joverholt

04 RX 330 w 190k mikes

This is 2nd time this has happened. SUV, sits for a few days, go to crank it up, cranks over a few good times, like normal then starts to spin freely as if the valves are stuck open or how it would sound say if the spark plugs were out or better yet, as if the timing belt snapped & it was just turning the crank over. Similar sound of the starter motor itself just spinning, although that's not the case. Then after a few days, SUV starts up like nothing happened...

Anyone experience this? Could it be something to do with the variable valve timing & the valves being stuck open for some reason??

Any help is greatly appreciated!

alchemist

iTrader: (1)

if the belt snapped or theoretically if your valves were stuck open your pistons would hit your valves. Our engines are designed to where the piston and valves occupy the same space at different times in order to maximize efficiency and performance, so timing is essential.

alchemist

iTrader: (1)

what do you mean by 'spin freely'? Is the engine idling or not?

RX330inFL

I would be looking to hook up a scanner to see if any codes are being thrown.

joverholt

Not running, turn the key, engine cranks over. No codes with the scanner

HtownBlue

I know the answer here. This exact same thing happened to me. It is your starter. I promise. The gear is not extending fully onto the fly wheel and is creating the noise when you go to start it. Your starter is the issue. Mark it down.

RX330inFL

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...ing-issue.html

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...-location.html

alchemist

iTrader: (1)

Good find. I forgot i even posted in both of these

joverholt

Not the starter. Like the Variable Valve timing solenoid is stuck, holding the valves open. Engine turning over with no compression

HtownBlue

That's impossible. Even with VVT the cam shafts turn with the timing chain. See the threads posted above. Of it is turning over normally and not starting, without noise, then you have an ignition issue.

I promise you that you cannot keep a valve open while turning over the engine without some major internal damage (broken cam shaft, broken rocker arm, busted valve itself). When the timing belt turns, the cams turn and the valves open and close in turn. VVT only changes a slight timing of the valves opening.

alchemist

iTrader: (1)

How about a fuel issue. Perhaps pump or relay?

HtownBlue

I bet if you did a compression test it would test just fine. VVT solenoids can fail but it is rare. Even if it did the hydrolic pressure would cause the solenoid to close and default to the standard timing as is by design.

If you are cranking the engine and it is making a racket while doing so, but sometimes cranking fine, you have an issue with the gears lining up on the starter. If you are cranking and it simply isn't starting the ignition cycle, you have a spark, fuel, or least likely a compression issue. Compression issues are hardly intermittent. They either are present or aren't. Spark and fuel issues can be intermittent. As can starter issues.

joverholt

Well, it started right up a couple days later like nothing happened. Im almost certain its the vvt solenoid. It opens a valve when they are closed I assume & for that to happen, it must not be an interference engine.
It sounded EXACTLY like I was cranking the engine over with all 6 spark plugs out. VERY strange & like I said, this is the 2nd time its done this, last time was 2 years ago & after a couple days, it just fired right up.

Thanks for all the input fellas!