gsxr-rider137

i have a 2002 max with 110k on it. i started hearing a rattling sound last week under light acceleration. it almost sounds like a cam chain, though i'm not sure. is there an adjustment ro rule of thumb for replacing this chain? i just bought the car last fall and have no idea if it has every been done.

Amave

as far as i know the timing chain is a non maintenance issue

is it possible what you are hearing is pinging?


what octane of gas do you use?

HDB Audio

iTrader: (2)

check your oil level

gsxr-rider137

i always use 89 or 92...and the oil level is almost full...is there an upper drivetrain noise that would explain the sound?

maxipower

92 is too high for a six cylinder..

gsxr-rider137

But it wouldn't cause it to ping because of to high if an octane. Besides, I like to use the higher stuff because it has the better detergents in it.

Scottwax

iTrader: (8)

What?

Octane requirements have nothing to do with the number of cylinders a car has.

Shift_Nismo

iTrader: (9)

VQP0WER

lolz.

Back to the question, it could be the timing chain hitting the cover. Does this noise happen at idle as well?

95%maxxedout

sorry OP dont mean to thread jack but.....i do have a timing chain noise thats at idle and gets quieter under power. do u have a idea of what it could be.....ive heard timing tensioner, timing sprocket, or timing guides

gsxr-rider137

the motor make no noise at idle...even when i rev it up, sitting in the driveway

and the weird thing is...it doesn't seem to get that much worse when i get on it.

Scottwax

iTrader: (8)

Noise under idle, then quiet under power is usually the tensioner.

ghostrider17

iTrader: (6)

OP said "under light acceleration" -- so to ME, that sounds like the dreaded knock or ping of Pre-detonation.

The good news, is that we ALL have it - the bad news, I'll be DAMNED if I know how to cure it.

Don't worry - it's just the engine management system retarding the spark/detonation in the pistons to keep combustion optimal.

Run the BEST gas (highest octane) you can without Ethanol, and it should minimize the effects. Switch BRANDS of gas if it persists, see if that helps.

I run a High Test version of Shell V-power, 93 octane, NO ETHANOL, and it works VERY well -- as I too have the pre-detonation issue.

That's the EASIEST way of explaining it.

If it is indeed a RATTLE from the timing chain (which i doubt), do as Scottwax says -- look into the cam chain tensioners.....but even then -- you probably don't need to worry about the timing chain, unless you have VERy high miles.


gr

Scottwax

iTrader: (8)

All gas here has ethanol, can't find anyone who doesn't have the dreaded "contains up to 10% ethanol" sticker on every single pump.

gsxr-rider137

so all the 2002 maximas have this issue? did it make it worse by adding a cold air intake? has anyone ever tried upping the fuel pressue? i can't believe its pinging..but beyond a upper valve train noise...i can't imagine what it could be. i wonder if i added a gallon or two of high octane race fuel...would it go away?
to be honest...i miss my 97 se more and more. that car never had an issue. and the manual trans was MUCH better. i tried a short shift kit and changing the fluid to the MT90 ...and still have that real notchy feel.

shortymust23

it could be your catalac converter or heat shield.

sparks03max

iTrader: (7)

Just don't make the mistake that many people do and start changing transmission fluid every few weeks because some dude on the forum told you that the clunky and notchy feel of our transmissions will go away with "x" magic fluid. You might get minor improvements at best, but the main culprits are the cable shifter and the actual design of the transmission shifter assembly.

WTB a proper machine shop so I can try to make a hydraulic assisted mechanical shifter.

pkrainert

I concur, I have had people to tell me to change the fluid 10 times within 5000 miles to get the metal shavings out... Why on earth would I change the fluild 10 times? It seems like there is a group of people who think its going to magically solve your tranny problems lol.

gsxr-rider137

the converter was just replaced before i bought the car by the previous owner

02SE6MT

i had a rattle under light acceleration, i mean so light its like your almost holding the pedal still from 3k on up and would go away if you let off the pedal or got on it. This was after my precat failed and clogged up my main cat. That rattle got worse after about a year, within 30 minutes the rattle had become severe knocking, then the engine blew and i found 2 pistons had been broken to bits and a rod broke its bolts while punching a hole in the block. dunno if it was a wristpin bearing or a rod bearing but when i tore the motor apart all of the rod bearings were scored very badly.

gsxr-rider137

mine doesn't seem to start till after 2800-3000 rpm, and it does go away if you get off the pedal...but continues if you get on it. and another funny note. ...the rattle is predominate when the engine is cold..but after driving the car 35-40 minutes...it gets quieter, though i can still hear it.

gsxr-rider137

The car has 110k on it.

dinosaur12

I am going to vote for low oil level. I have the exact same problem and I believe it to be the timing chain. Topping off the oil will stop the noise till it needs to be topped off again.

dinosaur12

I believe the tensioner uses oil pressure to keep the timing chain tight.
Can anyone confirm this for me.

