Just yesterday when I started the GS300 the loudest knocking noise seemed to be coming from the heart of the engine. After a few seconds I just turned it off. I removed the top cover thinking maybe a spark plug wire was missing but after I restarted the knocking seemed to gradually dissappear. I drove it and the noise is gone. The engine has 86000+; what happened? Should I get it checked?
I checked the oil level and it appeared maybe a pint low. That shouldn't have been a factor.

 

Low on oil?

 

I checked the oil and it seemed only a pint low, but certainly in the "green" zone. Still concerned because my wife drives it during the day.
Thanks!

 

My car was sitting for four days in 40 degree weather and the same thing happened to me this morning... I immediately curled up in a fetal position and cried for a few minutes then check the oil (half quart low) and restarted. The noise gradually disappeared but now I'm worried...

Any Ideas? Should I still bother doing my plugs and timing belt or save the money because my engine may kick the bucket anyway?

 

I guess the only other person to have this happen to them has gone missing... now I'm worried... I may have the first signs of a bigger problem and I may go missing... oh no..

 

It might be something else. On my car the accessory belt was getting worn down. I don't know why but it caused the power steering pulley to knock like crazy. It only did it for a little bit when on cold start then went away once the car idled for a bit. Once I replaced the belt and made sure all the pulleys were torqued down, the noise never came back.

 

the same thing happened to my car also. It was snowing and cold that day. I started my car and waited for 5 minutes and it also went away. What could this madness be. I was scared to death with the noise.

 

is it the vvti?

 

Does the 2J have hydraulic lifters? Low oil level and/or cold weather will cause the lifters to "pump up" a bit more slowly and can cause this noise. Not a big deal, really.

 

I think its time for a new belt, I think this could be the culprit... although when I restarted the car I was standing infront of it (remote start) and did notice the engine moving quite a bit with the knocking but that also stopped when the knocking stopped... almost as if a mount was bad. Would that much engine movement be a sign of anything also?

 

The engine mounts don't last forever, so expect to change them out every once in a while. They are made out of rubber so they WILL deteriorate. I would say once every 100-150k or every 6-8yrs depending on how you drive the car. There are people that go forever without changing the mounts and the engine response just gets sloppy because it has to torque against the bad mount first before the power is transferred to the ground.