It's not from the AC clutch. Yours is a unique case. Everyone else is experiencing a known issue that apparently is still escaping Lexus's ability to solve the problem permanently.

 

So then nobody really knows what it is? I thought everyone concluded, and there was a TSB that said something about the cams or cam gears. Is this not correct?
I have an appt. on Thursday to bring mine in for this problem. Mine didn't start doing till about a month or so ago and I have 24,xxx miles now. I sure hope it isn't an internal engine problem. I planned on putting at least 100K miles on this car, that is why I bought a Toyota product.

 

Well mine happened about 3 months ago which was around 3,4xx miles. It would crank rattle atleast once a day. If not in the morning then in the afternoon. Got the TSB done and never came back since.

 

I'm glad this showed up. Been noticing the cranking/rattling noise on start-up. Nobody else that I asked notices it so I just let it go. How long does this TSIB take?

 

Wow! That link ( http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...2787_noise.flv ) makes the car sound like a diesel for a second! jeezzzz.

 

I just came back from Lexus of Serramonte (California) and they were less than helpful. The rep simply had the tech look for error codes in the computer and check that nothing was loose in the undercarriage. WOW, WOO, BIG WHOOPIE DOO -_-; I specifically told the rep it happens at cold starts and he only took an hour to look it over.

I have his email, so I'm going to send him a copy of the TSIB and sound/video clip. I told him I'd be back for him if it happens again. No car should sound like that. I've owned almost half a dozen cars and nothing like this has ever happened.

 

I can't believe some dealers are giving customer's a hard time about this issue. It's a known issue. My dealer fixed it no questions asked, they already knew about the issue although I did bring in the TSB.

Remember that the TSB was extended to cover more VIN's so don't let the dealer tell you they can't do it because your VIN is not covered. That is wrong.

All dealers should be like mine, I drove up showed them the TBS, provided the sound byte, SA set me up w/ a loaner and I was on my way within 20 min's.

It's been 2 months since they fixed it and it's never appeared again.

 

My car made the noise every now and then, but then just stopped doing it. It hasn't done it in a long time. I wonder why?

 

recommend u do the tsb...it'll eventually come back (not jinxing it or anything)

i got mine done! picked up the car and it's fine and dandy...i'll report if i hear it again :P

 

NEVER go to Serramonte. I only went there once and will never go back again. You rather go to Putnum or better yet Magnussens

 

Does anybody have a recommendation for a Norcal dealer that does this TSB? I am trying to avoid dealers that are hesitant to perform this TSB (like N8236's experience) since this cranking noise occurs mostly in colder temperatures. It does occur, just not lately with the warmer whether. Thanks!

 

I just took my car to the dealer with the TSB print out. They said they would perform the fix but I just got a call from them saying that my valves are bent.

I asked if this was caused by the defect stated in the TSB to which they answered "we're still looking into it." They said they will fix the valves and anything else they determine is faulty.

Has anyone experienced this? Does this sound right? Can the valves on the car get bent due to the defect mentioned in the TSB?

I'm bummed that they have to do all this work on my car which has less than 30K miles.

 

I don't know how loud ur ISx50 engines are, but mine has a pretty obvious mechanical sound like you can hear all the parts rotating. I asked this before and other CL peeps said it's part of the IS engine, but I had my doubts since it is a Lexus! Now that people are suggesting that their engines have gotten quieter from having the TSIB done, I'm ready to march into every dealership to get this fixed.

I've emailed 4-5 dealerships in my area (Bay Area) and none of them have offered to fix this. I'm not going to spend more of my time going in to have them tell me they can duplicate it, so they won't fix it.

 

I don't know about the people who claim their engines gotten quieter after the TSB but I know mine still sounds like a ticking time bomb because the DI.

 

Then why haven't you gotten it fixed? Or does the dealership claim it to be within' being normal."