mine did this at start up after the engine has fully cooled, every now and then. When i first got the car (at 35k miles) it did it very frequently. A local toyota/lexus mechanic i know said the Lexus version of the 2gr-fe (the 2gr-fse) had this problem. That it was the oil not getting to the top of the engine when it first starts quickly enough, and that metal noise is the grinding sound of metal on metal. He did continue to say that he had not seen it on the 2gr-fe and there wasn't a TSB for it. I looked into my vehicle's history and found the previous owner rarely got the oil changed (previous change was over 10k miles before i got it), I have since changed the oil twice and the sound is all gone. I think what caused the sound in mine was bad oil that needed changing. No CEL light ever came on and the engine ran fine after it started, so it didn't give any warnings besides that sound.
hope this helps.
Patrick

 

mine did this at start up after the engine has fully cooled, every now and then. When i first got the car (at 45k miles) it did it very frequently. A local toyota/lexus mechanic i know said the Lexus version of the 2gr-fe (the 2gr-fse) had this problem. That it was the oil not getting to the top of the engine when it first starts quickly enough, and that metal noise is the grinding sound of metal on metal. He did continue to say that he had not seen it on the 2gr-fe and there wasn't a TSB for it. I looked into my vehicle's history and found the previous owner rarely got the oil changed (previous change was over 10k miles before i got it), I have since changed the oil twice and the sound is all but gone. I think what caused the sound in mine was bad oil that needed changing. No CEL light ever came on and the engine ran fine after it started, so it didn't give any warnings besides that sound.
hope this helps.
Patrick

Makes sense, mine was due and I let it go a little bit over.. I can't remember now if it did it after the oil change or not.. hmm

 

Coincidentally, I have the SAME EXACT grinding noise on startup on my 08 highlander LTD with the 3.5 2gr-fe that lasts for about 1 second and happens intermittently when cold and also when the car has been driven and then left for a couple hours. I have owned the car from new and currently have 49K miles. I have changed the oil every 5K with mobil 1 since new. I do not have any dash lights or codes in the computer either. This crap is starting to piss me off. I have an extended warranty that runs until 75K and just hope that this will be addressed with toyota before then...and that is a BIG HOPE. I brought it to my shitty dealer and they conveniently had never heard of it before and when they actually happen to hear it coincidentally, the moron said it was "a normal characteristic" of the engine. BS!! Seriously? How can the guy stand there and tell me that? It is metal on metal grinding. I just hope that mobil 1 has helped. This will be the first and last toyota I ever own if this isn't fixed soon

 

yea it drove me crazy when it was first happening. I had a video camera recording start ups for a while to try and get it on tape. And of course it never happened when i had the camera out, but only when I didn't. Thats definitely disappointing to hear that it happens even with regular oil changes. You would think that if we are having this problems other would, since the 2gr-fe is used in so many different vehicles for toyota.

 

Before I traded my 2008 Highlander last year if had started to make a clanging noise at cold start-up. It only happen every once in awhile. I had seen a TSB for the problem noting that it could be the valvetrain. I also had look at the repair procedure on TIS and it involved taking apart the top part of the engine to fix. I believe the TSB is T-SB-0094-09. Here is the link to the TSB: http://www.toyotapart.com/2GR-FE_EN...OISE_AND_OR_MIL_ON_P0014,_PO015,_PO024,_PO025,_PO017,_OR_PO018_T-SB-0094-09.pdf

 

oh boy so there is a TSB out for it... I hope that mine causing the sound has gone away for good. If not I hope it starts again within the next 5k miles, because my power train warranty is nearly up :ugh3:

 

HOLD UP, I had my Highlander in a few weeks ago for an oil change (which they didn't do) and after I made the appointment the check engine light came on and the car began to sputter, so it went to the dealer for a few days. I'm almost positive the code was P0014 and when I asked them what it meant the service advisor couldn't explain it and the work order had some "brake switch" as the fix for it. The car is STILL making the noise, not as bad as it was before but it is still making it.. glad to know it's covered by the powertrain warranty!

