2004 Maxima SE
146k miles

Happens after the car's been driven for a minute or so. The noise stops when the car is in motion (on the highway and starting to move from a dead stop). Most noticeable when it's sitting in park or in idle with my foot on the brake. Don't notice any fluctuation in RPMs. You can hear it goes up and down in tone, but it's more constant I think in hotter weather/after being driven longer. The car does suffer from the 2nd-3rd gear transmission stutter that plagues these cars.

I've heard it could be a loose heat shield or belt tensioner?

I've included a video to help better understand the problem. I can record another if necessary.


Anyone encounter this problem?

 

what about get your head under the car and have a look, and tighten up whatever is loose, seriously, it would have been faster than recording this video.

what do you expect us to tell you? hey yo man, since you have **** rattling under your car, something is probably loose.

 

but let me tell you more. you have a loose exhaust heat shield.

"ooo yo man how do you fix the loose heat shield?"

 

Yea man i have the same problem but with a bit different sound... on mine when its in idle it sounds and while i drive it sounds until i get to like about 2500 to 3000 RPM and when i shift is sounds too... i popped d hood one day to check it out while it was in idle and sounds like on mine its coming from the pulley on the AC compressor. Have you had time to check yours out more into detail?

 

Loose heat shield.

and btw thats not a 2004 maxima..