Hello Guys I just recently purchased a Nissan Maxima 2004 in very good condition the car looks brand new, even the new car smell is there. The mileage on the car when I got it was 114,000 It is now at 115,xxx and I started to notice the rattling sound in the engine bay. I believe that it could be the tension er guides correct? I'm in Lake Forest California Area Near Laguna Beach. Anyone know of a good place I can take it to get fixed? Or what should I do?... Any help would be great thanks guys!

 

check the exhaust heat shield. hopefully that's it. Just had mine tightened, again.

 

The rattling from a heat shield is totally different from the rattling in the engine. Chances are the previous owner never maintained the oil level causing that issue. The symptoms are very simple, on a cold start you'll hear the rattling really hard and when the temperature rises and the engine warms up it goes away. Check your oil level regularly too.

 

Well the rattling is in the engine. It started where I would cold start and then it would go away, Now It's constant and it doesn't stop tell i turn the car off. Once that started I just put the car in my garage and haven't touched it since. Been sitting there for 3 days now. It starts runs and drives. just the rattling, Im starting to think it's the tension guides... The Oil was just recently changed. Not even 1000 miles ago.

 

What type of oil did they put in? Have you checked to ensure they filled it up? Have seen it before where the tech didn't put the oil back in or forgot to tighten the filter/plug causing slow leaks. I would check it and make sure it's full. Also might help if you posted a video of the sound so we can see where it is coming from and the type of noise it is. If it is a slight rattle, changing the fluid Viscosity might be the answer. I use 15w50 Mobile 1 Full Synthetic for summer and winter here in Washington State. Abnormal sounds like the tiny tapping/ticking from the timing chain is pretty much gone. I did have the Timing chain tensioners replaced under warranty.

 

Yep, I am sure its the tensioners as everyone else has said. My wifes 05 is doing the same thing but it goes away. I'll have to put that on my long list of everything I have to fix on this car.

 

I'm not exactly sure what oil they put in it. I saw the guy at the shop do the entire process, i checked today and it's full up on oil. I'll get a video today and post it up. Off to the garage. I love the car... it has so much power and it just looks sexy for an 04... it just fits right in with all the new cars. So if it's not the oil the the last chance it being is the tension guides?

 

This is stressful as i want to drive the car. But I'm just driving my truck tahoe or my wifes car 05 Nissan Sentra. Witch has had it's problems but nothing major, Just sensor issues. and the Tahoe I've never had an issue but Tire Sensor problem due to a nail in the tire. Same as you I guess Im going to have to add it to the list of things I hate to have to do but have to do it anyways list.

 

The awesome part about the car when I got it. a new rebuilt transmission with 6 month warranty. Transmission shifts nice, smooth like butter. So for a used car i thought that was a pretty good deal, as the car drives great, No leaks, just that rattling noise in the engine bay that is quite annoying when outside the car.

 

Definitely the timing chain tensioner

 

Timing chain tensioner for sure

 

Could be a lifter, valve tapping, timing chain, heat shield cracked, something loose, etc. Without a closeup video or hearing it, hard to diagnose sounds. Almost like hey I get this funky smell in my car that smells when I start the car in the morning. It could be a rotting corpse in your trunk for all I know. Maybe that's a bad example, but you get the picture.

 

Well if you want a new car smell in a 10 years old car, just spray some new car smell spray.

https://www.eshine.ca/chemical_guys_...r_16oz-839.php

hey, according to you, a rattling engine is one very good condition I did not know about in a very good condition car.

what you bought is a car that was neglected on oil changes and oil level, and now your engine rattles.

 

I Guess so, We all make mistakes. No biggie. I'll get it fixed. That is why I came on here to ask questions. And the car for being 10 years old is really a great car. Like all old cars comes issues. For some odd reason my iphone isn't letting me upload the video to youtube. So I'ma go take my laptop to go record the sounds right now.

 

I am having the exact same noise issues with my '07. It has about 116,000 miles on it and the noise started at about 110,000. I had already replaced the spark plugs, and I run Mobil 1 10w-30 synthetic with Bosch filters since I bought the car new. I had a '99 with about 100k and an '05 with 102k before I traded it in on my present Maxima. Neither cars made any noise. Oil level is good, and always had been. I believe the noise to be lifters as the engine sounds like an old diesel when cold, but the noise subsides some after warm up. I've read in other threads where some think it's the fuel dampeners, but this noise it too loud and obnoxious not to be lifters. I intend on performing a compression check this wknd, weather permitting. I'm guessing I have a lifter of two collapsing. I will keep informed on the outcome.

 

Well, going by all the trans issues these cars seem to be known for, I would baby that rebuilt trans!!!!!! Some I have read change their fluid as much as every 15,000 miles! There's a reason why your 04 had a rebuilt trans. Just thought I'd put a bug in your ear about this if you didn't know!!!

 

I removed the plastic shroud covering the top of the engine to gain access to the top of the engine for better placement of an automotive stethoscope. The tapping noise is definitely emanating from both fuel rails. The rear being the loudest. Hard to believe fuel buffers making that much noise. It's been doing that for oooooooooh, the past 5-7k miles and performance hasn't been affected. I have a 3k mile round trip, road trip coming up this month. I believe the car will be fine. Just gonna turn the radio a lil louder;-)

 

Ummmmmmm, purchasing an automotive stethoscope will take almost ALL of the guess work out of engine noise chasing. They are fairly inexpensive and work really well. If you don't want to pony up, get a 1/4" to 3/8" (larger diameter dows will deny accessibility to tight spots) diameter wooden dow about 2' long and place one end in or near your ear(carefully, or you will be hearing "ocean" noises for the next month) while placing the other end on any engine part near where the noise is coming from. When the noise gets loudest in one spot than any of the rest of the locations you've listened to, you've found your culprit.