam timing to be variable. What I read in the TSIB was there is a lock in the cam gear that is supposed to hold the "actuator" part in a fixed position until the engine's oil pressure is up to standard. In some of the engines the lock is not working correctly and this allows the actuator to float freely until oil pressure comes up and makes a clattering sound until oil pressure is up to normal. Apparently the failures are intermittent and not "hard" failures.

Whether this will affect the service life of the engine is unknown, but it will definitely affect engine performance and emissions control during cold cycle.

I can understand why this may not occur all the time, and why it's more likely on first start of the day after the oil has had some time to drain back into the pan. I do not know anything about rates of occurrence, and the last time I looked for this TSIB, I couldn't find it. If I knew where it was, I'd post the number.
Old 06-19-07, 08:15 AM
  #159  
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Originally Posted by lobuxracer
There's no timing belt in the 2GR or 4GR series engines. They have multiple timing chain tensioners, but they do not use oil pressure exclusively for their tensioning action, so it really can't be the tensioners.

I have never heard of camp gears. What are they? Is this a misspelling of cam gears?

My understanding of this fault/failure is the VVTi control valve is failing (for some reason or another) and this is the root cause of the noise until the engine's oil pressure comes up to standard. It is difficult to access these valves, and replacing them requires removing more parts than you would like it to just to be able to remove and replace these electro-mechanical control pieces.

+100000000000

I had both my intake and exhaust VVTI controlers changed, and some cam junk and no more sound. The car IMO drivers better. Be sure if you take your car in for this service that they change both. I have had no issues, and even inspected the engine when they were done. All was great... Now if I could get my car out of the shop for other BS warranty reasons I'd be happy.
Old 06-20-07, 07:48 AM
  #160  
kensteele
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i've got the noise, too.
Old 06-20-07, 11:22 AM
  #161  
TDL2005
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2006 IS 350, 12k

I recently got this noise after having my oil changed by Lexus.

I brought it back in to Lexus and they are unable to duplicate the issue.

I am glad to see I am not alone. Thank god for this board. If anyone hears anything from Lexus in regards to a solution. Please let me know.

Thank you in advance.
Old 06-20-07, 01:05 PM
  #162  
pocky
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Well, I got my car back. I was told the problem was a "loose" heatshield.

The problem is still there when I started the car this morning.. I called the dealer this morning, and I got the "This is normal".

I'm very very upset at this point.
Old 06-20-07, 02:36 PM
  #163  
caudlek
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Originally Posted by pocky
.... was told the problem was a "loose" heatshield.
The problem is still there when I started the car this morning.. I called the dealer this morning, and I got the "This is normal".
I'm very very upset at this point.
Don't get too upset .... because the noise is intermittent they probably aren't even hearing the same noise.

Its best to record it and play it back here looking for comments from members .... most mp3 players also record so if you use your mp3 jack u likely have a ready made recording option right there!

KC

.......... Sound Link ..... for those of you not sure of the sound it can be heard from the 5 second mark to about the 6 second mark!!




KC

Last edited by caudlek; 06-20-07 at 02:40 PM.
Old 06-20-07, 02:44 PM
  #164  
pocky
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Will listen to your sound bite tonight. Office computer doesn't have speakers.
Old 06-24-07, 02:05 PM
  #165  
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I got this too, but it's been happening more frequently, I'm at 20k miles, should I be worried?


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