I’m turning to the experts. I’m currently lost and ran out of options.. I have a2011 ls460l with about 280k. It was running great no problems until 1 morning it started making a ticking or rattling noise around trans and motor. It’s a constant tick even when on idle. I checked the starter/flexplate and everything it’s good. The noise goes away when shifting in gears but comes back when accelerating.. it’s been parked for sometime now and when I go back to start it the noise is gone for 5-8 seconds then the noise comes back again.. what do you guys think let me know

 

Why don't put the car on jack stands and figure out where the noise coming from?

 

I just said the sound comes from the trans cover and motor. I have taken the trans out already and installed it. Checked the plate it’s good. Wondering if the torque makes noise if damage

 

Diagnosing a noise isn't always easy even when you're standing next to the car with the engine running. So all we can give you is guesses.
Firstly does the noise get faster depending on engine rpm's or does it stay constant? And what had you done to the car before the noise started happening? Change a drive belt or remove and replace something else?
Since you already pulled the engine and reinstalled it, surely you would have noticed the condition of the engine mounts - but just in case you didn't, or they looked fine when you checked them, could it be possible an engine mount or trans mount is broken anyway?

Honestly if I were you I'd take it in to Lexus. They see such problems all day every day, and it's probably worth paying the diagnosis fee rather than continue to guess.

 

Hey man thanks for the help.. I didn’t do nothing to the car. I have put a lot of mileage on the car everyday and I will do the regular maintenance to it. It just happened overnight. I drained the trans when removed nothing of hardware damage or metal pieces but yes it was dirty. The noise is coming from the transmission
but I haven’t had any problems with the transmission gears at all. I’m wondering if it makes noise if the fluid is low

 

Yes the noise is winding is rpm controlled but what’s weird is that when turned on after a few days being off it starts normal and then the noise comes back 🤔

 

Does your model year have the insulated covers on the HPFP's and what kind of oil are you using?

 

on the fuel pumps? Yes
5w full synthetic
all gears working just a winding noise.

 

Well, if it's a constant noise even at idle and changes with rpm and you don't think it's coming from the high press fuel pumps or the direct injectors...with that mileage maybe it's a chain tensioner problem or something else that's part of a rotating system.

 

So i think you answered your own question where the noise is coming from when you mentioned "transmission service". Especially if the car only makes the noise in motion. So the ATF fluid level is the first thing I'd check.

Unless you did the ATF change yourself or otherwise know for sure the trans was refilled with OEM Lexus, I'd change the fluid to the proper ATF.
The next likely thing to check is ATF level, which you already know is far from easy to check (and if I'd hazard yet another guess, the noise was not there until after you changed the ATF?)

So if there's a chance the ATF got contaminated with the wrong fluid, I think I might just go for broke (no pun intended) and take it in to Lexus to get the ATF flushed and refilled with OEM fluid. The results of this flush will be: A) the noise stops, at last. or B) it will have no effect on the noise, or C) it might even make the noise worse.
But at least once you do all that, you will have a good idea of the car's transmission wear, and whether you want to put more money into fixing this car, or not.

 

I only removed the trans when the noise happened in the process I noticed I didn’t have 11 qrts of trans fluid when removed. I didn’t put a different type of trans fluid it did have a trans leak but fixed when I removed it but the voice was still there when put together.. but didn’t completely fill it up thinking it was a damage part.

 

I don’t think it’s a chain tension since the noice is from the trans not the pumps or water pump up top. Think 💭 about it

 

That's funny, maybe it is your transmission ticking