I know theres been quite a few threads on this issue, i figured id get a sound clip of it and see if it's the same noise.

- makes noise when started when car has been off for 30+mins approx

- noise stops after ~1 min of driving
- noise stops after restarting engine 1-2 times

here is the clip: (notice noise is gone when engine is restarted, EXPLAIN THAT PLEASE!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrr2mRPRZ4g

 

My car makes the same sound but only for a couple of seconds. It has been doing that for over a year now, it doesn't ride any different and I haven't seen any CEL. My car has 68k and the engine runs great, must just be cold start up sounds....


Mike

 

I think that is what is called "piston slap" and occurs when the oil has drained off from the piston and cylinder while the car is not running, i.e. sitting for 30 min. or more. There is naturally some clearance between the piston and cylinder (every car is different) that can make the piston "wobble" a bit when just started and no oil is in there to smooth it out yet. It takes a little bit for the oil to get pumped up in the cylinders after starting, so that is why the noise goes away after a bit and doesn't recur on a re-start. My 2004 6MT does it like yours, but only for a second. Had an old chevy that did it, too, but would be a little louder than yours.

You might consider switching to synthetic oil if you haven't yet because that should help with the oil clinging on a little bit more and reduce the slap.

If it gets any worse and you're under warranty I would take it to the shop, let it sit for an hour, and have a tech listen to it.

HTH,

Pat

 

1) There has been a few TSB on broken exhaust brackets. If so, the heat from the exhaust may expand the broken/loose bracket/shield and eliminate the gap, thus noise going away.

2) A cheap oil filter has been installed on your car and it does not have the check valve that keeps the oil in the filter. Every time the engine is stopped, the filter and oil gallery drains into the oil pan causing you car to start dry after it has cooled off.

3) If you are using synthetic oil, try dino oil again to see if it makes a difference. I find synthetic noisier at startup but quieter after.

4) There are TSB on noisy fuel rail dampers but I think its a constant noise.

5) Dealer. You are under warranty.

 

That is in no way, shape, or form normal. Take it to the dealership asap you have a major problem. Do not wait, get this taken care of.

 

mine makes the same exact sound, but I'm out of warranty. the tech believes it a timing chain guide hitting the chain, says it happens in a lot of 04-05's. but its $800 to take apart and check it, nevermind fix it. thankfully its a noninterference engine, so if the chain breaks the motor will be safe.

 

yea i was told something with the timing chain also..im not under warranty anymore..its at 75K miles..so im kind of out of luck. yea. 800 beans is a lot to just take it apart and not even fix it..this kinda sucks..i guess i should have paid more attn to it when i bought the car. :/ hopefully it will remain an annoyance and not a problem

 

yea, I'm at 78k myself. Good luck man, hope for the best

 

Mine does the same thing @88K, but only after the car was parked overnight. It's ticking for about 1-2 min and then disappears. My mechanic said that it's a lifter, but I think it's a chain.

 

I also experience this problem, only when it has been sitting over night or after a long day of work. Someone said earlier that it might be an oil issue, which I am leaning towards because everytime I change my oil it goes away for about 2000 miles, then it comes back.

 

yea, and mine burns oil like crazy, almost a quart every 1000 miles

 

I just changed oil and it does it. First I thought - Oil Filter is bad, but I counted this morning - it was ticking for 3 minutes, then became quiter, then in about 20 sec it disappeared. after that engine sounds perfect.

I'm thinking to change oil again and put heavier oil, may be even Synthetic.
Even though I have 88K miles.

 

I had that same noise about 6 months ago and after 3 months it got worst. At the beginning it was only when i left the car park overnight but then i realized i was getting it after a 2-3 hour stop. I had 40k miles in the car when that noise was driving me crazy so i took it to the dealership and they told me they needed to do an "oil consumption test...blah, blah, blah," BS!!! About 3 weeks later i took it for the "TEST" and they had to do the whole Timing in the car.

I can post a pic of the receipt tonight, luckily it was cover under warranty. A guy at the dealer said in parts was 500+ and about 15 hours of labor but we all know how fast they work there and @ $145 / hour, the bill would've been around 3K.

 

$145/Hour??????????????
BMW Charges like $125/Hour.

Regardless

Do You guys think that putting heavier oil or changing it to synthetic might fix the problem?

 

Maybe sell the car before it gets worse and just get a different Maxima? Did that before with an impala. Didn't feel like ing with it. Just a thought.

 

how far does the nissan factory warranty go?
iv got 49xxx miles on my maxima, dont have the extended warranty on it though!
and my maxima also makes the same noise, would i be able to get it checked with the factory warranty?

 

factory warranty is 60k on the motor, so your good to go.

 

This morning I started the car - same sound - after 1 minute - I shut it off, started and sound is gone!? very strange.

 

my 04 sl had the same issue.. when starting after a "cold soak" (not being started for over 3+ hrs) it clicked, then went away. Finally it sounded sooo bad, like the sound clip above, I brought it in. The problem,, broken timing chain guides.. The dealership thought they might have to replace the engine depending on if any metal was found in the oil.. There wasn't and it was covered under warranty.. Both sides needed to be done. FYI there was no idiot lights to warn that such a serious problem exsisted..Bring your car in ASAP

 

my engine was doing that at 56k, the dealer replaced it( i have the 8yr 100k warranty) when they exchanged the motors they noticed a bad cat converter, and they believe that the engine was getting sediment from there and they replaced the cat converter also.

 

how likely is it that the small pieces from the precats will get sucked into the engine? Wouldnt there be so much pressure pushing the exhaust out that any debris would never make it inside the engine?

 

SLVR MAXX I love those wheels on your car.....

 

yea wow after reading about metal getting into the engine im getting kind of scared...is that really possible of metal from broken timing chain guides getting in the engine? and why would the sound only be present at a cold start? doesnt make sense in my head..

 

im setting up an appointment to have this checked out, should i be there when they are hearing the sound? I was thinking of droping it off in the eve so they can workon/check it the next day.

What do yall think?

 

i dont know about how the engine would suck material in. but like man of yours, i'd start my car after sittting over night or after being off for an hour or two, and i thought it may be due to oil also. got my oil changed that did nothing i never seem to loose power the car ran fine it was just that noise. after about 4mos.( some dumb reason i thought it may stop) i took it to West Hills Nissan in Pittsburgh, Greg the service guy told me it's inside the motor and they was replacing it with a brand new motor. My warranty covered it, and that's when he said they believe it may have been due to the cat convertor after they took the old motor out...

 

turbo, im sure they are aware of the sound, your not gonna be the 1st one to the dealership to complain about it. But yes, I would definately be there when they test it, because they may try to waste your time and tell you they dont hear anything..than when you go to listen for it theyve already warmed it up and you wont be able to proove anything. so show them the sound, and tell them they need to leave the car sitting for an hr or so to make it come back.

 

Well i took it to the dealer, they said it was a heatshield on the exhaust, plus an exhaust hanger. They told me it looked like my car had been bottomed out, i bought it used so it could be. It is going to cost me 209 to fix/replace the shield and hanger. I Hope this solves it!! If not it back in the shop.

I want a new engine, lol.