jjd1241

2 days ago I started hearing a knock when driving. Its been getting louder but don't always hear it. My first thought was something in the fan, like a wire, but it made the noise when the fans weren't spinning. I now notice it speeds up with the rpms of the car. I tried to listen, but couldn't hear where it was coming from. A friend used a screwdriver and said it was coming from the front valve cover on the drivers side. He said it could be the chain tensioner for the cam on that side. I looked up a picture of the inside of the valve covers and there are not chains, they are gears.

Just a little history:
I bought 3 years ago and when I first got it, it would smoke when started and go away. I ended up opening the valve covers and pulling a LOT of sludge out of both sides. About the size of a softball all together. All has been good up until recently. I started hearing a knock and couldn't determine the source of the noise.

I read some older posts that talk about he oil filter causing problems, but am now due for an oil change and the noise just started 2 days ago. I'm going to open the valve covers tonight and have a look.

What would cause this problem and how do I fix it?

Thanks

hypervish

First of all, don't listen to your friend. Since, the ES has a timing belt not a chain.

How often do you change the oil?

The 03' version of the 1MZ-FE has the updated oil passages and such so it is not prone to sludging like the earlier 1MZ-FE's. This is due to owner neglect.

First pop the valve cover open and see if there is in fact any sludge. We will go from there.

EDIT: I'm not suggesting you neglected the car, as you did mention that you bought it 3 years ago. (i.e. not original owner).

moonphase

"Owner neglect" WOW!! That strikes a nerve!
Lexus issued a recall which shifts some blame back on the manufacturer.

hypervish

You must not have read all of my post. You clearly have no reading comprehension skills.

jjd1241

could an injector cause this sound. I have been looking and prodding while its running and it feels like the passenger side front injector is knocking

I change the oil very regularly, but will change after work

jjd1241

Just as another thought, I did recently hit a snow bank with the front passenger side and broke my aftermarket front bumper. There is a large pieces missing and cracks on the passenger side. I initially thought something was hitting the fan blades, but they are electric and even when they are not spinning i hear the sound. This is more what the sound is like, but I am not any kind of mechanic, so I'm not sure.

jjd1241

Well I popped the front valve cover, not the back and all looks clean. I changed the oil and filter as well after putting everything pack together.

hypervish

That's good news!

Can you try posting an audio/video clip of the sound? It's hard to diagnose over the internet, you may need to take it somewhere.

jjd1241

I actually found a YouTube video with the same sound.


Was told it could be the OCV filter. After looking for a while, I found it and took it out and was barely able to get it out with all the sludge around/in it. I also took out the OCV plunger and cleaned that up, it was just as gunked up. There was a cam sensor (not sure if that is what it is called) on the front side of motor that you can see from inside the valve cover and adjusts the timing that I had to clean as well. All these parts were packed full of buildup from previous owner. I ended up breaking one of the tabs off the OCV filter and I couldn't find any local parts store to get one so I ordered one from Lexus. Should be here by Friday.

This sounds very similar to the sound I have even though the sound quality is not so good.

Hope I'm on the right track, but these needed some attention either way.

jjd1241

Well, got the new OCV filters from Lexus and installed. No change. I uploaded a video with sound to YouTube for anyone to hear. As the other video did, I unplugged the OCV's while running and it didn't change anything.

I don't know what else to do.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWEy7...ature=youtu.be