5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003) Learn more about the 5th Generation Maxima, including the VQ30DE-K and VQ35DE engines.

The dreaded rattling noise

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 09-29-2016, 07:13 AM
  #1  
Member
Thread Starter
 
thenewguyy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 152
The dreaded rattling noise

I know I know, there's a million and one threads open about this issue but there's a million and one suggestions as well. I finally found a video of what my rattle is cause when you say rattle, 10 people can be hearing 10 different noises and call it a rattle, so now that I've found exactly what I'm hearing wanted to ask who else had the exact same noise and what they did to remedy it. Now he mentions carbon buildup as the issue but then there are people who run fuel cleaners jack their stuff up as in spark plugs and other things so I wanna know what people did to really remedy this. I know heat shields could be another issue but I've had mine all ripped out cause it was driving me insane bit it's still there so that isn't the issue.

Here's the video, it's starts about midway and you have to turn the volume up all the way to hear it
thenewguyy is offline  
Old 09-29-2016, 01:17 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Prophecy99's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SE PA
Posts: 5,979
serpentine belt idler pulley
Prophecy99 is offline  
Old 09-29-2016, 01:48 PM
  #3  
Member
Thread Starter
 
thenewguyy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 152
Originally Posted by Prophecy99
serpentine belt idler pulley
Haven't heard that as one of the solutions but this is under load, not idle, not sure if that makes a difference, sounds like an empty can being thrown around lol
Did you have this issue as well? WHat makes you think its that?
thenewguyy is offline  
Old 09-29-2016, 02:51 PM
  #4  
Member
 
erictown's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 136
can't really tell. but my Max once had a noise close to this, it was from alternator bearing worn out.
erictown is offline  
Old 09-29-2016, 03:23 PM
  #5  
Bad *** Newb
iTrader: (7)
 
Child_uv_KoRn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,943
Can't really hear it as there's ton engine/road noise, but it's the tapping sound, correct? If it's tinny, then a heat shield can cause it, but this sounds like the precat rattling, eh?

Notice how there's no 3.5 altimas on the road anymore... lol
Child_uv_KoRn is offline  
Old 09-29-2016, 06:49 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
mclasser's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: The Northeast
Posts: 681
Can't tell from the video but I have a tinny rattle around that RPM range as well. I used 87 gas a few times and it happened a lot. With 93, it's a lot less but still there. Using Techron cleaner multiple times didn't improve anything. Neither did tearing off the heat shields. I just live with it now.
mclasser is offline  
Old 09-29-2016, 06:59 PM
  #7  
Bad *** Newb
iTrader: (7)
 
Child_uv_KoRn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,943
Originally Posted by mclasser
Can't tell from the video but I have a tinny rattle around that RPM range as well. I used 87 gas a few times and it happened a lot. With 93, it's a lot less but still there. Using Techron cleaner multiple times didn't improve anything. Neither did tearing off the heat shields. I just live with it now.
That is the exact rpms, but just can't hear it in the vid.
Child_uv_KoRn is offline  
Old 09-29-2016, 08:01 PM
  #8  
Member
Thread Starter
 
thenewguyy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 152
Originally Posted by erictown
can't really tell. but my Max once had a noise close to this, it was from alternator bearing worn out.
So once you got in a new bearing, it was fine?
Originally Posted by Child_uv_KoRn
Can't really hear it as there's ton engine/road noise, but it's the tapping sound, correct? If it's tinny, then a heat shield can cause it, but this sounds like the precat rattling, eh?
Notice how there's no 3.5 altimas on the road anymore... lol
Ive had my precats gutted, noise is still there. Well its the same 3.5 as the maximas so behaviour is the same for both cars
Originally Posted by mclasser
Can't tell from the video but I have a tinny rattle around that RPM range as well. I used 87 gas a few times and it happened a lot. With 93, it's a lot less but still there. Using Techron cleaner multiple times didn't improve anything. Neither did tearing off the heat shields. I just live with it now.
Yea its very faint in the video cause of all the road noise but in person it can get fairly loud and annoying. Ive had all my heat shields ripped off but its still there. Ive always used 91 which is premium here
Originally Posted by Child_uv_KoRn
That is the exact rpms, but just can't hear it in the vid.
Yea tough to hear it but the last 4-5 secs if you really listen to it you can hear the rattle get louder
thenewguyy is offline  
Old 09-30-2016, 06:12 AM
  #9  
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Prophecy99's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SE PA
Posts: 5,979
Originally Posted by thenewguyy
Haven't heard that as one of the solutions but this is under load, not idle, not sure if that makes a difference, sounds like an empty can being thrown around lol
Did you have this issue as well? WHat makes you think its that?
the serpentine belt idler pulley only rattles under load in the baby rpm range from the video.

1700-2000 rpm
Prophecy99 is offline  
Old 09-30-2016, 06:13 AM
  #10  
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Prophecy99's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SE PA
Posts: 5,979
i had this rattle, and have used premium for years, it wasnt octane or pinging
Prophecy99 is offline  
Old 09-30-2016, 06:15 AM
  #11  
Member
Thread Starter
 
thenewguyy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 152
Originally Posted by Prophecy99
i had this rattle, and have used premium for years, it wasnt octane or pinging
So you don't have it anymore?
thenewguyy is offline  
Old 04-07-2019, 09:21 AM
  #12  
 
gous44ls's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 17
Join the club!

I too have the sound and its getting worse. I have owned many maximas and I have the feeling its the timing chain
gous44ls is offline  
Old 04-07-2019, 09:24 AM
  #13  
 
gous44ls's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 17
I have always used 5w 40 European oil for the added Ash content for the timing chain issues these cars have. I am going to run 5w 40 Rotella at the next oil change because of the higher zinc content to see if it makes any difference
gous44ls is offline  
Old 04-08-2019, 09:46 AM
  #14  
Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Derrick2k2SE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Pensacola, FL
Posts: 2,499
Everyone who works on cars should have one of these. Works great for tracking down rattles, squeaks, vibrations and all sorts of strange sounds.
https://www.harborfreight.com/mechan...ope-63691.html
Derrick2k2SE is offline  
Old 04-08-2019, 06:11 PM
  #15  
Senior Member
 
maxinout93's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Columbia SC
Posts: 2,284
is the check engine light on? prob the stuff inside the rear precat is rattling around in the ceramic housing. From my experience its usually the first one to go bad.
maxinout93 is offline  
Old 04-09-2019, 11:55 AM
  #16  
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Prophecy99's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SE PA
Posts: 5,979
its the serpentine belt idler pulley, i still have the rattle in the exact rpm range, been that way for years now, i was listening to it this am, and figuring it out if its worse in warm mild weather vs cold.

rochester tracked this down in a thread, and his mechanic figured it out being the pulley, but i tried the same thing and my mechanic couldn't figure it out with a simple replacement, it sounded like his mechanic had to to some finagling because there is no technical adjustments for that thing.
Prophecy99 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
NCSUpilot
7th Generation Maxima (2009-2015)
4
06-30-2016 07:50 AM
TheBeardedDriver
6th Generation Maxima (2004-2008)
1
02-03-2016 12:23 PM
bennuss
5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003)
0
09-11-2015 05:55 AM
oscar4403
6th Generation Maxima (2004-2008)
4
02-19-2015 08:26 PM
gavin68
5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003)
7
07-29-2013 09:07 AM



Quick Reply: The dreaded rattling noise



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 03:24 AM.