4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999) Visit the 4th Generation forum to ask specific questions or find out more about the 4th Generation Maxima.

whining noise coming from engine ....

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 11, 2008 | 01:45 PM
  #1  
maxspeed96CT's Avatar
Thread Starter
The original VQ...
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,804
From: CT
whining noise coming from engine ....

yup i bought another 4th gen a few weeks back, some of you may rember my burgundy 5.5 gen.



But heres my prob with the 4thgen, i noticed the engine whines bad, and no theres no S/C....

It does sound like its coming from the pullies. what should i check? / replace??
belt tensioner? alti pulley ??

and sugestions would be cool ,thanks
Old Apr 11, 2008 | 02:01 PM
  #2  
CRiME's Avatar
oem ftw!
iTrader: (21)
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,456
check your alternator and also the AC compressor. I hit a bad puddle one day in mine, and the following day I had a whine that resembled the noise of a failing alternator. I narrowed it down to the AC compressor and i bypassed it for now with a shorter belt.
Old Apr 11, 2008 | 02:02 PM
  #3  
njmaxseltd's Avatar
Member who somehow became The President of The SE-L Club
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 16,024
Probably the alternator. Use the screwdriver to the ear test and see if you can pin point the device making the wine.

Good luck with the car!
Old Apr 11, 2008 | 04:13 PM
  #4  
maxspeed96CT's Avatar
Thread Starter
The original VQ...
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,804
From: CT
this may sound silly , but anything i can spray to maybe give it as a temp fix for a week or 2,
wd-40 or something ?

i just simply dont have the time to fix it but dont want anything to break...
Old Apr 11, 2008 | 04:24 PM
  #5  
kzoosho's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (16)
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,029
From: Grand rapids Mi
I have a whine too lol what should i do? Deff check alternator man.
Old Apr 11, 2008 | 04:31 PM
  #6  
RNMMax's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 47
From: South Shore, L.I.
Originally Posted by kzoosho
I have a whine too lol what should i do? Deff check alternator man.
Old Apr 11, 2008 | 04:33 PM
  #7  
kzoosho's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (16)
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,029
From: Grand rapids Mi
Originally Posted by RNMMax
I have a belt driven intake tho.
Old Apr 11, 2008 | 04:50 PM
  #8  
coachholland's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 177
From: Frankfort, KY
If it's a high pitch squeal then it's likely the belt just needing to be tightened. If it's more of a metallic whine/hiss noise then it's the compressor. Not sure what model year yours is, but if it's a 97-99, I can give you the info where you can get a remanufactured one for $175+shipping. Great seller and it's $150-200 less than autozone or advanced remanufactured ones. I think I got the last 95-96 he had, but I can check with him to be sure if needed.
Old Apr 11, 2008 | 05:15 PM
  #9  
MorpheusZero's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 9,064
From: Santa Barbara, CA
If it goes away when you turn on the AC then it's your AC clutch bearing. For a temp fix just get a ~920mm belt and bypass the AC (that's what I did).
Old Apr 11, 2008 | 06:15 PM
  #10  
maxspeed96CT's Avatar
Thread Starter
The original VQ...
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,804
From: CT
Originally Posted by coachholland
If it's a high pitch squeal then it's likely the belt just needing to be tightened. If it's more of a metallic whine/hiss noise then it's the compressor. Not sure what model year yours is, but if it's a 97-99, I can give you the info where you can get a remanufactured one for $175+shipping. Great seller and it's $150-200 less than autozone or advanced remanufactured ones. I think I got the last 95-96 he had, but I can check with him to be sure if needed.

it is clearly a whine type noise....
but it doesnt change when i turn the ac on or off....??
still the compressor?

tried spraying everything ith wd but it didnt help....
Old Apr 11, 2008 | 06:23 PM
  #11  
vqmaxman's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,871
From: IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO CARES!!
Originally Posted by maxspeed96CT
it is clearly a whine type noise....
but it doesnt change when i turn the ac on or off....??
still the compressor?

tried spraying everything ith wd but it didnt help....
Does the whine sound like a faint s/c,If so It Is more likely the alternator and It's about to go out on you.
I forget which model (97-98) It was but If I choose It was a 98 with the alternator problems or recalls. I am sure this Is the symptom of a bad alternator and It's probally on it's last legs.
Old Apr 11, 2008 | 07:05 PM
  #12  
maxspeed96CT's Avatar
Thread Starter
The original VQ...
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,804
From: CT
Originally Posted by vqmaxman
Does the whine sound like a faint s/c,If so It Is more likely the alternator and It's about to go out on you.
I forget which model (97-98) It was but If I choose It was a 98 with the alternator problems or recalls. I am sure this Is the symptom of a bad alternator and It's probally on it's last legs.
ya man does sound like a faint/crappy s/c.

and the car take a long second or two too start latly.......
Old Apr 11, 2008 | 07:42 PM
  #13  
Blackmax1924's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 541
From: Franklin, MA
It could also be the a/c idler pulley assembly, I have a whinning noise as well on my maxima and I just recieved my replacement idler pulley. I will be putting it on tomorrow I will let you know if that takes care of the whinning noise.