 

yep, mine has done the same thing ever since I've owned it (2 1/2 yrs.). It's about a one second metallic sound that should not happen. I thought that it may have been a starter that hung in there too long after the engine fired. I too, will not buy another Highlander. Too many little things starting with the paper speakers with the dime size magnet.
But that's another story!

 

Clattering noise

I know what the noise is and have had it fixed. Of course it never did it for the dealership but I caught it with my video camera twice. It would only do it on cold starts and would not do it all the time. It has nothing o do with oil change intervals. I am a mechanic so I did some research. They replaced my camshafts and the vvti oil controller and it hasnt done it since. That was last June. Usually it did it for me when it was warm outside, and I live in south carolina so it was a temp range of 80 to 100 degrees.

 

I know what the noise is and have had it fixed. Of course it never did it for the dealership but I caught it with my video camera twice. It would only do it on cold starts and would not do it all the time. It has nothing o do with oil change intervals. I am a mechanic so I did some research. They replaced my camshafts and the vvti oil controller and it hasnt done it since. That was last June. Usually it did it for me when it was warm outside, and I live in south carolina so it was a temp range of 80 to 100 degrees.

Hi, I am new to the forum and wondered if this was done under warranty for you? I've been having this for a few months now and it's really driving me nuts... At first i thought it was the timing chain tensioner. Please let me know, thanks!

 

The Toyota dealership ended up listening to my recording several times. Contacting their tech support, then coming up with the conclusion that they were going to replace the affected parts. The first thing I did was call Toyota customer service and file a claim. Then once I had a claim number I went to my local dealership fully armed with my recording and claim number. It was at around 30000 miles when the problem arose. They took a week to do it and they gave me a rental car. I got my car back and it hasn't done it since. Be sure to do a good post inspection under the hood afterwards. There is also an oil line that they must replace also. It is on the passenger side of the engine right below the oil filler cap. It becomes brittle and will develop a leak eventually. Good luck and hit me back if you have any questions. Let me know what they do for you.

 

Can I get your dealer's name and a contact person so I can have my dealership call them, if they need more info on the repair? Thanks.

 

Great information. I have contacted my dealership and they advised me to bring the vehicle in this evening. I will try to make a recording like you did and give this to them as evidence. I will also ask them to replace the oil line.
Thanks again!

 

The name of the dealership was gene reed Toyota in Charleston sc. The name has changed to Rick hendricks Toyota but it still has the same crooks. I will try to find the recording, it might still be on my laptop. The best time to catch it is in the morning on a hot day or in the afternoon on a hot day, after the car has been sitting a while. Pop the hood and drop a camera in there. It really does it if the car revs high on start, sometimes it does that. I'll look for that file in the meantime, but they shouldn't have no problem remembering the noise. If you want I can even meet you there if you come down here just shoot me an email.

 

Hey Guys, I have my recording available. If someone can tell me how to upload it, I would be more than happy to do so. Or if you send me PM with your email, I send it to you directly. My Highlander went into the dealer last Tues. and I got a call yesterday telling me that the repairs have been perform but they are keeping it over night to see if everything is OK this morning. I will report back once I have picked it up and driven it for a couple of days.

 

I use mediafire to upload files (http://www.mediafire.com/). Its free and real easy to use. Just post the link they give after you upload. It will be interesting to see if this is the same noise mine makes every now and then, since I only have 3k miles left on the power-train warranty.
Thanks,
Patrick
EDIT: you don't need an account for mediafire, just hit upload files with drag and drop button

 

Here is my update.

Got my HL back last week and couldn't be happier. Everything was done under warranty and Toyota had to fork out a $3500 bill. They replaced my camshafts, camshaft housing, timing gears and a lot gaskets/seals.
Drove it for 1,000km or 625 miles already and it's driving nice and smooth. But best of all it does not make the metal to metal noise at start up anymore. Even the fuel efficiency seems to have improved. . I hope this is the end for this issue!! The only thing they didn't replace was the oil rubber house that tends to leak, but I will do that on my own. The dealer claims that there is no recall on my vehicle for this issue but the rubber house is there. That's no big deal, will do that job myself.

