This one is weird, but I would like to hear some ideas from Maxima veterans. When I go to work in the mornings I have to drive about 2 miles to the interstate. Once I get on the insterstate and start to accellerate at around 55 I start getting a vibration like a tire out of balance for about 20 seconds. This is what I thought, and I went and bought new tires as it needed them anyway. I still have the problem, so I thought it might be that stretch of interstate because it only does it at this spot and time. I changed lanes quickly when I started to feel it the next day, and no change. Today when it started to happen I took my foot of the gas and it went away. I started to give it gas and it came back. Foot off....away....foot on it's back and eventually it goes away the rest of the trip until the next morning at this same time and spot. So I figure it is something wrong with the drive train. What? It drives perfect on the way home and the rest of the day. I'm thinking that something is not warmed up by the time I am getting on the interstate, and that is why it is happening at that time and place. Any ideas? Thanks in advance!

 

sounds like brake rotors

i changed mine a month ago and my vibration is all gone....

 

I think that was all rebuilt by the previous owner. The pads look new.

I did do a test today on the way in. I kept the Overdrive off while getting on the interstate and engaged it at around 65mph. No problems at all, so makes me think something in the drive train still. What? Could an OD clutch be slipping when the fluid is not fully warmed up?

 

not sure...

 

If you think it might me trans fluid problem you should try adding Lucas trans treatment to your tranny. Its just like a $10 try out you can try and it Gould fix any minor slipping...

 

how are your CV joints?

 

I did that with a fluid change when I first got it....thanks for the suggestion though.

 

I wondered about that too, but from what I have read you could tell if it was cv's if you heard a clicking noise when turning left or right. Mine sounds smooth. This problem happens at speed in a straight path.

 

When I first got mine, I had the exact same problem. I think it was just dirty transmission fluid causing it to "flutter" when it wanted to go in to overdrive. I drained as much as I could, (about 3 quarts) and refilled. Drove for about a week or ten days and it started to do it again, so I drained and refilled again, drove it for another week and did it once more...it's been over a year now, and I haven't had a problem since, hard to get all that old fluid out as a lot stays in the torque converter...good luck.

 

Check your LCA bushings, all 4 engine/trans mounts, if all that seems good, then it could be a fuel injector miss......

 

im thinking the same thing fuel related or warm up related, if it was the brakes or tranny issue then it would be doing it all the time, could be the o2 or cyl head temp sensor....

 

Thanks for the responses and suggestions. Unfortunately the problem has started to become more frequent and not just in the morning on the way to work. It is now happening mainly at cruising speed at partial throttle and increases in intensity when you accelerate, but goes away if you let up off the gas. CV joints?

 

What are LCA bushings and where are they located?

 

Lower control Arm (LCA) bushings, the pivot bushing and the strut rod bushings or upgrade to MOOG.

 

LOL! Okay, we got to stop using acronyms for the newb's! What is a MOOG?

 

lol!!! you dont know what MOOGs are!!?????? ...lol,its ok,theyre just tie rods,ball joints,etc...great stuff,i use em...

 

MOOG is an aftermarket suspension component manufacture that upgrades anything they built over the original design!