Roughness while idling?

[spiderjoe]

Not related to the Overtrail vibration issues, anyone else noticed if you GX550 engine/vehicle vibrates when idling from start? Coming from owning various Lexus V6s close to 20 years - ES300, ES350, RX300, RX350 and also a V8 GX460, I find our GX550 is the most "un-Lexus" like experience while idling - more like a 2.5L 4 cylinder or a diesel. All of our previous Lexus V6 were very smooth when idling. This new one - I can feel the whole vehicle vibrate when idling like it wants to take off.

Most of you would remember this video of the wine glasses?

 

[Cajun Heat]

Not related to the Overtrail vibration issues, anyone else noticed if you GX550 engine/vehicle vibrates when idling from start? Coming from owning various Lexus V6s close to 20 years - ES300, ES350, RX300, RX350 and also a V8 GX460, I find our GX550 is the most "un-Lexus" like experience while idling - more like a 2.5L 4 cylinder or a diesel. All of our previous Lexus V6 were very smooth when idling. This new one - I can feel the whole vehicle vibrate when idling like it wants to take off.

Most of you would remember this video of the wine glasses?

Few questions.

Is it just at a cold startup?
Does it settle down after a minute once it idles down?
Does it happen while stopped in traffic while in gear?

 

[mrcee]

Mine does this as well. I get it at stop light or in traffic. If this was a carbureted engine from the 70s, I would say that the timing was off slightly or there was an issue with the fuel. It's definitely not silky smooth like my RX

 

[rangertrace]

Haven't noticed it yet....

 

[spiderjoe]

Few questions.

Is it just at a cold startup?
Does it settle down after a minute once it idles down?
Does it happen while stopped in traffic while in gear?

It is all of the above. When it's moving, I don't notice it. Probably it's the design and setup of the engine with the BOF chassis. My GX is currently at the dealership for my 1,000 miles oil change and to fix some rattling on the door, I mentioned to them to check on the idling. They will let me know in a few days. Meanwhile I have a brand new RX350 (non hybrid) loaner with a 4 cylinder engine and the RX350 is smooth, none of the vibration on the GX at idling.

 

[German88]

I agree the engine note at startup/idle has a distinct sound and feel. All part of this new platform IMHO and “pissing up a rope” trying to trouble shoot.

 

[steveperry]

I was just coming over to put up a post about this. I notice my GX idles "rough" at stop lights or even when in park while sitting. This is after it's warmed up. It's not terrible, but enough that my non-car person wife noticed it on several occasions. The RPMs will kind of go up and down a little as well. Then there are other times I can't tell if it's running or not it's so smooth.

 

[yotanoob]

My LR4 did that almost always. I found out it was how they met the fueling/pollution requirements. Not sure this has anything to do with it, but could apply here. I will ask when I get it in for a small list of service items.

 

[Snooperstyle]

Yes me too. Actually noticed again yesterday while sitting in park idling for a long time. I feel it through the bottom of my seat more than hear it, but it does seem to idle a little rougher and at more RPM than needed. Maybe it could be related to the body and engine mounts and that could also PARTIALLY explain the OT vibration and over sensitivity to road imperfections. This vehicle just seems to transfer vibrations and energy differently and not in a good way. I’d venture to say it’s not the frame itself, but how it connects to things that move or vibrate. I dunno. Just kinda spitballing here. They probably are not going do a darn thing about it.

 

[steveperry]

Yes me too. Actually noticed again yesterday while sitting in park idling for a long time. I feel it through the bottom of my seat more than hear it, but it does seem to idle a little rougher and at more RPM than needed. Maybe it could be related to the body and engine mounts and that could also PARTIALLY explain the OT vibration and over sensitivity to road imperfections. This vehicle just seems to transfer vibrations and energy differently and not in a good way. I’d venture to say it’s not the frame itself, but how it connects to things that move or vibrate. I dunno. Just kinda spitballing here. They probably are not going do a darn thing about it.

Yeah, that's exactly what mine does and I forgot to mention that I feel in the seat as well. I'll also echo what you say about vibration transfer. I've had a LOT of off road vehicles and none transferred road sensations quite like this one - and as you say, not in a good way. There are times I'm going down what seems to be a smooth patch of road but it feels like I'm running over little invisible bumps.

 

[spiderjoe]

Some of you articulated the vibration better than my original post lol

When Lexus sends out the new owner surveys, might be a good idea to highlight this vibration to them. I received ours earlier this week, it was fun typing in all the problems and shortcomings, although I would still buy a GX550 despite its shortcomings

 

[munkeeboi]

88 miles in and I feel the vibrations at idle as well. I thought it might get better once broken in but that doesn't appear to be the case reading this.

 

[spiderjoe]

Just got our GX back from the dealership. The dealership brought in a Lexus factory tech/specialist to take a look (was told they are based in the region and goes from dealership to dealership to help diagnose and solve problems). Was told the idling aka "roughness" is "normal".

