My '96 Maxima has a clicking type sound coming from the its 5 speed transmission. It sounds a little like a giant cat is purring, and runs to the speed of the transmission unless in neutral when it runs to engine speed. The sound can be heard in any gear. You can also hear it when in neutral. The sound, however, goes away when the clutch is depressed. The car has about 115,000 miles on it. I first noticed it about 6,000 miles ago. It is getting louder.

Does anyone have any ideas what may be wrong?

Many thanks.

Tormented in Chicago.

 

do u have any mods, and if u do what are they.

 

Thanks for your reply. There are no mods. All is bone stock.

 

since it goes away with your clutch dpressed, i am almost tempted to say it is the throw out bearing but the sound you describe does not sound like waht the throw out bearing would.

 

ya its prolly the TOB...

aside from the noise, is there ANY other effect mechanically? If not, and its jsut noise then its most likely the TOB. though annoying as all hell i know, its almost not worth it to change it out unless you are also doing a clutch with it.

 

Thanks very much. There is no effect on driving at all. There are also no mods at all. I really appreciate your comments.

 

I had the exact same issue, except the noise began at about 160k. Dealer suggested it was a bad bearing on the tranny. Drove for another 10k before I was finally required to park it due to leaking tranny fluid. Turns out dealer was right, it's a bad bearing on the input side of the tranny, that finally went completely and was leaking fluid into the bellhousing. Turns out it's a common problem with Maxima's, there was another in the shop with the same problem when I brought it in. Downside is you need to rebuild to fix it. Cost me $1400

 

does it sound like the skate board wheels spinning?

 

Thanks for your comment. It sounds a little like skate board wheels spinning, but with less of a "woosh" and more of a purring, bearing type sound -- like lots of clicks starting to blend together in a raspy tone. Please let me know your thoughts.

 

Thanks to all who left comments. This past Thursday the trans packed up at 115,000 miles - about 6,500 miles after its purring sound started and became progressively louder. Suddenly, I could not shift into 1st or 2nd. A trans tear down revealed that the purring sound was caused by a bad trans bearing. Part of its housing cracked off and fell down blocking shifts into 1st and 2nd. Fortunately, it did not fall into the gears and chew them up. The rebuilder, who is experienced tearing down Maxima 5 speeds. said they tend to fail between 80,000 and 100,000 miles -- unless the gear lube is changed. He recommends Redline gear lube. I hope this account helps someone else. Some advice: (1) get your gear lube changed, and (2) if you develop a purring sort of sound in your 5 speed, get it fixed ASAP. I needed a complete tear down. Waiting can only only run up the bill.

Cubster

 

I have same problem. I noticed this sound coming from the 5speed tranny 15k miles ago and recently it was leaking and making really loud sounds. I replaced both axle seals and the main seal. There was also a crack around the input shaft on the tranny itself. I got that welded back together and it is still leaking. ahhhhhh! so damn frustrating

I'm getting a new transmition with low miles, possibaly an i30 lsd tranny.
-Paul

---------------
96 SE 5speed i/y
2.28
14.762
93.8

I need a new tranny!

 

This happened on my 93 SE and on my 97 SE. Both times it was the release bearing.

 

If the symptoms are the same as described in the original post except:
* The noise does not go away when the clutch is depressed.
* The pitch of the purring changes, and louder when steering to the left.
* It gets quiet when going above 70mph.
What would you think the cause is in that case?
Thanks.