Knocking/Ticking, but goes away after long drive
Knocking/Ticking, but goes away after long drive
Hey guys, haven't been here for a while and I was wondering if anyone come across anything like this?
The "engine" (not a mechanic) makes this ticking/Knocking noise, especially in cold or cool weather. But it goes away after 10-15 min drive, after that it's nice and quiet.
I went to two mechanics, nissan and non - nissan, the non-nissan mechanic didn't know what it was and the nissan one said it was VTC.
But doesn't the VTC tick no matter what? I've also notice that when I have my oil change the tickin/Knockin goes away for awhile no matter the weather, but comes back later (week or so)
Does anyone have the slightest clue what it is?
(
Thanx muchos in advance)
The "engine" (not a mechanic) makes this ticking/Knocking noise, especially in cold or cool weather. But it goes away after 10-15 min drive, after that it's nice and quiet.
I went to two mechanics, nissan and non - nissan, the non-nissan mechanic didn't know what it was and the nissan one said it was VTC.
But doesn't the VTC tick no matter what? I've also notice that when I have my oil change the tickin/Knockin goes away for awhile no matter the weather, but comes back later (week or so)
Does anyone have the slightest clue what it is?
(
Thanx muchos in advance)
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 24
I am only a shade tree type mechanic but here's my 2 cents.
This sounds like VTCs to me. Non-nissan mechanics might not be familiar with this particular problem. It is a common issue for the 3rd gens. The symptoms you describe are textbook indicators of the early stages of VTC failure.
You can find more info on this by typing VTC into the search box, but here is a quick summary.
In addition to the other symptoms, I would bet that if you wrapped your engine up to about 4-5k RPMs you would find that the ticking would go away even before the 10-15mins were up.
Eventually the VTCs will wear further and begin ticking all the time. It can take a while before this happens.
You have basically three options:
1) Replace the VTCs
This is a bit expensive but is the "normal" way to handle it. There are several Nissan technical service bulletins concerning this, make sure the mechanic that does the work knows about them.
After the repair, make sure you change the oil regularly and use an oil filter that will maintain good oil pressure. This will help prolong the life of your new VTCs. Also consider switching to 5w30 oil, (Castrol GTX is a good price/performance choice), most people are running 10w30 because that is what the oil change places use by default but 5w30 is actually what the car's manual recommends.
2) Rebuild the VTCs
This is much cheaper but most people report very short life on rebuilt VTCs. I have no first hand knowledge. Same after repair advice as #1 applies here.
3) Disable the VTCs
There is a technique that some use where you ground out the VTCs to disable them. This kills the ticking though there is a reportedly small decrease in HP.
I have not tried this myself. This is probably not the best choice for you since you seem to indicate that you are not too much of a mechanic. (No dis here, just an observation. not all of us are sick enough to want to crawl into our engine compartment and fiddle.
)
I have the same problem with my VTCs and I am planning on disabling mine (as in #3) until I can afford to replace them with new ones.
This sounds like VTCs to me. Non-nissan mechanics might not be familiar with this particular problem. It is a common issue for the 3rd gens. The symptoms you describe are textbook indicators of the early stages of VTC failure.
You can find more info on this by typing VTC into the search box, but here is a quick summary.
In addition to the other symptoms, I would bet that if you wrapped your engine up to about 4-5k RPMs you would find that the ticking would go away even before the 10-15mins were up.
Eventually the VTCs will wear further and begin ticking all the time. It can take a while before this happens.
You have basically three options:
1) Replace the VTCs
This is a bit expensive but is the "normal" way to handle it. There are several Nissan technical service bulletins concerning this, make sure the mechanic that does the work knows about them.
After the repair, make sure you change the oil regularly and use an oil filter that will maintain good oil pressure. This will help prolong the life of your new VTCs. Also consider switching to 5w30 oil, (Castrol GTX is a good price/performance choice), most people are running 10w30 because that is what the oil change places use by default but 5w30 is actually what the car's manual recommends.
2) Rebuild the VTCs
This is much cheaper but most people report very short life on rebuilt VTCs. I have no first hand knowledge. Same after repair advice as #1 applies here.