Good luck with the new car and enjoy.
Old Apr 11, 2008 | 07:49 PM
  #14  
Batxel's Avatar
blah
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,615
From: Philadelphia, PA
Take a long pole and stick up against alternator see if you here the noise go through the pole. Then put it up against the compressor. My old car was making a whine from the alternator even though it was still working fine and it sounded like I had a S/C. I got it replaced just in case.
Old Apr 11, 2008 | 09:03 PM
  #15  
96sleepergle's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 375
check the alternator, best way is to take off the belt start the car see if the noise is still present but i had that problem on my 96 and 99 max made whinning, hollowing n noise before it went on me. My brothers i30 has that problem now just have to change the alternator.
Old Apr 11, 2008 | 10:41 PM
  #16  
vqmaxman's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,871
From: IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO CARES!!
Originally Posted by maxspeed96CT
ya man does sound like a faint/crappy s/c.

and the car take a long second or two too start latly.......
If the car Is pausing while your starting It,It can be that It needs a tune-up and It can be a bad grounding on the alternator and the starter check that first.
Old Apr 13, 2008 | 07:59 PM
  #17  
maxspeed96CT's Avatar
Thread Starter
The original VQ...
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,804
From: CT
Originally Posted by vqmaxman
If the car Is pausing while your starting It,It can be that It needs a tune-up and It can be a bad grounding on the alternator and the starter check that first.

its not realy pausing , but it seems like its taking alot more cranks to start then it should .(and its not like its cold or anything anymore in CT...)
Old Apr 20, 2008 | 08:56 PM
  #18  
maxspeed96CT's Avatar
Thread Starter
The original VQ...
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,804
From: CT
it was the alternator....

the noise got real bad, i removed the belt.

tensioner as good.
then i go to spin the alti pulley and was so hard to spin! ! it as siezed up bad !

new alit i gotta say was a pita to put in , i wish i had inspector gadget to help me out but I got it...

thanks bros !
Old Apr 21, 2008 | 05:08 PM
  #19  
96sleepergle's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 375
glad you found the issue start small then work to bigger things thats how you trouble shoot. You can change the alternator yourself not that hard done it a few times.
Old Apr 22, 2008 | 04:07 PM
  #20  
98SElf's Avatar
Newbie - Just Registered
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 7
Wow. I had this happen last night for the first time. Totally sounds like a faint supercharger too. Am glad I found this thread. I'll do the screwdriver to the ear listening method, but it sounds exactly the way maxspeed96CT described it.

Any suggestions on the best/cheapest alternator? Should I buy only Nissan parts for this, or is it a Kragen/Checker/Shucks special?

I had a bad experience with a Kragen alternator on an old Acura once.
Old Apr 22, 2008 | 08:35 PM
  #21  
96sleepergle's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 375
Why look for the cheapest way out? If the stock one last over 100k why not get it from them?
Old Apr 23, 2008 | 11:10 AM
  #22  
98SElf's Avatar
Newbie - Just Registered
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 7
My car has only 55k, and I am getting the whine
Old Apr 25, 2008 | 10:28 AM
  #23  
Matt_NZ's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 560
I just got this whine today. Was odd, I drove to the supermarket and it was running normal then I get out and go to drive home and the whine started as soon as I started it. Struck me a little odd that it didn't build up over time, it just happened.

I haven't had the chance to check and confirm it's the alternator, but it was my main suspect even before I looked at this thread. Mainly because my headlights don't seem as bright as they once were. I'll be popping the bonnet tomorrow and seeing what I can find...
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Hondarydr
6th Generation Maxima (2004-2008)
5
Dec 30, 2024 06:15 PM
CorollaULEV
7th Generation Maxima (2009-2015)
30
Aug 9, 2021 08:11 PM
Starrider
3rd Generation Maxima (1989-1994)
4
Sep 17, 2015 07:26 AM
MaximaDrvr
7th Generation Maxima (2009-2015)
16
Aug 19, 2015 08:20 PM




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 10:15 PM.