 

glad to hear you got it fixed. Now with the rubber hose, just because the rubber hose is there doesn't mean its the bad one. They replaced the original rubber hose with a NEW rubber hose in the recall. Only a few dealerships used a metal line. I had the recall done and they just installed a better rubber hose, so you should be fine with that one, if they say you didn't need a recall

also how many miles you do you have, did they fix it under the power train warranty? (60k if i remember)

 

video of sound

Thanks to hawkviewrc, here is a link to his video he recorded of the horrible sound. I will be bringing my baby in for this transplant shortly and report back.
http://www.mediafire.com/?wvm12z9hwqtktv6


Greg

 

Thanks to hawkviewrc, here is a link to his video he recorded of the horrible sound. I will be bringing my baby in for this transplant shortly and report back.
http://www.mediafire.com/?wvm12z9hwqtktv6


Greg

BINGO, thats it, i will definitely use this if (or when) I take it to my dealership. Its started making the noise again last week once or twice... Ive been tryign to catch this on video awhile now. Thanks a ton .
Patrick

 

Ok well I now have 59,432 miles (cutting it REALLY close to the 60k power-train warrenty) on my highlander and its started making this noise again (4 times past 3 days) So I'm taking in my highlander to the dealership Monday with the video yall posted (thanks a TON for that). My question is this, murdamechanik did you call the "Customer Experience Center" to file the claim? or was there another place?
Thanks
Patrick

 

Add me to the club, my 2008 Base with 25K miles started making same sound.

Would be nice to have a copy of work order to see what was replaced and make sure that my local dealer do the same job. I still didn't get if this is the same problem described in the TSB T-SB-0094-09 or something different?


thegman230,

Did you get your car fixed?

 

If they replace the parts Ill post what they actually replacd/did to the car. I don't think its the same thing as the TSB that was posted earlier in this thread. That TSB describes it as a ticking sound, this is more of a grinding sound coming from the camshaft area (though the TSB says to replace the camshaft's/components near there, so it might be the same...:ugh3 I'm going to take a copy of that TSB to the dealership with me monday to see if it is the same thing or not. Ill let ya know.

 

Let us know as soon as you have any update. I'll take my HL in for inspection on Wednesday.

 

hello guys,
I've got 2008 HL 3.5 4WD built 10/2007, mileage 24500;
I've never noted the grinding sound from camshaft area as you report;
engine of my HL always starts smooth and sounds nice even during winter time with temperature below zero centigrade;
maybe this phenomenon is as well related to oil viscosity applied to engine??
since the beginning I use Castrol Magnatec 5W30 ILSAC 4, normally most recommended by Toyota's engine maker....
on the other hand, have you had this abnormal startup noise since the beginning or it has raised afer certain mileage?
all the small troubles about HL I hear confuse me a bit, becasue this vehicle is not available normally on european market, but my is privately imported from USA one, so with local authorised Toyota dealers I can't fix a lot in the matter of recalls......
currently I'm on dispute with VVTi oil pipe - who's gonna pay? when we'll get the spare pipe....?
anyway HL is great

thanks for any post

 

My Highlander hasn't made the noise since I filled up and added injector cleaner, that was 2-3k ago..

 

I'd suspect that loud noise we're talking about in this thread is most likely to occur because of lack of lubrication on start up. No way dirty fuel injectors would be so loud.

 

I believe your right. I talked to a local toyota/lexus mechanic who no longer works at the dealerships. He said the lexus version of our v6 (2gr-fse) had an issue where the oil wouldn't get to the top of the engine at start up. He said that could be the problem, but he had never heard of it happening on the toyota version (2gr-fe). I got mine on video this morning on video, and am currently sitting in the dealership waiting lobby so ill let yall know if they say anything.

