So I was debating to either create a new post or do search on this but I figured it such an 'oddball' search that it'll likely won't come up. Anyway, I was doing a some maintenance work on my 2k 5th gen last night. I replaced the radiator and IAC valve and to make sure I didn't miss a random hose when I buttoned up the car, I started it up while it was still on stands and found that the front drive wheels were turning after the engine started. The shifter was in neutral before I started the car and double checked after I found that the drive wheels were turning. They didn't turn fast or anything but I found it odd as I've done this before on other manual cars I've owned and have never seen this before. Is this something 'unique' to the Maxima or is it symptomatic of something else entirely? A botched clutch job by the previous owner perhaps?

 

Mine does the same thing. I've never torn one of these transmissions apart, but would attribute it to gears which are close together moving the fluid around creating a turbine effect. I've verified you can stop the wheels with a breaker bar, there's no solid connection to the engine.

 

The gears must be really close together for this happen, thanks for replying back and answering my question. I'm glad it isn't just my car doing this and yeah I was able to stop the wheels from spinning using my hand.

 

The lesson to take away from this is, never start the car on stands while the car is in any other position then Park. You're on stands man, what if the vibration of all of this put it on the ground!

But yeah, it doesn't actually surprise me too much that it does this. Clutches and gearing are probably so close that even a little vibration to the drivetrain with no ground friction would make them move slightly. Out of curiosity, did you grab a wheel to see if it would come to a stop? My curiosity would have had me doing that, jack stands be damned!

 

Drivetrain drag. Normal. Motorcycles are a good example.