3) Disable the VTCs
There is a technique that some use where you ground out the VTCs to disable them. This kills the ticking though there is a reportedly small decrease in HP.
I have not tried this myself. This is probably not the best choice for you since you seem to indicate that you are not too much of a mechanic. (No dis here, just an observation. not all of us are sick enough to want to crawl into our engine compartment and fiddle.
)I have the same problem with my VTCs and I am planning on disabling mine (as in #3) until I can afford to replace them with new ones.
Originally Posted by JasonJ
I am only a shade tree type mechanic but here's my 2 cents.
This sounds like VTCs to me. Non-nissan mechanics might not be familiar with this particular problem. It is a common issue for the 3rd gens. The symptoms you describe are textbook indicators of the early stages of VTC failure.
You can find more info on this by typing VTC into the search box, but here is a quick summary.
In addition to the other symptoms, I would bet that if you wrapped your engine up to about 4-5k RPMs you would find that the ticking would go away even before the 10-15mins were up.
Eventually the VTCs will wear further and begin ticking all the time. It can take a while before this happens.
You have basically three options:
1) Replace the VTCs
This is a bit expensive but is the "normal" way to handle it. There are several Nissan technical service bulletins concerning this, make sure the mechanic that does the work knows about them.
After the repair, make sure you change the oil regularly and use an oil filter that will maintain good oil pressure. This will help prolong the life of your new VTCs. Also consider switching to 5w30 oil, (Castrol GTX is a good price/performance choice), most people are running 10w30 because that is what the oil change places use by default but 5w30 is actually what the car's manual recommends.
2) Rebuild the VTCs
This is much cheaper but most people report very short life on rebuilt VTCs. I have no first hand knowledge. Same after repair advice as #1 applies here.
3) Disable the VTCs
There is a technique that some use where you ground out the VTCs to disable them. This kills the ticking though there is a reportedly small decrease in HP.
I have not tried this myself. This is probably not the best choice for you since you seem to indicate that you are not too much of a mechanic. (No dis here, just an observation. not all of us are sick enough to want to crawl into our engine compartment and fiddle. )
I have the same problem with my VTCs and I am planning on disabling mine (as in #3) until I can afford to replace them with new ones.
This sounds like VTCs to me. Non-nissan mechanics might not be familiar with this particular problem. It is a common issue for the 3rd gens. The symptoms you describe are textbook indicators of the early stages of VTC failure.
You can find more info on this by typing VTC into the search box, but here is a quick summary.
In addition to the other symptoms, I would bet that if you wrapped your engine up to about 4-5k RPMs you would find that the ticking would go away even before the 10-15mins were up.
Eventually the VTCs will wear further and begin ticking all the time. It can take a while before this happens.
You have basically three options:
1) Replace the VTCs
This is a bit expensive but is the "normal" way to handle it. There are several Nissan technical service bulletins concerning this, make sure the mechanic that does the work knows about them.
After the repair, make sure you change the oil regularly and use an oil filter that will maintain good oil pressure. This will help prolong the life of your new VTCs. Also consider switching to 5w30 oil, (Castrol GTX is a good price/performance choice), most people are running 10w30 because that is what the oil change places use by default but 5w30 is actually what the car's manual recommends.
2) Rebuild the VTCs
This is much cheaper but most people report very short life on rebuilt VTCs. I have no first hand knowledge. Same after repair advice as #1 applies here.
3) Disable the VTCs
There is a technique that some use where you ground out the VTCs to disable them. This kills the ticking though there is a reportedly small decrease in HP.
I have not tried this myself. This is probably not the best choice for you since you seem to indicate that you are not too much of a mechanic. (No dis here, just an observation. not all of us are sick enough to want to crawl into our engine compartment and fiddle.
)I have the same problem with my VTCs and I am planning on disabling mine (as in #3) until I can afford to replace them with new ones.
Thanx Jason for the response, but I was wondering.... Would the lifters have the same noise and problems?
haha, sprry i had to laugh a bit. i was in your shoes when i bought my max. wish i knew what it was when i bought it. the dealer told me it just needed an oil change..yea right..at any rate its like 442.18 at courtesy nissan for one vtc assembly (you need two ! ) and yes its expensive but its cheap compared to what a dealer would charge you with labor !!
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