So I own an 01 GS3. Got it off a family member who got it at an auction.
I don't know the history of the car but the engine has 104k on it.
It's been fine for the 1 year I've owned it but with the recent snow it's developed a strange
noise. Kind of like a mini metallic jackhammer. Trying to figure out what may be causing this issue.
And how worried I should be. Hopefully someone can enlighten me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SG4l...ature=youtu.be

 

Doesn't sound too good, sounds like you spun rod bearing to me.

 

Is your engine chain driven meaning does it have a timing chain? It sounds like the timing chain tensioner is giving up.

 

GS300 are belt driven.

 

Any possibility this may be the water pump?

 

Doubt it. It sounds like something metal is tapping on something. Maybe bad injectors? Sounds like something with teeth is hitting against something. Did you open the timing cover and give it a listen there?

 

Sounds like the dreaded bad lifter/valve adjustment is needed, and if the belt is not done Lexus will wanna do that also, I've had this all done in 2012 total price was $1700

 

I haven't checked anything yet. I searched and found similar videos after you mentioned "bad lifter" found some vids with similar symptoms. God it's one thing after another with this car, turning into a money pit. But I love the look and car. Gonna visit my mechanic next week and get it checked out.

Appreciate the input though, ill post here again if/when its all resolved.

 

I work on cars for a living and it's how I support my family. That being said, without being there in person, it's the timing belt hydraulic tensioner has failed. the hydraulic fluid that was once sealed in there has leaked out and it's now just a spring keeping tension on the timing belt. if you can access it from underneath, use a long screw driver and put one end to your ear and the other end on the timing belt tensioner and have some one rev the engine to verify its the source of the noise. long story short, complete timing belt job with new cam seals crank seal water pump and timing belt tensioner.

 

May sound silly but try checking gearbox mounts an engine mounts. Where u live we had a bad patch of snow and the salt literally ate my gearbox mounts. Gave me a horrible sound very similar to how your are describing. Easy inexpensive job to do. Best of luck

 

Sounds like engine is resting on bare metal an sounds dreadful

 

Did you ever figure out what the noise was?