Hi everyone, just bought a 2006 IS250 SE Manual with 30k on the clock, love it, looks and drives like a dream but one tiny thing bothering me a little bit - I've noticed when I'm sitting in the car on a quiet road and the windows are closed, the car is in neutral theres a slight whirring noise which completely disappears when I press the clutch all the way to the floor. It's not loud or anything at all, the car drives fine, changes gears fine etc, it's only when it is idling in neutral that this very low noise can be heard, however when I press the clutch all the way down the car is so quiet I can barely hear the engine it sounds like it is off!
Just a few charecteristics to help you guys diagnose the issue (or maybe it is just in my head!!! :)
Noise is like a very low "whir" almost like air con switched on to the lowest setting (no it's not the air con! :P )
It can't be heard from the outside no matter where you listen from... under the car, under the bonnet, next to the car - it sounds completely normal and no difference can really be heard between clutch in and clutch out.
As far as I can tell there's no noise when it's in gear and I'm driving.
If it's in neutral and the car is still and idling, I can depress the clutch and slip it into any gear very smooth and without and noise, however when I'm driving and I depress the clutch then try to shift and put the gear knob "almost into gear" - not quite sticking it in I hear a little sound which is like something is rubbing, not metal clanking like when you miss a gear but more soft.
I've read up and seen that it might be the release bearing or the slave cylinder but I've watched videos on youtube and mine doesn't sound anywhere near of the same charecteristic or loudness! Like previously mentioned it's only got 30k on the clock and everything else is like a dream, just this little thing that's bugging me - but perhaps it is just in my head and I am pursuing perfection a bit too far!
The noise is inaudible during the day on busy roads or even when the radio is turned up just a tiny bit...only on quiet roads during the day or on very quiet roads at night...
Someone please tell me I've gone crazy! :)
Many thanks in advance