hoghunter

My first Nissan, my first Maxima, and my first non-4 cyclinder car (since my old '70s Pontiac Grand Prix LJ as a teenager). That said, I am very aware of every slight sound and feel in this sweet ride. One thing I am noticing is while I sit at idle and as I shut off the car a whirling noise that I would guess is the fan starting/stopping. But it is very noticible as if a a teenie, tiny, small jet engine is warming up. I've have not sat side by side on another Max to see if they all act the same. Anyone else got that whirling noise?

maxxxxspeed

mine does it...

antwan125

Mine does it...I bought an '11 with 32 miles on it.

MRMONROE

Mine does it, as well. I ordered it brand new and no one else has driven it. So, I assume the sound is normal.

lightonthehill

When my wife and I pulled into our garage for the first time in our 7th gen (almost two and a half years ago), I turned off the car, the engine stopped, then it sounded like a little turbine was winding down. We looked at each other with wide eyes, wondering what that noise was.

Within a week, we were so used to that noise we no longer noticed it. I couldn't really say if the car has even made that noise these last two years. If it does, we are evidently so accustomed to it we just don't notice.

maxxxxspeed

I would tend to bet it's the electric fans

Compusmurf

It's the hamsters doing their cooling off exercise.

sg1214

Mine does it, like light said, I stopped noticing it, prob bc Im so used to it.

BBmaxi

iTrader: (1)

what about the whirling noise while at a stop but while the car is on, like when u start the car or when at a red/ stop light.


I figure it's the fan going on and off.

maxxxxspeed

the whirling noise = fan

this applies to all times.

hoghunter

Thanks for the replies. Looks like this is a normal thing. Just wanted to be sure I wasn't experiencing something out of the ordinary. I am loving this car!!

2young2retire

I will have to do some more research on the subject but my 2004 Altima had an Alternator Isolating Decoupler Pulley (IDP). This device allows the alternator rotor to spin down after the engine has been shut off and the drive belt/pulley stopped. The alternator made a whining sound that would quickly die out as the rotor stopped.

lightonthehill

Yes, that is the noise I was describing. It happens immediately after I turn the engine off.

Some here are probably talking about that noise, while others are obviously talking about the fan noise, which is a very different sound, and one I have been used to on other recent Maxima generations. If I stop and sit with the engine running for a moment on a hot day, it usually doesn't take but a half a minute for the thermostat measuring heat in the engine area to rev up the fans, which make very noticable noise.

This is the system's way of compensating for the fact that, when stopped with the engine running, air is no longer rushing through the radiator, hence the radiator can't function to cool the engine.

Joey D

I have that too, but I love it. It sounds like you're turning off your jet and makes me feel like a bad@$$!

Glockman40

The whirling noise is normal, no worries

mstewart18

My '11 has 500 miles on it now and it does it. I always shut off the ac before I shut off the car & it still does it. I like the sound

svargas05

Awww man!

All Nissans do it! My 01 Maxima did it, my sister 2011 Altima does it, my 2011 Maxima does it. It's kind of like their signature now. I LOVE IT, personally. It sounds exactly the way you described it "Like a jet engine powering turbines off," and that, to me, is a boss-*** aspect.

That just means the beast is resting.

P.S.
It's like being able to tell a Honda engine starting up from the get-go. It's just the way they're built.

dalcarfan821

I wondered about the same thing, but now having had an '09, '10, and '11, it's now a normal sound to me.

The other day I stopped at someone's house to drop off a package--I left my car running and I never realized how LOUD the fans on this thing are when I was standing fairly close to it. My friend even noticed it and said, "Is that thing ok?" LOL

I did ask about it when I first got my '09, and I was told it was normal. I'm almost certain that's what you're hearing since your description of hearing it wind down after you turn off the car--they do it every single time.

Since this post originated about four months ago, I'm sure you've already gotten used to it

sonomamax

If the car is running and there is a cycling noise, i would think that is the cooling fan that is running. and it is noisy, but the other sound is when you turn off the car and listing carefully you can here a slight sound winding down. personally i think it is the cvt, I dont know if it has a pump in it or how it works, but i am due a oil change withing a week or so and i am going to ask the dealer about it. if now one finds out by then i will post the results,

BBmaxi

iTrader: (1)

this is normal and it's typical of nissan and shows how much time they DON'T take to refine their engineering.

you can take a toyota with 200,000 miles and it will run smoother and quiter than a nissan with 50,000 miles. it's very obvious. Go compare it yourself.

but the a35 is a different beast and to the a35 fans, it's worth the trade off.

so far the a35 has been a reliable car so you'll just have to accept the fact that the car is abnormally loud.

minsbang

I had two 4th gens and one 6th gen and they never made that sound. I'm use to it by now on my 7th gen.

Maximum Drive

I hear that sound everytime. It sounds like my wife in the morning. She is from Russia though.

minsbang

LOL!! Nothing wrong with a Russian wife.

thegamper

I have the noise, dont mind it. Never thought something was wrong. Doesnt sound like a fan, so I am inclined to think its alternator as others suggested.

Maximum Drive

My wife she whirs and whines like dying coyote in the morning. She says things in Russian, but I do not understand her.

svargas05

Ever seen SALT?

Watch your back.....

Compusmurf

OMG guys, that was horribly funny, however not necessarily appropriate for a public forum..... Out of courtesy for your fellow forum mates I deleted the last 3 posts, AFTER spitting soda all over my keyboard.