I was searching the forum but couldnt find anything about a similar problem so so I have to ask for help.

My 03 max, valves start to tapping (for lack of a better explanation) and then it stops. Theres no frequency to the problem, sometimes when I accelerate - and not that hard - sometimes on the highway - at just about any reasonable speed -
The thing is that its infrequent and suddenly stops so I cant take it to a mechanic to diagnose because it may not do it for a couple weeks then start doin it again once or twice a day for a week or a day.

Any insight would nice. Thanks

 

to educate myself also... What does Valve tapping sound like (i might actually have the same problem but didnt know lol)

 

seafoam? idk if that will do anything?

 

have you checked your oil level?

 

???

 

Its like the valves are hitting metal without lube when they close


Seafoam - I might have to give that a try. From my experience this problem can be caused by a bad solenoid in the trans, dirty valves, low oil pressure. But those make the problem consistent.

 

Oil level is fine, I even switched over to synthetic.

 

in plain english... does it sound as if when you accelerate you hear some kinda ticking sound??? ticking as though u turned your house fan on and stick a sheet of paper in on the tip of the blade???

 

Synth oil?? my altima does not like mobil one,,, the lifters did not stay pumped up

 

thats about right, just more metallic

 

I was on conventional oil and switched over to synthetic to see if it would help the problem. Needless to say - no it didnt. But my engine feels smoother

 

i believe i have the same problem... mines wanted to sound like it was coming from my flex sextion but after taking it to a shop they said my flex and exhaust was fine... is this one of those cases where im gonna end up needing a new motor??? oh jeesh my heart is pumping too fast

 

I doubt it means you need a motor if its the same problem I'm having. It could be build up on the valves, bad solenoid in the trans, oil pump or quite a few others. I was hoping some one here would have some experience with this same problem and could point me in the right direction.

 

hmm... phew!!!! what a relieve, gettn mines checked by a shop ASAP

 

It could be pre-ignition too. I had that sound on my 02 GLE. It does NOT happen at idle, nor in park. I have to be giving it a little bit of gas, in gear, under a load. I did a can of fuel injector treatment and it made the noise far quieter and much less often. Its not GONE but its reduced. $3.

 

im afraid of trying those lucas treatments... every time i do it (to me) it ended up wrecking my car more... goodluck

 

Sounds to me like knock and ping from bad gas aka pre-ignition. Who do you get your premium gas from? My car did the same when I filled up at sams club w/93 RON; I switched to Shell 93 and never had issues again. Doesn't sound like a mechanical problem to me, let me guess it only does it under part accelleration, right?

 

Under part acceleration and sometimes on the highway.
Gas...... Hmmmmm I didnt think of that, I mostly go to 7eleven lol. I gonna switch. I wish there more sunoco stations I use to have a 87 Merkur XR4Ti (dont laugh, it gets really fast if you know what your doin) that thing was really picky about what I put in it. Sunoco premium was its favorite though, and STP fuel inj cleaner in the black bottle as well as Chevron Techron fuel inj cleaner, all others did crapolla to that car.

oh and I love that f^^kin Supra

 

If you are using a steady diet of only 87 octane you are most likely getting pinging ... move up to at least 91 octane (which is the recommend octane for our cars) and better still if you move to 94 octane as you said Sunoco.

 

I only use super, I will start filling up at one of the major gas stations and see what I get.

 

Run either Sunoco, Mobil, Exxon or Shell; basically something from a major supplier; I suggest running a couple of bottle of Chevron w/Techon FI Cleaner through your tank too, just so you can get the junk 7-11 gas out of there. I was getting the Sam's Club Premium for $2.52 a gallon and never had a problem w/my wife's 08 Camry using regular so I didn't think twice about not using it in my car...but I guess the Maxi-pad is touchy.

XR4Ti is no joke w/exhaust, downpipe (no cats), intake and a boost controller...SVO motor FTMFW!

Thanks for the compliment on the dawg.

 

I didnt think of the gas until you brang it up, I really hope thats the problem.

My XR4Ti had an intercooler from a mitsu truck, aluminum radiator, water wetter, bored impeller on the turbo, mustang t5 tranny, BMW pumpkin, runnin 20lbs boost. Man that car was fast and stuck to the ground like glue, its a shame it was a ford. Fix Or Repair Daily and my favorite in reverse Driver Returns On Foot

 

This pinging sound has been driving me nuts... It only happens between 1700-2100 rpm while driving. I was able to duplicate the sound while stationery : I held the brakes (pulled the h-brake), put the car in drive and revved the engine. Surely enough as soon as it reached 1.7k rpm it started pinging. I came to believe that its called the spark knock, (erratic combustion/detonation) Half a dozen reasons for this problem like dirty valves, piston rings, cheap gas or even ignition coil. My second maxima doing this, '97 'n now 2003. I wish someone could tell me how to fix it...