 

Ok just got done with the dealership. The technician came back after listening to the videos (mine and the one uploaded on this thread), and inspected the vehicle. He thinks there is a pin hole leak in the exhaust manifold near where it bolts to the engine. They said it stops because the hole seals up as the metal heats. He said he couldn't be sure unless he listened to it in person and not over a video, so I'm going to leave my vehicle there the next few days so they can start it once its cold and hear it themselves. Now this sound is a metal grinding sound, there is no way its highly compressed air coming out of a hole sounds like that, air usually doesn't make grinding sound like metal lol so I have no idea what he is talking about. especially since my video and the one posted sound identical and it was camshaft issues on the other highlanders....

Oh well at least at this stage they admitted there IS a problem and not just saying nothing is wrong.

 

I don't buy pin hole theory. Looks like noise problem happens with other Toyota vehicles and requires camshaft timing gears replacement. I couldn't find a TSB for 2GR-FE yet, here is info for other models

T-SB-0146-10, Brief Engine Knock/Rattle Noise at Cold Startup, dtd. 6/9 10

2010 – 2011 Camry Engine(s): 2AR Transmission(s): 6MT, 6AT

2009 – 2010 Highlander Engine(s): 1AR Transmission(s): 6AT

2009 – 2010 RAV4 Engine(s): 2AR Transmission(s): 4AT

2009 – 2010 Venza Engine(s): 1AR Transmission(s): 6AT

​

Immediately following a cold soak startup, some 2009 – 2011 model year vehicles equipped with the 1AR-FE and 2AR-FE engines may exhibit a brief knock/rattle noise from the engine compartment for​

approximately one second. Follow the repair procedure below to address this condition.

3.5 Hours to replace camshaft timing gears,,

This TSB applies to vehicles produced BEFORE the Production Change Effective VINs shown below.

Camry:

TMMK 4T1BF3EK#BU123642
SIA 4T4BF3EK#BR090887
Tsutsumi JTNBF3EK#A3005237
​

APPLICABLE WARRANTY​

• This repair is covered under the Toyota Powertrain Warranty. This warranty is in effect for 60 months or 60,000 miles, whichever occurs first, from the vehicle’s in-service date.

or T-SB-0087-09 http://www.empirepao.com/tsb/T-SB-0087-09.pdf
​

Brief Engine Knock/Rattle Noise at Cold Startup

Introduction
Immediately following a cold soak startup, some 2009 – 2010 model year Corolla and Matrix vehicles
may exhibit a brief knock/rattle noise from the engine compartment for approximately one second.

 

I couldn't find a TSB for 2GR-FE yet, here is info for other modelsQUOTE]
yep that is for the 4 cylinder motors. Though that is the exact same problem as ours. My car is now at the dealership sitting so they can test it and try to get it to make the sound for them. So... time will tell :headbang:

 

Sorry everyone

Sorry everyone, I haven't had a chance to bring her in yet to get to the bottom of this. I have been so busy but will be doing it this week and let everyone know an update.

For anyone who had this fixed, It would be great if the exact replacement parts list was posted so we can be armed with this info when talking to the techs.

I sincerely hope that this issue will not come up again after repair sometime in the future when our warranty is expired

Greg

 

here is a TSB for Lexus with 6 cyl 2GR-FSE engine http://www.lexustsb.com/getattachme...VMgMzUwIEJyaWVmIEVuZ2luZSBLbm9jayAmIFJhdHRsZSBOb2lzZSBBdCBDb2xkIFN0YXJ0dXAucGRm

 

Dropped my car off at the dealer today. They want to duplicate problem for themselves before making a repair. In my case car mostly makes noise after sitting for 3-4 hours, very seldom in a morning. Hope they will figure out soon what's exactly wrong. Funny that multiple owners here started having same problem at once.

sweeneyp, what's your car production date (mine 07/2007). Did you hear back from the dealer yet?

 

(My car was made in Japan August 2007)

well i just got my car back from the dealership, and they have really pissed me off. They "duplicated" the problem and found a "solution."
First of all the guy told me he could barely hear it from teh driver seat with hood and door open, but the guy under hood heard it easily. Now when it does it for me I hear it LOUDLY from the driver seat with door and hood closed which makes me wonder if they actually heard it or are BS'ing me....