02SE6MT

yes i believe 3 total but only one for the main chain. I have had it rattle on low oil but only at low rpms, around 2500 iirc. sounds horrible though

gsxr-rider137

ok....for those of you that stood in the "low oil" corner...here's an update.

checked the oil level...was just under full...maybe 1/4 inch on the stick. so i topped it off till it read full. took the car for a drive and the nosie was still there...then i decided to really test this idea...and go OVER the fill mark. so i added another 1/2 quart. waited till the next morning and drove the car. same noise and the dipstick reads about a 1/4 over full.

but the nosie does seems to be either cam chain or upper valve train noise....which still might be related to oil pressure. has anyone ever threw an oil pressue guage at a maxima and see what it read?
Or....although i am not an engine builder..i do dragrace motorcycles. one of the first mods we do on motors that start to make a good deal of horsepower over the stock horsepower rating, is put a manual cam chain tensioner on the motor. i wonder if anyone has done it...
OR the other thing we do...esspecially on the big horsepower GSXR 1000 motors..is put a high output sproket on the oil pump...for more oil pressure.

i would be interested to know what the factory rates the maxima 3.5 as far as oil pressure goes. maybe the off idle pressure it too low and can't catch up on acceleration... and creates this chain rattle on a small percentage of cars..or the same low off idle low pressure is causing the upper valve train to be extremy noisey.

any thoughts on this?

sparks03max

iTrader: (7)

Every 3.5 I've heard in person has valvetrain noise. Not a whole lot, but definitely there. Don't really have a solution for your problem aside from keeping an ear on it in case it gets worse.

tom6

iTrader: (1)

its probably your tensioner; pretty common on 5.5 maximas

JSutter

iTrader: (46)

Unfortunetly you cant check the secondary tensioners without removing the timing cover. Big job, I just replaced all 3 tensioners and guides.

You can check the main tensioner by removing the cover. Thats easy and all you need is some RTV grey to seal it back up.

02SE6MT

We replaced my primary tensioner after we took it to the dealer because it wouldnt compress all the way and saw they had an updated part (from my old one at least) what looked like machined aluminum part with smaller drain holes i decided why not.

it is a big job, pita getting the timing cover back in all gooped up without touching the rear timing chain. If you end up doing it or just for reference
I found if you push the 2 dowel pins in on the front cover to where theyre flush with the side you gooped,
-raise the motor
-squeeeze the front timing cover in
-I did the 2 bolts underneath in the oil pan 1st to compress the front seal and get the studs lined up
-lower the motor ( i left about 1/4 inch of the bolts from the crossmember in, gained the ~1 inch drop i needed to get the engine mount stud in and line up the dowel pins)
- tap the dowel pins in... raise the engine then you have i think 22 more bolts to go... just on the timing cover of course

I did it once with the motor outside of the car but left the dowel pins where they rested in the front timing cover... the FSM says that they are supposed to be in the rear timing case but the holes are too deep and the fit is not as snug

02max245

iTrader: (2)

Not to steal the OP's thread but it though it would be unnecessary to start my own.
I seem to be have the same problem. A slight tick from 1500-2000rpm. I found my oil level to be almost 2 quarts low. Proceeded by topping it off. Yet it continues to make the ticking noise. Should i have the timing tensioner checked out right away, or can i wait a few months?

JSutter

iTrader: (46)

A loose chain due to lack of oil pressure in the tensioner will go away if you added oil.

A loose chain is not a small tick. Its a substantial rattle.

However the main guide is known to break and will cause the chain to become loose. It will rattle like crazy. Adding oil will not fix that.

Bad secondary guides usually sound like super charger whine.

Running low on oil could have caused premature wear on any of the rotating parts. Id say youre hearing something else.

02max245

iTrader: (2)

Ok now i just have to find out what

ndscrub212

iTrader: (4)

I am having a similar problem, when I am driving at about 2k rpms i hear a rattle and then again at 3k rpms, the oil level is fine but it sounds like a chain might be loose. Does anyone have a thread on how to adjust your tensioner or replace it, should I take the whole motor out or can I just lift it right in the engine bay and just disconnect everything to do it?