 

This has been driving me nuts also.
I want to update this thread with everything I found so far.
I switched to shell gasoline (on the 2nd tank now) and I used techron fuel injector cleaner. Did not help the problem.
I dumped a quart of oil out and tried some lucas. My idol got smoother but still pinging.

I just drove 20 hours straight from Vegas to San Antonio and the valves were pinging like crazy during the daytime, but not as bad at nite. So this made me start thinking my problem may be the oil. I lived in high heat areas for the past 3 years and just about all mechanics use the manufacturers recommended oil (which is 10w30). I dont think that is rite once you consider our country covers different extremes of temperature.
I may be wrong about this or maybe I am explaining this wrong but I am going to explain this as best I can but if any one can do better than me please chime in. This is how it was explained to me a couple of years ago. The first number represents its cold temperature viscosity, the second number is hot temperature viscosity. Viscosity is how well the oil lubricates and/or performs under certain conditions. So the first number is important during startup, even more so if you live in areas that get really cold, lower is better because the oil is more water like or thin so your oil pump can kick it up easier. The second number is important after your car is warmed up, higher is better because the oil is thick or heavy and performing well in high heat.
So an oil rating of like 5w50 would be ideal, so I just did an oil change today with castrol 5w50. I drove the car around for about an hour afterwards and not even 1 ping, knock, or complaint. My idle is smooth and the engine seems happy. I dont know if this solved the problem for sure but the second leg of my trip is coming up on wendesday, I will be leaving San Antonio and heading to Miami. I will update this thread when I get there. Hopefully this works.

 

in for results...

 

You have no idea as to how much I want this to work and my thinking to be correct. If it doesnt I am leaning towards the oil pump not having enough ***** which means I will be spending $$$ that I really dont have.

 

I have my fingers crossed for you too...

if for some reason its the oil pump, if your able to do the work your looking at under $200 for a replacement.

Can you get a video?

maybe use a long screwdriver and put your ear to it to try and isolate the area the noise is coming from. Once isolated that can help to narrow down.

Of course you swapped the oil so we'll see if it comes back.

I assume no power loss, no oil light coming on?

 

I didnt notice any power loss and I did forget to mention higher numbers in oil rating usually have more friction or resistance which does rob you of some power, but my car is loaded with crap right now so I will get back to you on that. No warning lights came on either.

 

we'll fingers crossed. When my motor was about to go there was some flat spots in the power band, plus the oil light would flicker at idle but not when above idle...

and the baby nimbus coming out of the tail pipe was a decent indicator too

I thought it was my oil pump but when I pulled the motor and the oil pump, it still spun okay...


edit: I originally wanted to say its just your injectors but as I read on more I realized it had to be something different. Maybe the problem is with the tensioner and guide?

 

since the problem was sporadic and I couldnt find a pattern like "rev to 1500 and there it is" I am leaning towards it being something other than mechanical internals. Maybe a pressure loss from some vacuum or the tranny shift solenoid. By the end of the week we will have an answer or another thing to scratch off the list of possibles.

 

fingers crossed.

no metal shavings when you changed your oil last?

 

its not rod knock is it? does it sound like this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9LJP1mw0es

its not a max, but rod knock sounds the same in most cars i heard it..

 

Thats how my motor sounded before I pulled it out... but it was much louder.

 

definitely not rod knock. thank god

I didnt see any metal shavings that I noticed

 

i didnt think of looking for a video lol thanks

this is about right except mines does it when it feels like it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMZfgyQOO-Y

 

Interesting... his problem was in reassembly

your just surfaced out of no where...unless the chain slipped a tooth then I dont know...

 

highly unlikely for the chain to just skip a tooth.....maybe timing chain tensioner??

 

I'm thinking the tensioner also... it would get quieter with new and thicker oil going thru it. That tensioner has been a problem for 4th gens, 5th gens, and 6th gens!

Using a stethoscope would really help to isolate it. check different places on the timing case to find the source.

 

blame it on the a a a a alcohol...

/thread jack

so about that valve...

 

the problem is that the tapping is only under load and it is sometimes, so parked with engine running theres nothin but smooth runnin motor. I tried puttin the car in drive and using the hand brake to hold it, revved it up a bit. No noise, smooth engine.