Hi all,

My first post here. I have spent a lot of time searching the forums here to try and find a solution but I can only find ringing/high pitched whistling/shrill ear piercing sound issues related to serpentine pulleys on the motor.

I do not believe my issue is related to the motor as it only occurs on the freeway and a change in RPM at idle or at speed (changing gears) does not change the sound.

The issue is - from roughly 40 - 100 kph I can hear a very high pitched, shrill, ear piercing noise coming from what sounds to me like the rear of the car, predominantly I hear the sound in my left ear. The sound tends to come and go intermittently and I have not been able to identify a causal relationship with anything particular. The sound tends to get on my nerves and I am trying very hard to find a cause. I have only had my LS430 for about 2 months and other than this issue it is in near perfect condition, only done 95,000km, full Lexus dealer history etc.

One of my good mates is the service manager at a Lexus dealer and he cannot find the issue, I have had him go through the rear brakes and all parts are genuine and in good order, installed correctly. The master tech is lost for ideas also.

Has anyone had an issue like this, or could think what could be causing this shrill noise on the freeway?

I have had issues with my fuel sender, it would not register a full tank as apparently the sender was not clipped in properly, sorted now. Surely it could not be related to this? Crazy question I know but it is the only other issue with the car.

Any help appreciated, it frustrates me greatly and I don't 'love' my LS quite as much as I would like were it not for this horrible ringing!!

Cheers,

TK

 

Hi all,

My first post here. I have spent a lot of time searching the forums here to try and find a solution but I can only find ringing/high pitched whistling/shrill ear piercing sound issues related to serpentine pulleys on the motor.

I do not believe my issue is related to the motor as it only occurs on the freeway and a change in RPM at idle or at speed (changing gears) does not change the sound.

The issue is - from roughly 40 - 100 kph I can hear a very high pitched, shrill, ear piercing noise coming from what sounds to me like the rear of the car, predominantly I hear the sound in my left ear. The sound tends to come and go intermittently and I have not been able to identify a causal relationship with anything particular. The sound tends to get on my nerves and I am trying very hard to find a cause. I have only had my LS430 for about 2 months and other than this issue it is in near perfect condition, only done 95,000km, full Lexus dealer history etc.

One of my good mates is the service manager at a Lexus dealer and he cannot find the issue, I have had him go through the rear brakes and all parts are genuine and in good order, installed correctly. The master tech is lost for ideas also.

Has anyone had an issue like this, or could think what could be causing this shrill noise on the freeway?

I have had issues with my fuel sender, it would not register a full tank as apparently the sender was not clipped in properly, sorted now. Surely it could not be related to this? Crazy question I know but it is the only other issue with the car.

Any help appreciated, it frustrates me greatly and I don't 'love' my LS quite as much as I would like were it not for this horrible ringing!!

Cheers,

TK

 

When you say they are lost for ideas, is the assumption that they did not actually hear the sound, i.e. couldn't be duplicated? (if they heard it and are lost that would be disconcerting)

I've never heard a noise like that on the LS430, but on my Volvo which was also RWD a carrier bearing caused that. I would assume the LS has something equivalent, not positive. I have seen my driveshaft removed for the output shaft seal and don't remember seeing the bearing, but imho it has to exist as the shaft is not one long tube....good luck

 

I have these types of shrill noises at all times, on the freeway, in traffic, in the driveway, on the sofa, in the bedroom.

Turns out, I was married the whole time...

 

Try to get a video of the sound on your phone, might help w the diagnosis

 

wrong section but i'll try to help.
I suspect the fuel pump which is relatively nearby between the rear seat and trunk space but can be hard to diagnose. perhaps put your phone in the trunk to record audio and go for a drive to see if the problem is heard and isolated.

it can also be a very odd window seal problem where the wind noise is heard only at highway speeds. start there since this is relatively easy to fiddle with.
try putting painter's tape (do NOT use duct) around the window seals, door handles, and even the side mirror; basically the areas near your left ear!

I find it surprising that the dealership tech and master tech has no clue to the issue. maybe it's all in your head? kidding...

 

A small pebble stuck somewhere in the brakes can cause this