Hello. I'm a new member to the forum.
Last Friday my car stopped working, I guessing it was the engine that died. I've heard a lot of things about what it could be. But the one that made more sense to me was the timing chain. I will get to know what happened tommorow when Lexus stars working on the car, but I can tell you that it sounded really expensive. But what happened was:

I was driving normally listening to music and chilling. Then I gave some gas to get up to speed since I was going into the highway. And then I heard a sound in the background so I turned the music down and tried again. So it sounded like scratching I dint knew what it was so I thought it was a really ****ed heatshield or the transmission. Then I drove it really carefully and stopped the car. Called Lexus and they said they couldn't help me until next Friday. So I tried one more time to try to record the sound so that maybe another mechanic could help me. Well... Bad choice because that was the last time my engine was on.

​​The sound came only when I drove at high RPM. The car has only 127000km on, and I change the oil often. I got a Sedox ECU tune that gives the car 228hp and 274n.m. Not much of a difference so I don't think that's the reason for the engine to break. I do drive the car a little hard but I don't abuse the car.

Does anyone know what it can be? I'm not able to post the audio of the car here. I'm going to keep you updated so that maybe it can help someone in one way. If you got any question just ask away I'm happy to talk about Lexus.

 

Be specific. So on that last time the car was running, was it a noise from the engine bay or trans tunnel area that catch your attention? What exactly did the car do when it made this noise in the higher rpms? Did you find it difficult to accelerate? Was the car mis-firing? Was there any odd smells?

 

The noise came from the drivers side. The car stil drove normally when it was at high RPM, I just stopped gassing because I got scared but hen it drove normally again. No difficulty to accelerate or misfire or any smell. The last time it made that noise (scratching, squeaking and fragments) the engine stopped working, and check engine light came on. That's all I can say.

But today I got some updates. Lexus told me that the engine started today, but as I understood it dint sound well. They dint find the problem either. So I'm waiting to maybe get some news tommorow. I already got happy that the engine started because it wouldt start the day it "broke".

 

Couldn't find the source of the loud noise you say? Oh boy.

Guessing a seized A/C compressor or an ALT gone bad. Both I would figure would be easy to pinpoint.

Good luck, and keep us updated!

 

Well. So Lexus called me today and said the car was ready for pick up. They told me nothing was wrong with the car, that it drove just fine. They teste drove the car both yesterday and today, and the car was fine. I don't trust this and think the problem is going to apear again. But I will keep you updated it something happens again....

 

If the noise comes back, pop the hood and take video if you can.

 

We were on the same page thinking accessory like A/C and/or Alternator.

So was this screeeeeeech a metallic sound or was it more belt squealing? Water pump or idler pulley? What did they charge you?
GL, but I have the same concern if no repairs were made...

 

I'm no mechanic hehe but I have shown the audio for 2 other mechanic and they said it sounded like the chain. It was a metal sound I've heard. Can't quite say what the last sound it made was because I've never heard something like that before. But it was a metal sound! Lexus said they checked the chain and it was fine. They charged me 2 hours and not all the 6-8 hours since they dint do any repair. They are always nice to me when it comes to the payment. The alternator was changed not long ago. So idfk I'm really worried and don't think thats the end of this problem

But if it was the AC, would the car just die like that? And not start again?

 

If a compressor temporarily failed/locked-up, it could hamper the engine's ability to idle for sure. The crankshaft pulley, water pump, idler pulleys, ALT pulley, and A/C compressor pulley are all connected. So when one goes bad, it can affect everything.

Hope it NEVER comes back! But time to get that AAA membership. LOL!

 

Got the car back today. Drives great. It was acting weird when I started up. RPM was at 1500 and and going up and down, and it was shifting very weird. After I drove it warm it was fine again so don't think I have a complain. I showed the sound to another mechanic and he said it sounded like the alternator was bad. So you guys might be right 🤔. I'm going to talk to Lexus tommorow and show them the sound. And is it like a one time thing? Since you said you hope it never comes back.

What AAA membership? What's that?

 

I'm thinking it spit a rocker. The noise being intermittent and/or not reproducible might be from it getting crunched on until it found a resting place away from the springs.

 

it is insurance company that also allows you have like 4 or 5 free tows a year within a certain radius of your house. he said that in case your car makes that noise again and you have to pull over and doesnt start back up and leaves you on the side of the road. you wouldn’t need a pay for a tow since its already included with the AAA insurance

 

Hey guys, the op lives in Norway. They probably don't have AAA there.

 

Haha OP doesn't live in the US, so he's not going to know what is AAA

 

i didnt realize that until after I posted it LOL