As the title says we have a 2016 IS350 and chasing a knocking sound.

The car has always been maintained above and beyond the Lexus requirements and with genuine parts. It has always been driven respectfully with no redline runs etc.

We are almost at 80,000 kms or 50,000 miles.

With an automotive stethoscope we identified two areas the sound could be coming from.

The first was the idler pump pulley bearing. We replaced it and you could feel play in the old one.

It was very disappointing that a Japanese bearing failed so early. Popping the cover off, there was no sign of grease.

The sound didn’t go away so now it is time to replace the water pump.

I am thinking the Aisin WPT-13 water pump as I see no reason anymore to pay a premium for Lexus parts if they are failing so early.

Or is there a better alternative?

 

I have searched and know that the water pumps are a known weak spot on the earlier models but haven’t found anything about later cars.

We have no leaks, no pink stains, just the noise.

 

Unlikely that your water pump failed at 50k. Can you post a video of the noise?

 

Will post a video soon, just not with the car at the moment.

Not sure how to pinpoint the noise though, because with a stethoscope, the noise focuses on the water pump.

 

My 2015 IS 350 recently started making a rattling sound from the front of the engine. Both the water pump pulley and the idler pulley bearings were shot (tons of side to side play on both after removing the belt tension). Car only has 65,000 kms on it! Replaced both parts, plus the belt. The coolant looked clean, but the weep hole for the water pump was plugged with crusty coolant. I figure that either the idler pulley failed and took the pump with it, or the coolant (which has never been replaced) ran out of additives to keep the pump bearing lubricated. No sign of coolant loss, other than the weep hole, and the overflow reservoir was half way between low and full.

 

Yes, go with the Aisin WPT-137 water pump. I believe it is what Lexus uses as OEM. Replace the belt too if you haven't already, and the coolant since you will lose a lot with the pump replacement anyways.

 

When i mentioned my RC350 water pump failed at 50-60k km, the stu-pid mo-ron did not believe me, working at Lexus Dealership doesn't mean you know everything, the guys in the front desk at Lexus Dealership even more stu-pid, I mean Lexus dealership in the USA LOL.

Yes my RC350 AWD water pump replaced at 58k km this is Lexus Canada people !

 

Mine failed at 58k km I'm from Canada you're from Australia, for the water pump you should go with OEM, the Waterpump production line year IS/GS/RC350 2015-16, the Lexus dude slept on his job, and made defect parts like those guys in the Lexus dealership they don't do their job properly only talk, that is why some of our Lexus IS/RC/GS350 water pump fails so early.

 

Thought I better update so those looking for info could make an informed decision.

I didn’t get around to taking a video but replaced it with an Aisin water pump.

You could actually see where the Toyota logo was ground off, so I am guessing it is the genuine part.

As we pulled the pump off we realised it had a very small leak and you could feel a bit of play in the shaft, so it definitely needed replacing.

I am finding it too complicated to add photos, but they probably won’t add much value.

 

So your car was fixed by replacing the pump ?

 

I had to replace the water pump in my 2014 at around 150,000kms. I had the video loaded on YouTube, I just looked, and for some reason its completely disappeared. Was going to share it so people knew what sound to look for. If I can find it on my phone/computer I'll try to upload it again.

When the water pump goes it's like a scratching noise coming from the front of the engine.

 

I've also changed my water pump this was about 4 months ago, 2018 IS300 F Sport RWD 2.0 Turbo at 85k kms i was the 2nd owner of the car. i had a few dried up coolant around the front part of the engine/belts, the levels didnt really drop, i drove around 6 months after my mechanic spotted it when it was on the hoist before i decided to get it done, for my car specifically the weak point seemed to be the inner rubber gasket of the water pump not the outside one as that gasket seemed to still be new and soft, so it was leaking/dripping from the inside gasket and leaking out. the IS300 water pump is different to the IS350 V6 models. live in Australia. I'm hoping the new water pump gaskets were revised. but we'll see.

Cheers

 

yes