Meanwhile, as I mentioned, we had a RX350 loaner for two weeks, put in close to 700 miles (yes, our GX was in the shop for that long - it was Columbus weekend, etc etc, I wasn't in a rush and told them to take their time and go through my laundry list). As much as I didn't really like the 4 cylinder turbo on the RX350, it still felt smoother than the GX550. When I started our GX at the dealership, all the vibrations and roughness came back to haunt .. .. could even feel it on the accelerator vibrate when idling. Felt like a cylinder was misfiring.. I recall test driving a brand new BMW X5 B58 a few months back, that engine was so smooth.. Hopefully Lexus figures a way to retune the timing on the 3.4TT engine.

 

[steveperry]

Just got our GX back from the dealership. The dealership brought in a Lexus factory tech/specialist to take a look (was told they are based in the region and goes from dealership to dealership to help diagnose and solve problems). Was told the idling aka "roughness" is "normal".

Meanwhile, as I mentioned, we had a RX350 loaner for two weeks, put in close to 700 miles (yes, our GX was in the shop for that long - it was Columbus weekend, etc etc, I wasn't in a rush and told them to take their time and go through my laundry list). As much as I didn't really like the 4 cylinder turbo on the RX350, it still felt smoother than the GX550. When I started our GX at the dealership, all the vibrations and roughness came back to haunt .. .. could even feel it on the accelerator vibrate when idling. Felt like a cylinder was misfiring.. I recall test driving a brand new BMW X5 B58 a few months back, that engine was so smooth.. Hopefully Lexus figures a way to retune the timing on the 3.4TT engine.

Although it's not great news, information like that sometimes helps with worries that there is something wrong with an individual vehicle. I feel at least a little better about it knowing it's not some oddball problem my dealer will be hopeless to fix (my dealer is really quite sub-par, but the only game in town). I can learn to live with it if I know it's normal.

 

[Martyt]

Mine idles smooth— must be an issue that only affects certain GXs

 

[Michael T]

Just got our GX back from the dealership. The dealership brought in a Lexus factory tech/specialist to take a look (was told they are based in the region and goes from dealership to dealership to help diagnose and solve problems). Was told the idling aka "roughness" is "normal".

Meanwhile, as I mentioned, we had a RX350 loaner for two weeks, put in close to 700 miles (yes, our GX was in the shop for that long - it was Columbus weekend, etc etc, I wasn't in a rush and told them to take their time and go through my laundry list). As much as I didn't really like the 4 cylinder turbo on the RX350, it still felt smoother than the GX550. When I started our GX at the dealership, all the vibrations and roughness came back to haunt .. .. could even feel it on the accelerator vibrate when idling. Felt like a cylinder was misfiring.. I recall test driving a brand new BMW X5 B58 a few months back, that engine was so smooth.. Hopefully Lexus figures a way to retune the timing on the 3.4TT engine.

Sorry to hear your experience. I will say if you had expectation that your GX should “feel” like a BMW X5, then it will not. A more proper comparison would be to a pickup truck or other BOF suv.

If feeling nothing is what you’re looking for, go to a unibody bmw, audi, porsche, infiniti, acura, cuz no 550 will “feel” as smooth as those

On the other side of the coin, none of the other luxury brands i listed above have the offroad or towing capabilities of your 550, as you bought a luxury capable off-roader, not a pavement princess

 

[killy]

The B58 is an insanely smooth engine, big part of that is thing a straight 6 that the bigger V6 Toyota can’t really replicate.

B58’s are also mild hybrids so a lot of the stuff that the Lexus runs off the engine are isolated into the 48v electric system so that also helps with periodic smoothness and smoothness off a start with electric assist.

I have had an X5 for the last 3 years and it’s been excellent. Wife is keeping that while I go to the Lexus for increased off road and towing chops.

 

[Jupiter]

Mine does it more after startup. While in park
It's a surge in rpm
Relatively minor. But....

Bringing in for break bulletin which two dealers also called "normal"

Hood flutter... "normal*

Missing lug nuts taken presumably at the port when forced to buy locking nuts to purchase vehicle.. Wonderful feature in snow.. Ice and for off road vehicle, in mud.. Two dealers said" nirmal" to not put into vehicle when locking installed.. First vehicle to ever have them not given with key..

I suspect someone at the port has a side business in wheel lugs..

 

[killy]

Not giving you the key is a problem. That’s something I would be complaining loudly about.

“If I need to change a flat how do I do it; you have delivered the vehicle defective and this is a safety concern”

 

[Jupiter]

Not giving you the key is a problem. That’s something I would be complaining loudly about.

“If I need to change a flat how do I do it; you have delivered the vehicle defective and this is a safety concern”

Got the key.. The removed nuts not left in vehicle.. They did put the key and the hitch pin in the vehicle

Sorry if not clear

How do you use a wheel lock key in middle of winter ice and snow packed in the nut. Have to heat to melt or have something to dig out ice.. I mud you best have water in the car to try and flush out.