Hi Guys... I'm having some trouble with my 03 GLE. I keep going around in circles with these issues. Has anyone had similar problems?

1. Front suspension - Making this "hollow" knocking noise over rough pavement. Feels like it bottoms out easily. Generally noisy, uncomfortable.

History: Brought the car to Habberstad Nissan 3 times. Firt reported this problem along with "leaning" - they replaced the front struts. Leaning is fine now, buit the noise has remained.

Brought the car to them twice more. First they say nothing is wrong. The next time they say it could be the tie rod. I looked at the tie rod myself and the look rather tight. My first impression was that it was the front bushings.

Could this be the bushings or the tie rod? Or maybe a deeper issue?

2. My transmission appears to be slipping. When the car is cold, and I shift from 1 to 2 or 2 to three, for example, at 3000 RPM, the RPM's will bump up to 3300 or 3400 before shifting; my foot not changing on the throttle. This is telling me that there is a tranny issue. This does happen when warm, but less frequently....

3. Rattling noise. This happens when you start and turn the car off. Or when you rev to, say, 4000 rpm, then let it drop to idle, you hear it at ~2000 rpm.

My first impression of this was, ok, heat shield. I listened closely with the car jacked up, and sounds like its further up in the engine. I also tapped the sheilds with a rubber mallet and sounds as if they're fine... any ideas? Maybe an engine mount perhaps?

4. Whole car shakes bet. 55 and 80 mph. Probably a balancing issue. I'm going to see if they can balance the tires with a tack on weight, and see if this helps.

The problem is the shaking is in the steering wheel. Is this possibly something else - maybe within the steering column or engine mount that could be causing this as well?

Thanks for any help you can provide!!

Derek

 

When they changed struts I wonder if they replaced the upper strut bearings? In this forum there has been quite a bit of talk about a front end clunk. Hard to be sure but it sounds like you have a manual tranny........if so, it sounds like your clutch is slipping. How many miles on this car? Being an '03 these two items seem odd unless the mileage is really up there. If not already done, try swapping the front wheels for the rears first, to see if this changes the vibration issue. Do you feel it more in the steering wheel when you apply the brakes?? The engine rattle.........that's a toughy. Heavy or light? You've eliminated one obvious, easy item. More info please.

 

Not sure if they did replace the bearings or not...

But, no, I have an auto tranny.

I've tried rotating the tires, same problem...
and yes, totally in the steering wheel.


The rattle,, its light, as if someone were shaking a tin cup with marbles inside of it.

 

2. Yout Tranny is definitely going. Bring it to Nissan before its to late and you get stranded somewhere like I did.

3. Sounds like a heatshield. They may not be loose but the actual exhaust note at certain RPMS may be causing it to vibrate. I just found which one it was for me and removed it.

Hope this helps

 

as far as the tranny is concerned, mine has done that for 60k miles (started right after warranty expired). It only does it when it's cold. I think I need heavier tranny fluid OR I need to get the computer reprogramed for the 1-2 slip. See the previous threads on this, but I'm still going strong. Actually, I kinda hope it dies so I can put in a M/T...

 

Gbauer.......You have that incredible engine bay. Much work went into it yet you have no home page to dispaly it.Work on that I would be very intrested to see some high res shots of your car.

 

Funny! Not much done yet. Only intake and lil paint on the cover. If there was more, believe me, I'd be showing it! Just keepin' it clean. I'll do more after I pay for my wedding, but for now every freakin' red cent is goin to the bank. Damn things are expensive! Bright side is that I should have a sh*t load of cash after we get all those envolopes. Now if I can divert some from her Harley and S-10 project car fund...


BTW: I seriously hope that was sarcasm on your part...