Let me throw this out there before I start b*tching. I love this car, but have one other major PITA complaint in addition to the slight pull to the right in the steering at highway speeds.

I can not stand the weird snap, crackle, and popping noise I get out of the dash mostly near the NAV system. It is a weird type of noise, almost like a microswitch sound. I wonder if the disk spinning in the NAV system could cause this. I only hear it for about the first 3 minutes of driving the car and then it goes away. I paid for a Lexus in the hopes of minimizing weird noises and rattles. Now I have to worry about a mechanic ripping the dash apart to install strategic felt tape in hopes of fixing it and then hopefully not creating a new rattle somewhere else.

Anyone else have similar noises in their dashes?

 

Same noises, but no NAV system. It only happens to me when I turn on the AC. Goes away after 30 seconds or so. I don't think it happens everytime, but I usually have the stereo going.

 

I think this is pretty common with any car. I suspect it's just got something to do with the plastics that make up the dash especially when the car was parked outdoors under the heat of the sun which causes the molecules of the plastic to expand. Then you come in, hit the ignition with the A/C blasting, cold air comes out which then causes the plastic molecules to contract therefore causing one or two of these crackling or popping sounds.

Again, I've got nothing to back this theory...but it's just a hunch.

 

I do not think it is pretty common for this type of noise.

I have owned over 10 different brands/makes of vehicles and have never had a noise like this. I have however had vehicles with rattles/groans induced by bumps, body flex, etc. over their lifetime.

 

This is precisely one of the major reasons I'm selling my G (bucket of bolts) and getting an IS.

The only good thing is that my tolerance for rattles is pretty high. If it's just at start up, then goes away, that won't be an issue for me. It's the constant rattles on relatively smooth roads that drive me freakin' nuts.

 

WOW...I just heard this popping this morning for the first time. It happened at start-up when i blasted the AC. Hope it doesnt continue, and if it does I hope it doesnt get worse than it was. It only lasted 15-20 seconds.

 

If this is a common problem, then hopefully Lexus will issue a TSB for it. Be sure to include it on your survey.

 

is it a loud sound like a rock hitting the windshield??? cause if it is...i have heard tis b4...i was parked too...

 

yup, i believe its related to the noise that the GS guys are complaining about...or maybe its different. i dunno, but it has to be plastic related because its definitely temperature related.

 

Yep I got the same thing, mostly when the car is hot inside and the AC kicks in. Goes away after a couple of minutes.

 

Its the Gerbils starting to run when you turn on the AC. They forgot to oil the wheel.

Nah, but I have heard it maybe once, it doesn't bug me. The fact that when I hit the gas I can't hear the exhaust bugs me more.

 

I've posted info about this. There is TSIB regarding steering issues. You should talk to your dealer about that.

 

After I got off work, I tried completely shutting down the A/C and ventilation and I did not hear the noise so it must be related to something in the ventilation. Maybe it's the filters sealing against the sealing surface.

I will try completely shutting off the ventilation tomorrow before turning the car off and then during the day on restart verify I don't hear the noise to confirm.

 

Yep, thanks for the previous post, the dealer already tried to align the car and said it was in spec. I'll have them check this TSB next time I visit. Wasn't this just a general TSB for all Lexus vehicles???

 

Hey Scotty,

I dont have NAV in my IS350 but I had really loud weird rattles in my dash and it was very very annoying.

I had to take my car in twice to get it fixed. Frist time they couldnt really find anything and I couldnt able to reproduce the noise when we were road testing.
But second time, i made them take out the whole dash and they found something wrong with wire harness, so they fix it. I just got my car today and so far so good.

I dont know when you bought your car but my car is one of the very earliest production car. (VIN # 000something like 400). So i believe earlier IS dash has the same problems. I am sure it is an easy fix once you identify the problem.

Hope that helps and good luck.