Weird start-up noise

[Friso]

Grateful for your thoughts on this start-up noise. Persists for about 20 secs from when the engine kicks in at start-up and cedes thereafter. Probably worth booking it in, but thought I'll check here first to see if anyone else has experienced s'thing similar (or whether this is 'normal').

Thanks in advance,

Friso

[Silversalmon]

Sounds like a loose bit of engine compartment  trim or one of the many exhaust shields, we had it on our CT, eventually went away. Doesn't sound ominous. Start again with hood up and see if you can get nearer to sound. Wouldn't think it warrants a trip to the dealer. Good luck

[Friso]

On 8/8/2018 at 10:52 AM, Silversalmon said:

Sounds like a loose bit of engine compartment  trim or one of the many exhaust shields, we had it on our CT, eventually went away. Doesn't sound ominous. Start again with hood up and see if you can get nearer to sound. Wouldn't think it warrants a trip to the dealer. Good luck

Many thanks; comforting to know.

[Friso]

(Approved used) warranty was expiring hence brought it in to have it checked for peace of mind. Lexus couldn't find anything and nothing showed up in diagnostics (which I guess it wouldn't with a loose bit). Anyway, will at least get a clean car back

[Verbout]

I don’t very often have to rely on my local Indy for help, but I have my limits and they’re great.

On the other hand I’ve taken cars back that were in warranty with noise issues, I’ve never ever been able to convince a mechanic that a particular noise was not part of the driving experience.

[Gliderpilot]

Both of the flimsy exhaust shields on my 400h came loose and rattled like mad. check them both and refit with penny washers and stainless nuts and bolts.

[Friso]

7 hours ago, Gliderpilot said:

Both of the flimsy exhaust shields on my 400h came loose and rattled like mad. check them both and refit with penny washers and stainless nuts and bolts.

Given that both you and Edward hint at the exhaust shields this 'sounds' plausible indeed. I've got limited technical knowledge but presume that checking and fixing them requires good access from underneath?

[Hadrian]

I had a similar problem with an exhaust shield on an  Accord.   It made a hell of a noise, but onle at certain revs.

[Gliderpilot]

10 hours ago, Friso said:

Given that both you and Edward hint at the exhaust shields this 'sounds' plausible indeed. I've got limited technical knowledge but presume that checking and fixing them requires good access from underneath?

You can check them by reaching underneath and trying to waggle them, if they have dropped down onto the exhaust then it will be obvious. I reversed onto car ramps to do mine as you have to drop the exhaust down to gain access. There is one over the back box and one over the middle box to.

[darrude]

Hi did you get this sorted, ours is doing exactly the same, only done it a couple of times and to intermittently to test properly.

 

Thanks

 

Darren

[Friso]

Must admit that I either started to get used to it or I just stopped paying attention. Hope it's not this though: 

http://carspecmn.com/toyota-and-lexus-v6-cold-start-engine-rattle-2gr3gr4gr/?utm_source=LexusOwnersClubUK&utm_medium=ForumLinks

[darrude]

Thanks Friso, not really what I wanted to hear though...., hopefully not that. I thought it sounded more like it was away from the engine, but very hard to tell. It doesn't sound well when running though at the moment. Think I'll check the basics (fluid levels etc) this weekend. I'll feed back any findings.

[Guest]

This is quite relevant at the moment as my RX450H has being doing this for a while, it has been back to the dealers a couple of times for checks but there has been no faults come up in diagnostics or even pending.

They actually kept the car for 4 days to check on the noise and do agree it can be quite bad on start up,it even showed signs of random misfires on all the cylinders which was weird.

They did change the plugs again without charge even though they were done less than 10,000 miles ago.

Warranty would not let them do anymore until i put premium plus fuel in it and see if the problem persists.I agreed i would try this but i know it won't make any difference so it will be going back again pretty soon i'm sure.

In fairness Lexus Coventry have been brilliant and changed the plugs at there own cost.Apparently this also has happened on some GS450H's so there is a problem somewhere and i don't think its just the unleaded thats used.

The RX does drive as normal and the noise goes away once warmed up.

[darrude]

Hi Eame64, do you know if Lexus Coventry have tried doing an engine flush?  I'm going to give that a go a starter for 10 as everything I've read seems to suggest the nose could be delay in building up the required pressure at the top of the engine.  

 

My mechanic friend said to time the oil light from engine start to when it goes out and see if there is any relationship with they light staying on longer and prolonged noise as a way of proving.

He said if so, do a flush, then use an oil designed for a diesel for a month or so as it work have and increased detergent content, do another flush and switch back to the recommended oil.

