Hello All,

I recently purchased a 2002 Nissan Maxima SE Auto with 145K on it. For the first week everything was normal. Yesterday I noticed a strange clicking sound coming from the engine compartment. It does not make a noise while idling, it does make the noise when cruising at a steady RPM 1500K to 2500K. If I accelerate from those RPM's it does go away for a short time, only to come back once cruising in the 1.5-2.5K rpm range.

I just dropped it off at the shop, they are going to have it over night. Any advice between now and tomorrow am would be greatly helpful.

Thank you so much,

Ian

 

It ONLY does it in that RPM band?

If you're in park and rev it, does it still make that noise? Does the noise frequency increase when you go from the lower end of that rpm range to the higher end?

 

It does make the sound when in park and reved. Also, the frequency does increase when reved from low to higher end rpm's.

 

Correct me if im wrong Amerikaner but I think I read on the org if it had those symptoms its tranny related.

 

I'm not sure...my VQ30 doesn't do that

I HOPE it's not tranny related...but I suppose it could be...whichever gear ratio gets him into that RPM range could be messed up. But the fact that he said it did it in PARK leads me to believe it's not trans. In park the trans isn't under load...

Any chance to get a sound clip?

I'm thinking valve tap or rod knock...but those would manifest themselves all of the time...


Do timing chain tensioners do that? I know they can rattle / tick at startup....

OP, how's the oil level?

 

Oils good, no problems. I will try to get a sound clip. Thank you for the info.

 

Can the tensioner be replaced thru the timing chain access cover?

 

Oh your right I missed the part about the car being in Park and still having the same noise, That should rule out the tranny then.

OP without a sound clip your best bet is to take it to your mechanic, one whom you trust.

 

UPDATE ALL!!

After noticing the oil was a little low and thin...the oil was changed and 10W 40 was added. The noise is gone. YAY!! Thank you for all the help!! This forum ROCKS!!

 

oil level fine eh?

Is that what the mechanic said? low and thin? 5W is the spec for our cars...I personally run 10W30, but if it's gone, good job!

Keep an eye on the oil level though...you *may* have a burner.

 

I bought it about a week ago now, I noticed the "change your oil sticker" had a 142,000 on it, and at the time I bought it, it just passed 145K.... hopefully, the oil was low, and thin from extended use.

I certainly will, I'm going to check it every 1K, and change it every 3K. The mechanic also said it might not hurt to add a Lucas Oil Stabilizer product next OC, what do you think?

 

Never used the oil stabilizer, so I can't comment to that.

 

ok, thank you.

 

I wouldn't use any additives in my oil period.