My 2002 Maxima has been making an intermittent clicking sound for months now. I've done alot of research, visited dealers and local garages, and today I thought I figured out that it was a low oil problem. I just had an oil change done and it's still happening. Can anyone help me figure out a) what this is and b) whether or not its serious? I'll try and post a sound clip, but it sounds like an old typewriter and almost has the tone of a spray-paint can rattle.

 

I moved up to 94 octane and this seems to have helped, if the sound you hear is a bit metallic could be have a bit of pinging going on, if you are using regular gas (87 octane) then I would most definitely say you have some pinging.

 

its normal for maxxes to make this sound mines been doin it since 05

 

Thanks but nope, I use 91 or higher all the time.

 

Really? Do you know what it is?

 

after the oil change did you check the oil level? Just a thought.

 

Yes, I checked it now - half a day later- and it reads FULL.

 

update: a good mechanic friend of mine took my car for a road test and he's pretty convinced its pre-ignition. He thinks my car is knocking from bad gas. I use 91 or higher all the time but oh well. I'll try fuel injector cleaner, a new air filter and new gas as a starting point. Nissan dealer #2 will get to try and diagnose this as opinion #3 tomorrow. Any thoughts would be much appreciated. thank you

 

Maury, keep us updated. My 03 is making the same noise and has been for quite a while. I've used all octanes of gas, oil additives, fuel additives (even though the owners manual says not to) and changed my oil viscosity in an attempt to "fix" the problem. The good news is that the car still drives good, I'm just sick of the rattling noise it makes.

 

update: my mechanic pal recommended i add some fuel injector cleaner to my gas right away, buy different gas next time, and change my air filter. i didn't spend a full tank yet but i did the other 2 suggestions and WOW. i hadn't noticed it before but my car wouldn't redline when i hop on it. it would change gears after only 4000 rpms or so. now, when i floor it, the tach goes all the way to red before it shifts, the car is MUCH more powerful in every gear, and the clicking all but stopped! i still get it to click around 2000 rpms SOMETIMES but not always. also, when cruising at legal speeds 35-55, my rpms are now around 1600. yesterday they were around 1900, so not only does my car make this noise much less often at 2000 rpms, my car is rarely AT 2000 rpms anymore. i'm gonna replace the spark plugs next, since its only 20,000 miles early and i figure anything i can change in this neighborhood of the engine is smart to do. more info on the way. comments/suggestions welcome. btw i cancelled my appt with the dealer this morning since i can't make the car make the clicking on command anymore.

side note: does this mean my local station has been selling bad 93 gas OR selling 87 labeled as 93???

 

Good News.

Did you do the fuel injection cleaner? How bad was the air filter.

If your injectors are that clogged you might want to run another bottle through (I recommend Techron) and see how things progress.

Or spend the money on a good professional injector cleaning.

 

air cleaner was pretty bad, and MIGHT have had 70k on it. ugh. yeah i'd spring for a pro cleaning if its recommended.

Here's a link to a pic of one of the plugs - all 6 loks the same. dirty and the tips were crusty white.
http://i.b5z.net/i/u/1530927/i/IMG_0371.jpg

 

I changed spark plugs (and intake manifold gasket) &air filter, added a can of fuel injector cleaner to my tank, and the initial results are in ... NO MORE CLICKING. I'll post back as soon as I hear the noise return - hopefully that will be never.

For the record, the air filter and gas treatment did 90% of the work. I could only faintly hear the clicking, but it was happening far less often and it was extremely hard to hear. The spark plug swap has now completely erased the noise.

I have to think it was pinging from bad gas and a bad air filter. You guys have anything to ask/add?

BTW my car is now the ROCKET I remember test-driving when I first bought it. Way more power.

 

good for u!!! happy u got ur car running hard!!!

 

yeah i'm pretty psyched.

 

Belts?

 

No, we never suspected the belts and none of my mechanics/friends looked in that direction.

 

What brand of fuel injector cleaner did you use? I'm interested in trying this as well...

 

I added one bottle of the cheap STP injector cleaner to 3/4 of a tank. When that ran out, I did a bottle of Techron and 12 gallons of 93. That tank just ran out tonight and I filled up on 93 with no cleaner added this time. We'll see if (a) my problem is fixed and (b) if I get better gas mileage.