I have a 93 Nissan Maxima GXE which has the SOHC VG30E engine and it is making the same noise described in the webpages I have been researching. But they are all saying it does not happen to the GXE engine and only the SE engine. I had it looked at 2 auto shops and the dealer.
The dealer said it was the timing belt and the 2 shops said it was the Distributor. So we had the distributor done and the sound was still there. The car gain more power from the job but the sounds still here. Then I had the guy at the shop look into the VTC and he found that it only happens on the SE not the GXE models. So they don't really know what it is either. I looked up this thing about Grounding it out by rewiring it and was wondering if that could be my alternative. Would you suggest this? Here the site

http://www.geocities.com/bracecraig/maxima/vtc/vtc.html

http://home.earthlink.net/~maxfaq/vtc/vtc.htm

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME!

 

grounding the VTCs is only on SE maxs

it could be broken ehaust studs

 

So It could be broken exhaust studs? How is this possible? This sound comes from the Distriubtor area near the Timming Belt

 

the exhaust manifold is right next to the distributer

does it make the niose all the time or only when cold or only when the engine is warmed up

 

Only when the car is warmed up. After I have driven it.

 

My 91 SE (SOHC VG) also makes a similar noise near distributor/timing belt. It's only after it warms up and only under very light throttle at about 1500 rpms. It's sorta like a tapping noise.

 

Thats the same noise I get! Have you gotten it fixed or even know what it is? THANKS ALOT!!!!!!

 

I have The Same Noise! Have you figured out what the sound is or fixed it yet? Thanks Alot !!!!

 

if the belt is loose it could be slapping the timing cover. if that's the case you need it looked at immediatly as lots of damage can occur if the timing belt breaks or if the cams skip a tooth.

my car made similar noises... i took the timing cover off to check the tension of the timing belt and it was completely fine. that confused the hell out of me so i had a friend look at it who owns an import performance shop and he said to crank the engine over. i did and he immediatly told me to stop. he had me get out and let a friend crank the engine so i could see what was going on. when he cranked it the cam started sliding in and out of the head. turns out the machine shop that i took the heads to didn't torque down the cam retainer bolt and it was just laying in there. the other cam's retainer bolt was loose enough to be spun by finger. nothing happened luckily but its kind of scary to think i took a 650 + mile trip with them like that.

i wouldn't think that'd be your problem but its always possible. what you need to do is take off the timing cover and check the belt to make sure its ok. you definitely don't want that to break.

also, just as a fyi, these cars have hydraulic lifters so they can't get out of adjustment unless you take them out and hold them upside down to where air can get in them. even then they'll pump back up and basically correct themselves.

 

If the tensioner on the timing belt is loose the distibutor will make a chattering sound. Almost sounds like a diesel engine. My car does this a little bit.

You many miles are on your timing belt?

 

you dont have VTC's they are only on the more powerful VE motor not the VG

 

WOW THIS ISNT GOOD!!! THE BELT WAS REPLACED IN 98 IT HAS ABOUT 60k MILES ON IT. I JUST GOT THE CAR BUT THE PERSON WHO OWNED IT BEFORE HAD THE SOUND FOR ABOUT 3 YRS!!!! IS THIS BAD!!!!

THANKS I AM GOING TO LOOK FOR SOMEONE TO DO THE TIMMING BELT AND TENSIONER FOR A CHEAP PRICE!

 

Mine has been doing it for about a year now. My timing belt was changes at 70K and it has 120K on it now so it is almost due for a new belt.

It is recommended to change the belt every 60K. When you do change it make sure you change your water pump also. It isnt a cheap job. DOnt be suprised if it cost you $400 for the job. Its a lot of work

 

get a service manual and read through changing the t belt a bunch of times and set aside a day and do it yourself youll save a lot of money and as long as you follow the procedures correctly it will be hard to mess up. But remeber to make sure you read through and get all the right parts i know the vg has two different t belt one with square notches and one with round notches. just do some research.

 

Ease up on the caps please. Thanks