Not sure how to describe the sound, but on startup sometimes (usually when it is cold) I get a whine sound that is louder than the engine starting up but only lasts for 1 second.

It almost sounds as if a rotating part is having trouble starting up.

Any clues what this could be?

There is no other detectable symptom when looking at or driving the car.

I've checked all fluid levels and they seem to be fine.

 

I know the sound exactly. It like the starter spins really fast right after the car starts, and only lasts a quick sec.

After researching this myself I came across something on www.motorvate.ca but I was a little skeptical because he mentions that it was due to the grease drying up. He drives an older 4th gen, so I could see that being a problem, but not on ours.

 

Exactly.

I can't get to that page. What did it say was causing the problem?

 

Sorry for the broken link. I removed the extraneous comma, so it should work now. Anyhooo...Here is the summary:

Summary:

The grease in the starter had dried out over the last six years. When it dried out, it became almost sticky. This prevented the drive shaft of the starter to rotate smoothly. Instead it would stick to one side, and the "bang" to the other. (keep in mind there is 10-20 thousands of an inch play to rattle around in) This caused the high pitched "vvveeeh" sound.

By cleaning out the old grease, and re-packing in new synthetic lithium soap based grease, the problem is solved. The grease costs about $9 at Wal-Mart.

 

Interesting.

Makes sense since I only hear it at startup. Also makes sense that it would happen when it is cold but not when car is hot or it is hot outside.

thanks.

 

I had the same problem - funny thing is it started after I had been having a lot of trouble with my battery and replaced it.

I thought maybe I damaged my starter with the extra cranking of the dying battery.

Of course - dealer says I'm crazy (car is warm when it gets there and I live in Dallas so weather does not always cooperate).

I'll have to keep this in mind in the future.

 

My 2K does the same exact thing, but only when the temp. is below about 20 degrees (Upstate NY). Only lasts for a second. I don't worry much about it. Car runs great!

John

 

I am having the same problems. It is usually when it is cold. Could it be the clutch? My clutch is very tempermental in the morning and kind of slips in second gear.

 

Mine too in NC around 40 degrees. same symptoms.

 

If it wasn't so cold and messy here in the NE I would pull the starter, and re-lube it. Funny thing is...after replying to this thread it hasn't happened at all to me. "I think she knows when she is about to go under the knife" Maybe someone in a more temperate climate could do it and see if the fix works for us too?

 

i'd give it a go, but i have no garage, no real tools to speak of (unless you count wheel ramps, a ratchet set and a can of rust-oleum). Oh snap...and no idea what i'd be doing (even if i knew what i was doing i'd probably get the hood open, disconnect the battery and chicken out anyway).

 

Mine does it once in a while. I have an automatic and it not necessarily when it is cold. It happens when I leave the car off for a long time. Like if I get home at 5 in the afternoon and don't use my car until 10 AM the next day.

 

You know, I was wondering about the clutch too. That was my first thought. Are we all 5spds??? (Ah, Cwally posted while I was typing this so I guess not).

I live in Florida and it only happens when below say 50 and then only sometimes.

 

Well there goes the "might be the clutch" theory. I've had my car for a couple of months..it was doing it in 40-45 degree weather.

 

heh...check the times on the posts...thats funny. Great minds post alike.

 

Not to get off subject....

But does anyone else get a clutch slippage problem in the morning when the car is cold? Has anyone relplaced their clutch yet? Mine seems to be a lot more spongy than it was when new...and I have 60k on my 2k now.

It must be a starter thing. Mine usually does it when it hasn't been started in a day. I hope it is not the engine that is making that noise! Does anyone give the car a little gas when starting....or do you just turn the key?

 

I think thats what it is. It feels like a hesitation, and it only happens when it is cold. Mainly first and second gear. I thought it was just me. ... We might need to make a second thread for this.

Aside from these two relativley minor annoyances, everything else is great.

 

When you say the clutch "slips" you mean the car gets a lil jittery like it's about to stall out? If that's the case, then I also get that once in a while in 1st and 2nd, but i think it happens less frequently than the funny noise at startup.

 

Fortunately, I don't have that clutch problem.

 

My 2000 SE does the same thing. Only when it is cold, usually first start in the AM or late in the evening after work. Car works fine except for a squeaky belt first thing in the AM. I'll post that separately.

If anyone comes out with a resolution other than re-lubing the starter let me know.

If I am going to pay someone to remove, re-lube and re-install the starter, I amy as well put a new one in. Unless someone knows if it is an easy job.

Just turned 50K and it seems like everything is going wrong. My older Max never had problems like this one....

 

My Maxima SE 92 auto has exactly the same problem.
Actually before the car is warmed up, if I restart the engine, the
sound is always there. The most serious problem is: my car is easy
to stall and hesitate before the engine is warmed up. So I think
there must be a relationship between the engine stalling&hesitation
and the strange sound. I don't think the starter needs to be
lubricated. Probably the engine hesitation causes this.
If anyone has a good solution, please let me know.

