'08 Toyota Highlander V6 Grinding Sound at Startup (2GR-FE V6)

Ok, well I have a 2008 Toyota Highlander with a 2GR-FE V6 that is having some issues. When the engine is starting from a cold start (sitting for at least 10 hours) about 1/2 the time it will create a metal on metal grinding sound that is very loud for about a sec as the video shows... SO i have 500 miles left on my warrenty so my car is currently sitting at the dealership so they can recreate the sound (they can't figure it out with just the video...)
Anyway back to the point of the video, they came to me after quickly looking at it (before I left it there this week) saying they think its a leak in the exhaust manifold that as the manifold heats, expands and seals up. Does this make any sense?? how does high pressure air sound like metal on metal grinding sounds???
Also i've been looking online and and found that the lexus version of this engine (2GR-FSE) has been having issues with this and toyota published a TSB about it. They had to replace the camshafts/housings. Could this be caused by the camshafts/VVT-I system?
Any information or ideas yall have would be greatly appreciated as I would really like to get this fixed as the last thing I want is major engine problems.
Thanks!

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• toyota
• highlander
• v6
• 2gr-fe
• startup
• grinding
• sound
• cold
• start
• video
• 2008
• engine
• problem
• exhaust
• manifold
• camshafts
• VVT-I
• warrenty
• TSB
• help

[1114bullet]

@kingofwacky Just read your post & saw your video. I have a '08 Toyota HIghlander V6 bought at the end of 2007. With only 20,000 miles, my car started doing the same thing. EVERYTIME I had it serviced it was serviced by the dealership & EVERYTIME I would mention the noise. They never could get it to duplicate UNTIL Jan '11. BOTH CAMS had to be replaced & even though it was out of warranty by then & bc I fussed everytime they had to replace them for free! Prob. fixed UNTIL this a.m.-did it again!

[kingofwacky]

@1114bullet your not alone. though mine was never fixed (still does it, rather frustrating), others have had this issue, had the cams replaced, and recently had the problem start up again. GOod to hear you got it fixed out of warranty with warranty. Thats what I did, complained everytime to get it on record so I can get warranty work done (I currently have 65k+ miles so over warranty). If you google "weird noise at startup toyotanation" you will probably find a big thread on that forum about it.

[Cveile1]

Was there any solution to this? Our 08 Highlander V6 recently started this and the dealer isnt' able to duplicate it (it happens very intermittently)...

[kingofwacky]

@Cveile1 well I took it to 2 dealers, one replicated it and called it normal (BS...) and the other couldn't replicate it. So at the moment I didn't get it solved. Google this ("weird noise at startup toyotanation") it should be the first thing that pops up. Its a forum I'm a member of where others have talked about it and their solutions. Good luck

[1114bullet]

@kingofwacky I am glad that I kept all receipts, notes on phone calls & complaints to the dealer or else they would not have paid for it to be fixed BUT they would have gotten tired of me bc I am like a pitbull......I won't let go! I also believe in right and wrong and when you pay that much for something that keeps doing this, something BETTER be done.

[1114bullet]

@cveile1 Read my post to kingofwacky. I had the same problem. My CAMS had to be replaced and the problem was fixed BUT I think they are going bad again. Problem diagnosed and fixed in January 2011(AFTER A YEAR OF COMPLAINING) and then this morning when I was cranking it to come to work.......it did it again!!!!

[1114bullet]

@kingofwacky SOOOOO I have called the dealer and it is going back for them to check it out AGAIN ! If the cams need to be replaced again, THEY WILL DO IT FOR FREE OR THEY WILL GET THE WRATH OF ME PUT DOWN ON THEM!

Good luck and let me know if your problem has been diagnosed and fixed!

[kingofwacky]

@shu5892001 Well I got mine at 45k, and am now at 63k 1 year later. Its made the sound since day 1 of owning it. I have never noticed any lack of power or issues besides it just making the sound. So I'm inclined to say it won't blow the engine, but that is a complete and total guess.

[shu5892001]

@kingofwacky, I bought my sienna used with 115K so no warranty left... Do you know if leaving this problem unfixed would eventually lead to an engine failure or no? I want to just drive it as it is, but if this would cause a blown engine then I am SOL...

[kingofwacky]

@shu5892001 at the moment none. Both dealerships described it as "normal operation". While other's who have had this problem (on toyotanation) have had the camshafts and other seals/gaskets at the top of the two engine banks replaced. I'm just gonna have to wait till it gets really bad to take it back in where they can't say its normal... My powertrain warranty just ran out, so hopefully since I reported the problem before it expired they will fix it under warranty, otherwise its a $3500 bill.