This is really making me start to "hate" my car...that's how bad it is.

Sound=like nails on a chalk-board, or metal on metal grinding/squeaking.

Today was the first time that I have driven my car in at least 3 weeks. (The sound was present before this as well, just not to such a volume) Just going down my street I was like at the obnoxious sound! I got on the highway and it got canceled out a little by the road noise, but still there.

My Nissan tech said that it sounded like my strut mount bearings...but strut bearings sure as hell don't sound like metal on metal right in the steering column.

I tried moving the column all the way up/down, in/out to see if that did anything, but nothing really changed. I do NOT have power tilt.

Sounds like something isn't lubed enough...do any of you have an idea of what there is to lube, if anything? Power steering fluid flush maybe?

Please help because this is one more thing that is discouraging me about this car...when I know that it is a great car, just minor things that are a huge nuisance.

thanks,
dan

 

How certain are you that the noise is the "steering cloumn" and not something totally different?

 

Because smacking the guages doesn't do anything, and the noise is smack dab center in the steering console area.

 

If you hear this noise all the time when driving than I dont believe it has anything to do with the steering column. But if you hear it ONLY when "steering" or making a turn for that matter, than maybe you might be looking in the right area of the car.

 

Alright, right behind the steering wheel itself, there's a plastic cover and then the guages...the noise is coming right under the plastic cover.

What else could there possibly be? Just looking at it...there's guages, and then the steering column. I've taken that cover off before and tried looking around, but I couldn't pin-point anything because I was obviously stopped and not driving with the noise.

 

ah the standard polska way of fixing things, hit it a few times and hope it goes away



somehow that worked for YEARS on my buddies 01 maxima, his headunit display would go out, he would hit it and it would come back on, time and time again like clockwork till one day it didnt work at all; reclined his seat back all the way and gave it a solid kick and its worked fine ever since.


nissans

 

so true!

 

You need to provide more details on the circumstances in which it makes the noise. Is this completely constant? Does it go away when the car gets warmer? Does it do it more over bumps, going through turns, or under acceleration?

If you have a faulty powersteering pump, it can make a grinding noise even when it's not being used, and that is located in the area in which you hear it coming from. It could also be the bearings in the column itself without any lube, but that's pretty rare and should be happening mostly from brand new.

It won't be hard to find if it's constant, just open the hood, put a screw driver to your ear and each part, and see which is making odd noises. As for grinding noises, check here maxima grinding noises for possible culprits, it could be almost anything based on the info you've provided us if you aren't 100% sure where it's coming from. Good luck and check back.

 

It's hardcore when cold...and gets a little quieter when warmed up. The slightest bump on a highway or road makes it make noise.

The noise has been happening since I have owned the car...12,800 miles and now 47,xxx Getting slightly worse as the miles racked on

 

timing chain noise or something like that??

 

Prjct, check this out. Is this what you are experiencing?
http://x.nissanhelp.com/forums/lates...ing-noise.html

 

maybe it's my rear shocks?...

...lol

 

did you use all the lube that came with your rsb? i just put a little bit on and found that my bushings squeek when its cold/wet out and i go over bumps, sounds like a high pitch turkey gobble from the back, i took it appart added some white lithium grease to them and they shut up for a few thousand miles but i gotta relube them as they are starting up again

 

I was being sarcastic about the rear shocks since 04MAX mentioned my timing chain which sure as hell is not the issue.

 

http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...=1&catalogid=2

Maybe #2 needs greasing?