Here's my story on this matter. One hot summer evening after work I started the car and it did the rattle sounds for a split sound. It starled me, but I knew exactly what it was...thanks to this forum and member's posts about it. I went to the dealership the next day to see what I could attempt to have fixed about it. Sat in the waiting area for 1.5hrs, and then proceeded to ask the service guy what's the deal. He was like, oh...they didn't come get you? We tried to replicate the issue, but it didn't make the noise...so no-go on the powertrain warranty. Well, I pressed the issue and as luck would have it the regional Lexus rep was at the dealership that day. I told him to please proceed to ask him what can be done here. He susposedly spoke with him and he said we would go ahead and place the order for the parts needed to do the repair/replace. He said he would call me once the parts came in.

Well, that was like 5 months ago...and the car has never made the noise again and of course I never got that promised return phone call from Lexus. So my thoughts on this is (in my case) that since it is not doing it on a regular basis...why even do it, when others that have had the repair/replace done seem to have the issue come back after a few months?

 

it won't hurt the engine but it is a bit embarrassing on startup for a car like this.

I think the problem is low oil pressure around the cam gear when the car sits for a while (1 hour or more). This is a design issue. Not sure if the newer models have backflow preventers to keep the pressure from dropping.

If your dealer has changed your oil and said he hasn't heard it on first startup after the new oil is in then they are lying to you. It will be loudest (and last the longest time) on first startup since most of the oil has drained away and pressure needs to be built back up. I get my oil changed by a mechanic buddy of mine and the noise lasted much longer on first startup after he changed my oil. Now it's back to the regular grind every once in a while.

I agree that it appears to occur more often when the oil gets broken down a bit. Right after I got my oil changed, the issue didn't seem to happen as often. Maybe something to do with the fresh oil coating things better? I dunno.

People that bring their car in hoping to replicate the sound are fighting an uphill battle b/c the pressure won't have enough time to drop if they drive in, wait 15 minutes to see the service rep, then try to replicate the noise. Best thing to do would be to record the startup on video or ask to be there when they start the car for the first time after they do an oil change.

 

What years are affected?

 

I have the noise as well and from what I read before it has something to do with a chain

 

Do you guys know if this is covered by Lexus my car is 2006 if it's not covered how much do they charge for fixing something like this ?

 

Is this "rattle" on startup more like a "grinding" noise that comes from the engine bay on startup??

If so i have this and will have to get it taken care of asap.

 

I wonder if this what I'm hearing. This is the post I made yesterday regarding "piston slap":

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...011-is350.html

It's not a loud noise, very subtle only on gentle acceleration, usually first start in the morning when the engine is "cold." The SA says they found high amount of "silica" indicating slight contact between cylinder wall and the piston.

Where is this service bulletin? I don't see it posted in this thread?

 

I have also this problem on my IS300 2007(mideast edition ) when I take to the dealership they told me the problem is from VVTI cam-gear shift and it well cost me from 1380$ or 1600$ depend on what will need to fix when the open the engine

the sound just like this at cold start



is there anyone here can tell us which part is causing this problem?

 

i had a rattle type sound come from my car on random start ups in the last week or so. i thought maybe it was since alot of my engine cover clips were broken/loose/missing thats what it was. i installed all new clips and the sound went away.

i didnt know this was something mechanical potentially