Engine and gearbox

[Andy Bass]

Hi

I've got a 57 plate Is 250 it's got 102 thousand on it and the engine rattles on start up for a few seconds and the gearbox crunches 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd are there's common issues or have I just bought a banger ??

Andy

[is200 Newbie]

The rattle at start up is the vvti - a bit concerting when you hear it at first - a few people have experienced it. (Sounds like a machine gun!)

I have had it and cleared it with engine flush and oil changes.- it will go over time if you regularly service the car.

I cant comment on the gear box as I have an auto but I don't think that's a common issue - someone will come along with a manual and explain the noise I am sure

[toffee_pie]

my 2008 manual (sold a good bit ago) never had rattle on start up, no crunchy gear changes either. Milage was 65k or so

[Andy Bass]

I was thinking oil change might help I'll do that asap, now I've got the car I wished I'd got the auto box :-(

[toffee_pie]

I had a manual 2 years and found no problems with it, change the gear box oil anyway for starters, has the car a decent service record? if not you better get a good mechanic local to you.

[Andy Bass]

Full service up to 88k only 2 owners from new, thought I was getting a good 1 

[toffee_pie]

102k miles is high milage, i wont ask how much you got it for but i would gather on the cheap side, you need to realise these cars are expensive to maintain and upkeep. 

[Andy Bass]

I knew they were expensive to maintain but you don't expect goosed gearbox and a rattling engine from a lexus !!

[toffee_pie]

if it has not been looked after, yes you can. Lexus are wonderful cars but not immune to poor servicing or upkeep.

[Si_is200]

Did you not notice the gearbox crunching when test driving ? Would try changing he gearbox oil first see if it makes any difference if not could be a problem with the syncros, from experience if it crunching quite badly in a few gears you might be wasting you're money changing the oil.. Hope you get it sorted