i got a 03 max se, i live in NY and the winter wasnt too bad but we had some cold mornings, when i turn on my car after it turns over it makes a rattleing noise for about 1-2 seconds and stops . it only does it when i first turn the car on or lets say i use the car till noon and dont use it til 8 hours later and turn it on again and it happens. in the winter it happened but i thought cause it was the cold , but i only had for about 5 months so it shouldnt be any prob at all.
i want to take it 2 the dealer but the noise only happens when i first turn it on. they not gonna believe me
what should i do????.... does anyone else have this problem
im sensitive when it comes to my max so every little thing bothers me
someone help!!!!!!!!!!1
im going to take it 2 the service but i wanna know what can i say

 

Try looking up TSB# NTB03-060---"Rattle Noise When Started Cold"
Applies to 2002 Maxima and 2002 Altimas for the replacement of the VTC sprockets. Good luck.

 

Is it rattling like starter assebley rattling for 1/2 second, or is it like valves ticking in engine for 2-3 seconds?

My 03 has the starter rattle for 1/2 sec. I figure I only notice it in the garage b/c it reflects off the walls and I hear it more + its been sitting all night, I figure its normal and OK.

I had a 240SX that did the latter 2-3 second ticking for years, never caused a problem but it bothered me too. 3 things I found to help that: 1)Top off the oil (make sure its full) 2)Use a Nissan oil filter 3)Use 5w30 oil.

Not sure if either of those apply to what you are explaining though.

Oh yea, when you take it in for service just explain what its doing and leave it overnight for them. I'm sure if its a decent shop they will be able to re-create it. Just be sure you did the 3 things above so they dont use that as an excuse.

 

our maximas have a self adjusting timing chain. the clicking noise is that chain adjusting itself when you first start it. Mine does it after it has sat for a while w/out being used.
WHEELMAN

 

it sounds like the valve ticking but it might be the starter assembly, i drive the car hard and put on average 1,500 milles a month , ive been trying to find reasons why it would do that. my best friend bought his 350z the same day i bought my max and since both cars share teh same engine i thought same rules would apple but he has no prob,
do u think its worth takin to service?....................OFCOURSE

 

thanks wheelman for the relief i thought my baby (maxine) was dieng on me

 

I have the same problem (started happening at 700miles now i have 3k). I dropped it off at the dealer early in the morning and picked it up after work at the end of the day. after a oil change in the morning they left it sit for about 6hrs so when i came and turned the car on it made that noise for a 1/2 sec. they told me it may be the motor mount but dont know which mount and the sound needs to happen more often or stay on longer for them to diagnose it further. i need help too..i was thinking trying another dealer?

 

...You really are probably just suffering from the timing chain rattle, especially if it is only at startup. Don't worry too much about it, I don't think it will ever do any damage, it is kinda' a tradeoff... You have a metal timing chain which should never break, but it makes noise. In the old days the tradeoff was that the timing belt was rubber, it was quieter but when it broke @ 60,000 miles or so the whole car went kaput and you had to pay a couple hundred to have it replaced. Add another hundred if you had it towed somewhere... So you can see why most car makers have gone to the timing chain...

 

i have the same exact problem u are describing. i have a 2000 maxima se and just bought it from a dealership... when i first started the car at the dealership and i heard the noise he said it was from the car sitting for 2 weeks without being started and it would go away... of course it didnt so now every mornin ill hear it for lik .5 seconds sounds like a grindin noise almost... i noticed though that if u go to turn it on but dont let it completely start kinda of not holdin it down for a time for it to start then actually start it it wont do it... but if u figure out what it is let me know because i really want to get this fixed

 

I actually hear the rod bearings rattle in addition to the timimg chain. Would a heavier oil cling better and avoid the oil drain down "dry start"? Yes I know that the 5w-30 pumps up because it's thinner but this bearing rattle just makes me sick every time I hear it.

 

I occasionally hear a "slap slap" noise in my 2K SE 5spd when it starts up... only sometimes. Goes away after a couple seconds usually. Using Mobil 1 5W-30 (Newer Vehicle Formula) with STP S6941 oil filter...

 

yup 1/2 sec rattle here also when starting, hmm i don't always remember hearing it, i am using 10e-30 mobil 1 oil but it doesn't sound like the oil causing it.