(BTW: I added #104 gas booster to the gas tank and the sound and
stalling disappeared, but that only works for one tank of gas. )

 

I noticed the same thing this morning. I was letting the car warm up when I remembered that I left something in the house. Came back and restarted the car and it made the whine noise even though the car hadn't been shut off for a minute. I think it has something to do with giving it gas. I have a tenedency to hit the gas a little when turning the key...and it seems like this is when it makes the noise.

 

I never touch the gas pedal when I start, and I still get the noise. We can rule that out. Interesting that it happened to you after you had the car started.

 

I've had that problem at startup ever since I purchased the car. It just happens on occasion, regardless of the weather. Now that there's a possible cause posted, I guess I should call the dealer and see if they'll take a look at it. I assume this should be covered under warranty?

Buzz

 

It doesn't look too difficult to get to and remove. Have to move some air duct assmebly and remove two bolts. The ESM even shows all the parts to the starter and where to grease.

 

Now I'm confused....at the end of last week it was colder in charlotte than it had been (low teens when i'd leave for work in the morning), but I didn't get the whine at all. Then it started "warming up" this weekend (call it maybe high 30's, low 40's maybe), and i started getting it again. Anybody else see this happend where the temp. just dipped and the whining stopped?

 

I dunno about that, but mine has been doing it pretty consistently.
I'm starting to worry that it might be doing serious damage to my car.

All I can picture is metal shavings everytime I start it up.

 

Well shoot...now I'm getting it. It does the whine right after the engine starts. Now does anyone know if the starter is still turning at that point? Like it was said previously it only happens for a second after the engine starts. Hmmmm makes me wonder if its the starter or not??

 

I seem to get the problem only when cold and then only some of the time. But, I'm in Florida so cold is a relative term.

I never hit the gas so that has nothing to do with it.

I'm almost certain it is the starter - you've described it exactly.

The "whine" is actually a millisecond after the car starts. The engine revs to probably around 2k at startup and the sound happens right at the peak of the revs. It seems to be when the engine catches - which I believe would take the stress off the starter - that the noise occurs.

 

I've driven two other japanese cars that did this in extreme cold situations: Toyota Camry (I-4) .. all three that we owned (all '89-'91) did this .. even brand new (as soon as winter set in).. and the '94 Lex ES300 .. bought used and did it every winter in very cold temps. I'm not surprised at all that the Maxima does this but I would like to know if it's the engine crank shaft making the noise or something else...

 

Well now I'm dead set in taking the starter off and regrease it. It's a piece of cake after getting the intake out of the way which I'll be changing this weekend anyhow.

I won't know how long before it happens or doesn't happen again though seeing as how it has only happened 3 or 4 times within 2 months.

Cold may be the issue, but shoot I'm in so cal. We have had some extreme (for so cal) changes in weather so maybe the cold. But cold here is 50's and 60's.

Oh well....regrease anyways and hope that solves the problem. I'll post any effects or problems.

 

does it sound like this?

whine

 

exactly...

 

Ding! Ding! Ding!

We have a winner.

 

Yes...exactly.

Buzz

 

Thats the sound!!

Ok...now for all the money.....who can identify exactly what is causing it, figure out if it is doing any damage, and how how do we fix it?

 

Damn...my work computer doesn't have speakers. I'll have to check when I get home. My car just made the sound this morning! ARGH!

Tomorrow I'll relube the starter and let you guys know.

 

Ok I just removed, regreased, and reinstalled the starter. I cannot tell yet if it has worked because I don't get that dreaded sound all the time, just once in a while. What I can say is that there was a lot of flung grease all over the inside and outside of the starter housing. Inside the starter cap there was an unusual amount of metal filings from the copper wiring inside and dried grease. That made me wonder about the quality of the original grease job when the starter was put together. What I did notice as well was the grease was not hardened, so I can't be so certain if this will work. But I'll give it about a month and see if the sound comes back or not and repost.

If you plan to remove the starter and regrease it just post on here or e-mail me and I'll give directions with some pictures.

 

If you plan to remove the starter and regrease it just post on here or e-mail me and I'll give directions with some pictures. [/B][/QUOTE]

If you don't get the sound in the next month, I'm sure I'll be askin ya for some pics! Good luck, and wish for no noise.

 

I have the same problem... pretty much under the same conditions but with a different sound. It sounds more like a clik, clik, clik, clik but makes clicking repetitionis really fast and lasts only a for one second. I also cannot reproduce this sound until the engine has cooled down for several hours.

Noticed this on my 2002 Maxima SE auto about a month after I purchased it. Didn't think too much of it, just kept it in the back of my mind. However with 36k miles approaching soon I need to be a little more discerning with the noises that my car makes before my BtoB warranty is up.

I'll try to make a recording and post it up too.