I am slightly confused, I only noticed it yesterday that when driving at low revs and accelerating the car seems to be pinking. I know these engines can pull at low revs but should it seem to pink.

It is in for its 40K sercice tomorrow and the 3yr warranty expires 1st july,
Have I got a problem or is it characteristic of these engines.?& is it covered under
warranty? Also it has done it twice this week, it appears to turn over for a while before starting, could it want new pluggs?

Hope you can understand what I am on about but me az had a few STELLAS while watching the .....................football.

Hope you can help me before I take it for service.. TA!!!!!!!!!

Never known mine to pink. Sometimes it turns over a bit before firing. Shouldn't need plugs - may be worth pulling one or two out just to have a look.

have you changed fuel? shouldnt happen, but an idea.....

Gone from standard (95ron) to super (97ron) or optimax (98 ron) or vice versa?

Does anyone support the idea to suggest the ecu reset on this ocasion?

I dont know what I'm basing this on.....dont trust me!

lets see if anyone else thinks this is an idea worth pursuing.

I only noticed it because I had the window open for a change. Not changed fuel, fuel up with unleaded, at shell and texaco.

it is not a bad pinking sound but it is there very slightly. Car needs filling up so will try different garage.

What does "pinking" mean? Is it a kind of sound? If so, mine does it too. Seems to be normal.
Let the garage have a look at the last spark plug.

dont confuse with the usual tickover taping sound at idle, this is possibly the injectors.

A pinking is usually with a retarded acceleration and a metalic sound can be heard under "hard" acceleration..

Was a common prob on an old Escort XR3i of mine that had mechanical fuel injection with a distributor and distributor cap, the timing was out after I changed from four star to unleaded 1990's, late 80's?

So I doubt these cars would pink unless the ECU has detected a management problem and was protecting the engine by reducing its output.

One answer, isnt there....Ask a dealer.

Not really because the knock sensors should detect any pre-ignition and retard the ignition timing within a fraction of a second.



The last thing the ECU would do is make the engine pink. It puts a strain on the engine at best and damaging at worst.

thats it mr barber, pinking=pre ignition. tried to remeber that term.

So is it that the engine is running too advanced on pinking, sending too much fuel into the combustion than needed?

I doubt the car would be pinking, or that there was a serious problem. go to the squealer.

Yes it is too advanced. The owners manual will state it may be heard on occasions but I have never heard it. It should be very very rare.

The noise could be something else - loose heat shield for example.

as i have a tezz, I dont have a manual.. so the manufacturer actually has a get out clause in the booklet stating the engine might sometimes suffer pre-ignition....

That shouldn't be, right?

A car of this quality, shouldnt have to "pink" should it?

I know you chaps are helping me out here, I noticed it when climbing a hill at low rev's, just above a 1000 rpm. I know these cars can pull from such rpm.. It may sound silly but this is part of the characteristics of lexus which made me want one.

just had another STELLA so excuse ones spelling...

You're not doing the engine much good loading it at such a low rpm. The engine may be refined and not shake about like some other engines but it's still not good.

Just get the dealer to look at it tomorrow. They should road test it as part of the service.

get them revs up my man,dont drive it a that low revs,its not a tractor.

thanks guy's your advice is appreciated.

good....then stop being a *****, and dont commit hari kari with your engine (in jest mate)

cant believe the stars came up

***** is short for richard!

not enough stars .

lol...too many


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