Greetings all,

My first post here. I hope this isn't repeated somewhere else. If so, I apologize in advance.

First off, I think this site is amazing! The wealth of information here is incredible.

I wanted to share some info about a service experience I just had, as well as pose a question at the same time.

I've had my '06 IS 250 AWD for about 6 mos now, and was coming up on the 5k service. I took it in to my dealer for the service a bit early, after hearing what sounded like a knock coming from the engine. At first I thought it was just injector noise, but it seemed too loud for that.

The dealer's tech basically found nothing wrong upon his inspection of my car. The repair order I got back from the service advisor stated everything was operating as designed.

I asked to talk with the tech who worked on my car, as that answer didn't satisfy me. The tech was pretty cool about taking some time to talk with me, and in doing so, he gave this explanation of the knock- the sound (almost a diesel-sounding noise) was coming from a pump used in the fuel injection/fuel delivery system (he pointed it out to me- it's located near the firewall, passenger side). Apparently, I'm not the first one who complained about this noise, as the tech mentioned that a few other owners had complained about the same thing. He also cautioned me that it would likely sound louder in lower temperatures, particularly at start-up, but also after warm-up occurs.

I was wondering, has anyone else experienced this? My car didn't have this noise early on- it seems to have developed within the past week to two weeks from what I've noticed.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

JT

 

There's a a couple threads on this particular thing. If we're talking about the same thing... it sounds like a ratatatatatat just at startup time. It doesn't happen after the engine is started. Do a search for "lifters" ; that should bring up the thread. I think someone mentioned that it might have something to do with the lifters. But what he told you sounds good too. I'll have to ask about this next time I'm in to the dealer. I left mine there over a weekend hoping they would find out the cause but to no avail.

 

JT
Similar noises are quite common on the 2007 ES 350. Check the ES 350 forum for descriptions and Lexus' response. Hope this helps.
NGG

 

Thanks for the info! I'll have to check those references.

The sound did actually remind me of the noise I once got out of a small block Chevy when a lifter went bad-definitely not a welcome one.

I had no idea this might be a common thing among some other Lexus models. Seems to me there are more issues going on with this than I thought.

Much obliged!

 

At parking speeds, mine reminds me of a Mercedes 300D turbodiesel that my mom had in the '80s.

If you listen to an Audi with an FSI engine, or any other vehicle with direct injection, they all sound that way.

 

if you're talking about a loud distinct "ticking" sound then, yes, that's the injectors (or something to do with that system). The loud "ratcheting" sound that I was talking about is most definitely not the injectors but more likely lifters or something else. The sound I experience is ONLY at startup for a second or two (sometimes not at all) and only on startup. Once the vehicle is started, the sound does not persist. It's intermittent and can not be reproduced reliably. You'll find a host of threads on the injector "ticking" sound on this site. You'll find one or two on this loud "ratcheting" sound.

 

it is the direct injection system..or so I was told