Hey Guys,

I just picked up a 2007 RX 350 last week (still under warranty). Its been doing fine and I had the oil cooler hose replaced under recall by Lexus over the weekend.

Last night, when I started the car I heard a quick, weird crunching/scraping sound (its kinda like the noise you hear on older cars if you turn the key for too long but more muffled than that). It only happened on two occasions and all other starts last night and since I've had the car have been fine. Just wondering if anyone else had this issue and/or if I should take it in. Of course it may have been due to the cold or due to user error with my key turning ability (that would be pathetic). If I take it in and its non-reproducible, I'm sure they won't do anything about it. So, figured I'd ask here first. Thanks

 

Just schedule it in. They will tell you what it is.

I have not read/heard what you have described around here.

Let us know.

 

My guess would be the solenoid on the starter is not pushing out all the way.

 

Thanks for all the input. So, decided to take it in today. And thankfully the car made the sound when the Service Consultant started it. It's pretty much a "grinding" sound and at first he summed it up by saying that this sound is normal in these cars. I then insisted that it is new for me and has been getting louder over the week (and that no one I know with an RX has this issue). He then said that since my vehicle's sound is fairly prominent, he will call lexus and ask what the recommendation would be and let me know next week. I'm at 45,000 miles so hoping to address the issue asap. Let's see what happens.

 

Did you leave the car and are on a loaner?

 

So, turns out my service guy called Lexus and supposedly there have been some RX's with similar issues that needed cam shaft drums replaced. I left the car on monday and just got it back today...sounds quieter. Not fully sure what was done I was told that the cam shaft drums do something with the vvt-i. My service guy told me that the issue has been found in a few vehicles but its not going to be a recall. When i got the car back this other guy told me two cam shafts were replaced.

 

Even on warranty repairs you should get some type of receipt back with a no charge invoice indicating all the work that was performed. Part numbers and labor should all be listed.

 

Oh yea, I got the paper works. States things like: cam shaft assy, gear assy, gaskets, etc.