I had shown them this video that I made from the video posted here and my video

(download link: http://www.mediafire.com/?g80aaxudkfb4giu), so they knew what to look for. Well at first they said exhaust manifold leak (BS...) so i left it for 3 days and now they "duplicated" it this morning and have determined that nothing is wrong.
Here is what they recorded as the porblem:

Which is exactly what I told them.... (ignore the writing in pen, its what I wrote after I got the invoice back, and their initial diagnosis)
Now this is what they say is wrong on the invoice:

Basically the guy told me that as the engine cools the oil drains to the oil pan from the top of the engine.(as does every other engine on the planet...) And that the the oil pump is not "primed" and that is what is making the sound. It "is a normal characteristic of the engine", so no fix is necessary. So bascically he told me oil is not getting to the top of the engine at startup and something is grinding up there and thats ok/normal!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!:headbang: your kidding me.... So I told him that others are having this problem and there seems to be a solution around the camshafts/VVT-I system AND that the lexus 2gr-fse (extremely similar engine) is having the exact same issue and it IS the camshaft/VVT-I or something up there according to the TSB. He basically told me that they say its the oil pump and that its is fine and thats it.
Now to me it sounds like they don't want to do the warranty work on the vehicle because from what I understand its like an 18 hour job where they have to drop the engine from the vehicle to service the camshafts/VVT-I system. So i plan on taking it to another local toyota dealership / a garage called Lexpro (3 former lexus/toyota head technicians opened a garage) and get their ideas.
A sound this loud is NOT normal. :thumbsdow
OK...ranting and raving over...

Lucky777 hopefully you will have more luck with this than I did, and can you let us know if they do begin to fix the problem because any documentation over the issue could help me convince my dealership.

murdamechanik do you have ANY kind of documentation showing what they did to your highlander that you could post that I could show to the dealerships to stop them from BS'ing me? I really need to get this fixed before my warranty expires.
ANY help would be apreciated!
Thanks,
Patrick

 

Hi Patrick,

I'd expect that Toyota would be more customer friendly after all the recalls and media attention they've got recently. I think major factor in play against us here - no TSB for 2GR-FE engine. Dealer didn't know what to do about your problem and instead of looking further into the issue decided to boot you off. From what I understand other posters here got TSB 0094-09 performed on their engine and had noise cured. The problem with TSB 0094-09 that it describes different symptoms:

Some 2005 – 2009 model year vehicles with 2GR-FE engines may exhibit a ticking/clicking type noise from the cylinder head cover area which may be accompanied by a MIL “ON” and one or more VVT-i related Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs).

That TSB calls for a lot of work and since symptoms don't mach not every dealer willing to the repair. I'd say best way to handle this now is to call Toyota corporate and open a case with them. I wouldn't tell them that other people on Internet forums have similar problem, don't point them to the videos that show the issue on the net, they will not like it. Instead tell them that there are TSBs for numerous Toyota engines describing your problem but there is no TSB for 2GR-FE. Tell them about a runaround at the dealer, see what comes up out of it. If I'll get treated by my dealer in a same way I'll be calling corporate next. If enough people complain they would have to look further into the problem and issue a TSB for 2GR-FE engine. I'll keep you posted once I hear anything from my dealer.

 

Ok, well i just dropped my car off at a 2nd toyota dealership (the 1st dealership's big competitor), the service manager checked my car in and I told him about the BS that the first dealership told me, along with the info from hawkviewrc (thanks again) about what was wrong with his and what was fixed, and the other tsb's for similar problems. He called in the tech that would be working on my car and I showed him the videos to make sure he knew what he was looking for (a loud sound not a quiet one the 1st dealership found). As soon as he heard the sound he said that is a rattling sound (i described it as grinding), and it should not be there and that they would look into it. At least they recognize a problem and not ignore it calling it normal. So I have left my car there for them to try and replicate the sound. Hopefully they will have better luck than the 1st dealership...