Hey there, I totally get where you're coming from. I had a similar problem with my 2019 Lexus IS Hybrid a while ago. Just like you, the engine light was on, it lost power intermittently, made a weird noise sometimes, and didn't want to start in some days. It was very unpredictable and unnerving. After checking around, found some metal bits in the oil too. Bit of an "oh no" moment, eh? Well, I took it into the garage, and after a few tests, they figured it was the crankshaft sensor that was defective. Apparently, this messes with the timing a fair bit, which is likely causing some, if not all, of your issues. The crank and camshaft sensors work close together, feeding the ECU information about the position and speed of the engine’s crank and cam, which is crucial for things like fuel injection and ignition timing. A defect in any of them could lead to a lousy day, week or month even. Got it replaced and the car’s been running like a dream ever since. No more weird noises, no more unusual power loss, no more engine light glaring at me. A lot of your symptoms sound like mine, so I'd get that checked out if I were you. I know going to the mechanic isn't the best, but hey, a car's gotta do what a car's gotta do, right? Best of luck. Hope this helps you a bit.

Hey, thanks for the quick response! The symptoms you described are bang on with what I've been dealing with my Lexus ES Hybrid. It's kind of a relief to hear it's not some unidentified monster problem, you know? Your recommendation to check the crankshaft sensor definitely sounds like my next step. I remember how smoothly a well-functioning Lexus should run and it's just not hitting that at the moment. About the mechanic’s visit, do you recall around how much it set you back? And, since you got it fixed, has something else popped up or has that solved it all? Cheers!

Hey! No sweat, always here to help a fellow Lexus owner. So regarding your question - yes, once the mechanic got in there and realigned the crankshaft to the camshaft, my Lexus IS Hybrid felt brand new again. It seems the poor positioning was causing everything to go haywire. Getting it fixed definitely made a significant difference. As for the cost, fixing the defective crankshaft sensor did burn a hole in my pocket. Spent around 250 Euro on it, but hey, it was worth every penny. From that day onwards, no weird noises, no unusual shutdowns, and no more dreaded engine light. So yeah, it has fixed all the issues I was dealing with, at least for now! Remember, just because it worked for me doesn’t guarantee it’s the same issue with your car, so I strongly advise you to have your mechanic take a thorough look to confirm. Best of luck with your Lexus ES Hybrid!

Hey, can't thank you enough for your help and sharing your experience. I was almost ready to throw in the towel. You've likely saved me a lot of money and mental dread with your tip about that crankshaft sensor! My plans are starting to shape up now. I'll get the car to the mechanic as soon as possible and have them do a thorough inspection, especially around the crank and camshaft positioning. 250 Euro stings a bit, but if that's what it takes to get my Lexus ES Hybrid back on the road smoothly, it's a price I'm willing to pay. Thanks once again, really! I feel more at ease now. Hope the problem goes away with this and the Lexus starts humming its sweet tune again. Fingers crossed, will give you an update once it’s all sorted. Cheers!