Ive checked all of the forums and came up with no solution to my problem so therefore, I'm starting this thread.

As of recently, while driving, I feel a high heat coming from the driver side floorboard and cannot explain it. The climate controls are all off and everything as far as engine temperature is normal. Not a big problem, just annoying sometimes and would like to fix it somehow.

I'm also hearing a slight "whistle" sound when I am decelerating to a stoplight or stop sign, kind of sounds like a turbo whistle.

I am pretty new to the whole Nissan Maxima experience and want to learn everything about it. I bought the car used and it is obvious the owner before me did not really take care of the engine, so therefore, since this is the nicest car I have ever owned, I want to treat this car like a trophy.

Any suggestions and/or help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Has 84,000 miles

 

Some engine bay heat will come into the cabin when your fans are off -- you can try to lower the air flow by turning on the recirculation button with the air off but you won't be able to get rid of it completely. On my 07 it's not too bad, just a very slight breeze when driving at low speeds (at highway speeds it feels like the fan is on at the lowest speed so it's still not that bad) -- we also have a civic and it's a little worse on there but nothing too crazy

The whistle -- does it sound like its coming from the engine bay or when you apply the brakes? Some brake pads will randomly squeak when you apply the brakes or it could be a pad dragging slightly (check for uneven brake wear). It could be an air intake leak -- check the air filter to see if it's closed properly and check the intake hose from the air filter to the engine to see if it's properly connected

The 07+ does have a CVT transmission in it so it's not like a regular automatic -- for me it's a little jerky while driving around 20-25 mph (they made it smoother in 09+)

 

I see. I was thinking it was a vacuum leak, I'll have to check all the hoses along with the air intake. I plan on changing out the spark plugs, so when I take the manifold off, I'll be checking everything back there.

The whistle sound is definitely coming from the engine bay, and you can only hear it when I'm coming to a stop, not really when accelerating.

I was also possibly thinking it might have something to do with the tranny since it kind of goes with the downshifting, just like a downward whistling, like an airplane shutting down its engines. Has me completely baffled.

 

When you're doing the plugs, don't forget the PCV valve

 

Absolutely, already bought one. Seems its a bit tricky for the spark plug replacement, having to remove intake collector and vacuum lines.

 

you should get some thermal intake spacers while you are in there. http://www.nwpengineering.com/Phenol...rs.html#VQ35DE many guys swear by these things. I know it is a bit on the costly side, but trust me when I say "you don't want to go back in after you are done to install these." Changing the plugs was not hard, but was time consuming and didn't want to go back in there again, at least not for another 50k miles

Ohh on a side note, when replacing your spark plugs, it helps a whole lot to remove the windshield wipers and shelf that holds them to get to the back of the plenum. I don't remember reading that in the instructions. Had I known to do that the first time, probably would have cut my time in half.

 

Thanks for the info! I'll be undertaking this car heart surgery on Monday

 

I get the same whistle sound when slowing down on a downhill. I have taken it to nissan about it for some time but they say everything is fine.

Anybody know what the whistle might be?