I sent off a sound byte to Lexus (Canada) myself. The dealer called today so i guess head office is putting a little heat on them (i emailed head office Friday).

Sound - Good start:
http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i3..._2788_good.flv

Sound - Crappy Start:
http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...2787_noise.flv


The dealer is telling me ONLY the IS250 had the VVTI controller issue ..... that true???? How many on this forum have had the fix AND can confirm this is the sound?

KC

 

I have a 350. That is undoubtedly the noise the I heard and was diagnosed at a faulty VVTI controller (or something to do with VVTI). It has been fixed for several weeks and the noise that I heard upon every startup is now gone. They're might be talking about the valve lash problem. I believe that only the 250 was prone to that issue and was included on a TSIB for the 250. Keep at em. They can fix that.

 

Thanks, ahohnstein.

It was your info that i took into the dealer on paper :

Originally Posted by ahohnstein View Post
problem solved.....
... Faulty VVT-i OCV on right hand side of the engine. Found no9ise coming from right side intake VVT-i gear. Removed intake, right-side valve cover, timing chains. Replaced right side VVT-i camp gear........
......(1) 11213-31040 Gasket, Cylinder
(1) 17176-31060 Gasket, Air Surge
(1) 13050-31070 Gear Assy, Camsha
(2) 00272-SLLC2 Super Long Live C..........

I think this was your info! (Thanks) .....Anyway, that seemed too complicated for them to digest without hearing it i guess ,,,,,,because yours occurred with every start I guess the dealer there couldn’t argue that.

Mine still only occurs only about one in every 15 starts. The dealer has ignored my sound byte but head office seems interested.

Other than a "foul noise" what are the implications for this issue?

I'm not even sure i want them to strip down the engine to repair it if non critical and intermittent but i for sure want it on record, in writing. If, 6 years down the road, the top half of the engine starts spewing OHV parts thru my hood i will be "slightly" upset..... and will be looking for that writing.

KC

 

Clicking is a better word - so I assume that is a good thing meaning it is the injectors.

Clicking = good.
Knocking = bad.

 

Not even a clicking .....someone described it as "a chain being pulled out of a plastic bottle" ...... that fits. But one word won't cover it.


bbyevogirl, kickin8, caymandive, al503, IS_Mine check out the sound byte and comment!

Sound - Good start:
http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i3..._2788_good.flv

Sound - Crappy Start( from the 4-6 second mark):
http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...2787_noise.flv



KC

 

Mine sounds like that as well. Mine is alittle louder of a knocking noise. But realy close to what your hearing. Thanks or the sound clip.

 

will do that when i get home tonite. no sound at work

 

heard that clip. yes. it happened to me only once so far....i think that's the VVTi controller issue......

 

Thought I would revive this thread ….. I still have the noise and back in May ’07 recorded the sound and sent it off to Lexus. They acted concerned, had me take it to the local dealer (again) ,,,,, the dealer couldn’t replicate it, and therefore wouldn’t do anything. I haven’t been back to them for any service since.

So, funny thing,,,,,,, 2 days ago, I get a call from their parts department telling me my “parts” are in. “What parts” I ask? Turns out, for some reason, 8 months later the service manager “decides” to order the parts to replace the VVT-i OCV assembly.

I wonder if Lexus Corporate is doing a recall???? Looking to improve customer relations??? Bizarre!!! Anything new on this topic i have missed??

For the Sound byte - see earlier links - they still work.

KC

 

I hope it gets resolved! Good luck. Keep us posted.

 

i believe there was a thread on this subject