Unfortunately the RX is the wife's so not sure she really pays that much attention to the warning lights...!

 

Could be worth the question with Lexus maybe next time you are in communication with them?

 

 

[Guest]

Hi Darren,i have only just refuelled it using premium plus fuel as Lexus asked me to do before they would look into it further.This is what warranty told them to do as a starter.

i will give it another couple of days and if its still as bad it will be going back to Lexus again.It does disappear  quite quickly and drives without fault but the start up noise is not right and i won't be accepting that its normal.

[Lager shandy]

I suggest you take the car to another garage as they are just fobbing you off that noise is properly  top end chatter or back lash in the drive train at certain rpm ,I would also imagine it's a fuelling misfire or electrical .try touching the throttle slight rev to see if it clears it.what you have to remember garages get 20 mins max to diagnose a fault .as the warranty company won't want to know .or they will do a thorough job at there hourly rate .

[Guest]

Alan its not Lexus Coventry thats the problem they have been very helpful throughout and even had the car for 4 days so they could check for noise each morning.Warranty won't permit any further work until you go through a process which is what we are doing.The service manager even showed me all the correspondance he was having with warranty.

 

[darrude]

37 minutes ago, Eame64 said:

Alan its not Lexus Coventry thats the problem they have been very helpful throughout and even had the car for 4 days so they could check for noise each morning.Warranty won't permit any further work until you go through a process which is what we are doing.The service manager even showed me all the correspondance he was having with warranty.

 

I bought my is from Lexus Coventry, when it had a power train vibration they were great.... Just a nightmare with toll bar Island... Assume that's all done now... (I used to work just by the airport).

[PUKU]

I would double check your auxiliary drive pulleys. Sounds like a sonic rubber insert breaking up but if I am wrong at least that is one less to worry about

[darrude]

Well an update from me, I ran an engine flush additive, then, flushing oil, then refilled oil with 0W 20. Early days but not heard the rattle once and engine seems to run much smoother (maybe placebo).  Very easy DIY job. But would defo recommend as a first step. Willn update again after a few more months of testing. 

 

Ps: info for the flush to get the engine running at idle:

 

To activate maintenance mode (Without using Toyota's Intelligent Tester computer):

1. With foot off the brake pedal, tap the power switch twice to put it into Ignition On mode. (If you see a green READY light come on, you've actually done it with your foot depressing the brake pedal)
2. Leave the shifter in the P position, and then fully depress and release the accelerator pedal fully twice.
3. Move the shift lever to the N position (need to press the shift lock button to allow the lever to shift out of P), and then fully depress and release the accelerator pedal fully twice.
4. Move the shift lever back to the P position, and then fully depress and release the accelerator pedal fully twice. At this point the display will say something like "FWD Maintenance Mode"
5. Then depress the brake pedal and press the power button to start the engine.

Do all of this inside 60 seconds.

Important: Do not drive vehicle when in maintenance mode.

Hope this helps!

[Lager shandy]

Hi I'm not a great fan off engine flushes ,but thanks for the maintenance mode set up info.

[Barry14UK]

On 9/20/2019 at 10:56 PM, Friso said:

Must admit that I either started to get used to it or I just stopped paying attention. Hope it's not this though: 

http://carspecmn.com/toyota-and-lexus-v6-cold-start-engine-rattle-2gr3gr4gr/?utm_source=LexusOwnersClubUK&utm_medium=ForumLinks

In this link the specialist says in answer to a question that he hasn't experienced the enigne rattle with the 2GR-FXE which I assume is the engine in the OP car. 

[Guest]

Well my Rx will be going back to Lexus again to find the cause of this start up rattle,i've now filled it with premium fuel three times and used toyota injector cleaner as advised but the rattle is still there on start up.Thankfully i have warranty because this could get expensive.

I will update on what  happens next.

[darrude]

Well ours did it again, so the flush hasn't fixed it, it does seem to have helped though, definitely think it's the cam gear problem.

Not sure whether to give it another go, get rid or just put up with it and hope it doesn't break. 

 

 

[Guest]

Mine is getting picked up tomorrow by Lexus coventry so i will update on further developments.

It is strange though because it only happens on idle from cold start,if you move off immediately there is no noise.

We are selling it soon, not because of this annoyance, because it has been a superb car for the last four years and a pleasure to own but 95% of our driving is now local and its not making sense anymore.

We already have a plug in Hybrid countryman which is a great car and we have decided to go to a full EV as well and just a hire a car for the couple of trips to Cornwall every year.