I have an 08 Maxima with 42K. Driving between 20 and 40 mph i'll just ease slightly on the accelerator and I hear this tapping or knocking noise from the right side of the car. Not a pinging but almost like a light banging sound. If i let off the accelerator it goes away or if I press on the pedal harder while it is making the noise it goes away. Not sure if I take it to the dealer they will be able to immitate the issue. I'm dropping it off to them but not sure what to tell them to look for. I use 91 or 93 octane have had all of the services up until now. Any ideas or suggestions are welcome. Please help!!!

 

almost like a banging sound like the petal arm is not lining up and its banging to get thru type of feeling I have an 08 as well.

 

Fathom, are you experiencing it as well? If so what needed to be done to fix the issue. Also, when you say pedal arm are you referring to the accelerator pedal? And what is it not lining up with.

 

Im just saying that what if feels like to me, I honestly have no clue like you said its a hard thing to describe mine has done it only a few times

 

timing chain tensioner is broken

 

Jammmaxx, you are the man. Took it to the dealer that;s what they think also. Have to take it back Monday. They said its ok to drive but Im not sure since it only happens at low rpm's. With only 42K the tensioner could break. When the tensioner breaks could it cause any damage to the motor if I drive it until Monday?

 

I have a 2007 I have the same problem I took it to the dealer and they said it could be the tensioner but they are not sure. I will take it in again and drop it off for a day for them to check it again. I have taken it to 2 dealers so far. Has anyone taken the car to a dealer in Maryland, because both of the dealers said they haven’t dealt with this problem. I don’t know if I believe them. I also don’t want it to brake on me.

 

Sunny, I took my car to a dealer in Maryland and am dropping it back off Monday morning to be fixed. It's covered under the powertrain but I just don't want to drive it and take any chances. Does yours do it at the same RPM 1250 and it just sounds like a knock? But it only does it after the car has warmed up for some time. The service manager at Sheehy whom also says he is a NIssan master tech said it is probably the tensioner but can't say for sure until they have it in the shop running. My problem was getting it to make the noise while they were in the car driving. It also does it while your parked if you can get the rpm's to hit that magic number. I am going to send you a PM if you don't mind.

 

It wont damage the car if driven...i have been driving with mine broken for months without any problems. Good for you , you are still under factory warranty so have them take care of it. For me, i went out of warranty just when it started happening and they told me that they wouldn't fix it as Nissan issued a service bulletin for the problem...basically stating that the broken tensioner does not inhibit proper functioning of the motor so if the customer wants it fixed...they will have to pay. Hopefully they dont tell you that BS. Good luck.

 

Dam I thought they resolved that in the 07-08 maxima

 

Thanx everybody for the help, I'll know tomorrow if their going to fit it for free or if I am going to need help posting bail. BTW... is this an expensive job to do if I had to pay for it out of pocket. Just curious.

 

That should be covred under powertrain

 

If you do it yourself, it isn't too bad. If you're paying to have it done, it can get costly. It is labor intensive. I can't believe the tensioner is already failing with so few miles on the car. Most of the failed tensioner threads are around the 75k-100k mark.

 

OK... more BS. The dealer doesn't think it is the tensioner, they say it may be and I'm not sure if I'm sayin this right. Camshaft sprocket or something around there causng the knock noise at 1250 rpm's. Maybe they said camshaft guide.. whatever it is it's covered but I'm just concerned that at
42k anything on the motor would be goign up already.

 

The timing chain tensioner seems to be a pretty common failure, as it is a part that wears as the engine is running. I just haven't seen any fail at such a low mileage.

 

the tensioners also cause whining noise, especially going downhill.
there's already some huge thread about this, probably on top.

 

The dealer has told me that the knocking noise is the intake sprocket. They said that a spring has broken and when the timing adjust the knocking noise happens because the spring is broken. I have no idea what the hell this is but they are replacing the intake sprocket, timing chain, and the tensioners. Anyone ever heard of this? Again the car only has 42K

 

actually i had the same in my 07 and it was jus the motor mount a factory disfunction or it it a broken motor mount check that first

 

Okay, the car is fixed. It was the camshaft sprocket. No more noise. Here is the part list

camshaft sprocket
camshaft chain X 2
tensioner face
O ring seal X 6
VTC cover assembly
oil pan gasket
front cover assembly
and some other crap!!!!

The dealer said that there wasn't enough oil pressure in one section to lubricate the camshaft sprocket and that is what was going bad. Don't know if I believe them I just know its fixed.

 

hey thanks jknight for your post, my brother has its own nissan maxima and he also have the same problem. When we took it to car technician they also said it was on the tensioner which is not working properly. we paid for at least...i dont the exact and exerted much time and effort just for nothing. maybe we will try to go for the last option which is to check the camshaft sprocket and we will try also to find another car technician and suggest your solutions..
______________
==patrick65==
nissan maxima parts

 

Can anyone explain to me the significance of a service bulletin being issued, and Nissan refusing to fix a car.