Hi - first posting - found this site while trying to troubleshoot a problem with the VSC light coming on. Great site - extremely helpful so I became a member. I have a 2001 RX300 with 95k miles. Recently a noise started that sounds like the CD player is trying to change discs - constantly - it can be very loud or quiet. It is sort of a clicking sound almost as if a CD is stuck. I don't think it is the CD player because noise happens when I take the changer out and when I turn off the radio/cd player. Noise can happen with AC on or off, Heat on or off, radio on or off. Does not happen all the time. Noise sounds like it is coming from the around the glove box. Could it be some sort of vent or blower behind the glove box?

 

My guess is that it is the air servo, which constantly regulates the air flow {even when the ac is off .. to keep the cabin fresh **.

Do a search on the air servo and you will find many hits ... including how to service it yourself.

Salim

 

Air/Mix Servo and/or Recirculation Servo. They are the servos for the environmental system and it's a common problem. See the threads here for No heat, etc