I did a search but didn't see anything regarding 07's; if I missed it, sorry. Last evening, when I started the car, there was an extremely loud clanking noise. It was horrible. I said, "Is that my car?" Which was a stupid question (I seem to have a lot of those these days ), because we were in our own garage. Then I remember that I heard the same thing about a month or two ago. It's grinding and/or like metal cans clanking together. Any ideas? Thank you.

 

Yap I hear the same noise at start up; checked with the dealer, they said it is normal and told me that my is the "quietest"!!!

 

That noise happens for the first 20-30 seconds upon cold startup. I forgot what it was exactly, but if I recall correctly, it's either all the valves opening up or the injectors opening to help warm up the car and get the car to optimal operating conditions quicker. It's a normal operation in the 3.5L V6 2GR-FSE.

 

If its normal operation for the 3.5, then why do some people hear it and some dont?

 

It's there, most people out there don't know what they're supposed to be hearing or listening to.

 

I've never heard it.

 

I am very sensitive to funny noises in my car as most of you guys already know If I heard a extremely loud clanking noise that sounds like grinding and/or like metal cans clanking together, I am sure I would know it.

 

Keep in mind that when you're in a garage, the sound is amplified so it sounds louder than it really is compared to an open environment. But it's still annoying nonetheless.

 

There is a TSIB for what sounds like is being described here. The title is "EG020-07 BRIEF ENGINE KNOCK/RATTLE NOISE AT COLD STARTUP.

It requires a new gear assembly to be installed, and takes 6 hours to do according to the TSIB.

Here is an excerpt from it:

"Immediately following a cold soak startup, some 2007 model year GS 350 vehicles may exhibit a brief rattle/knock noise from the engine compartment for approximately one second. Refer to the repair procedure below to address customer concerns.

�� 2007 model year GS 350 vehicles equipped with 2GR-FSE engine and produced BEFORE the Production Change Effective VINs shown below.
MODEL PLANT DRIVETRAIN PRODUCTION CHANGE EFFECTIVE VIN
GS 350 Tahara
2WD JTHBE96S*70024487
4WD JTHCE96S*70010861"

 

Does that mean the 08 already have this fix from the factory?

 

That's what the TSIB seems to imply. Even the 2007 with VINs later than the ones posted above should have the fix from the factory.

 

2007s are included in the TSIB.

 

this reminds me.

we need a tsib sticky!

 

2008 have a different TSB...we get grinding noise at start. TSB is an ECU software update.

 

Thanks for the replies. These two recent incidents of loud grinding and clanging are completely out of character for my car. From day one, my car has been very quite and smooth on start up; therefore, you can imagine my surprise when it sounded like the engine fell out.