Every now and then my GS300 sounds like a deisel .... or perhaps it should be described as very tappety or maybe one cylinder going off. The garage claim that they couldn't replicate the problem although they did hear 'the injector bar cutting in'. Does this sound a sensible explanation?
Usually if I stop the engine and restart it goes back to normal - very smooth and very quiet.
Also one other question - I often get a juddering - it's not the brakes and it's not wheel balance - it almost always happens under load going up a hill. I feel it through the steering and the passenger seat judders quite markedly (again the garage claim not to be able to reproduce it)
Thanks
Mike

I have a friend who had a simular noise to what you describe and he had the VVTi unit replaced on the intake cam. This cured the problem and cost around £250 i think. hope this helps.....