Hello fellow Maxima owners,
I hope one of you can help me out!

I have a 2012 Maxima SV (Not that it matters what trim, but just so you all know.)

I have had this really annoying rattling/clinging/shaky sound coming from the back right of my vehicle. Whenever I drive over a rough condition such as a dirt road, or simple bumps on the road, I hear almost a sound like chains hitting each other or nails hitting/rattling together. Before you all say - go and check your trunk, check the spare tire, check the little compartments, check the jack and tools, I have already done so... or else i wouldn't come here for help

I replaced my rear shocks and front struts about 2 weeks ago from the Nissan dealership I work at. I took the car back a couple days later notifying them of this problem and they told me that "Oh we got the mechanic to check it out and he didn't hear anything". They told me that I had rocks in my exhaust pipe.. (rocks in my exhaust?! how does that even happen! But, okay... I got them to clear the rocks out.) I then told them to check the rear sway bar bushings and links and have them replaced if need be. They replaced them. They said the noise should no longer be there anymore.

10 seconds after driving my vehicle away from work I heard that SAME ANNOYING RATTLING SOUND AGAIN! I go to my trunk and i start shaking it, I hear some sort of TING TING TING noise whenever i shake it hard enough. I have NO CLUE what this noise could be and it is really upsetting me because I have put a lot of money into replacing things and this noise is the last thing I want...

HELP ME! Please!!!

 

rear speakers loose?

 

Could it be the rear spring not seated properly when they replaced the rear shocks? Or perhaps a bushing shifted or something and you are getting metal on metal? Sounds like something from the rear suspension based on what you wrote...

Keep us updated on what happens...

 

Kind of a longshot but depending on how you were shaking the car "front to back" or "side to side" perhaps a bad wheel bearing if it makes the noise "side to side."

 

I will keep you all updated when I take it into work tomorrow, I don't have the time to take a look under neath it so I booked it in for an appointment. I'll get them to check out what you all wrote so far, so thank you!

As for me shaking the vehicles trunk, no matter what way i push it, "side to side, front to back, up and down" I still hear the same noise... It's more noticeable in the cabin when driving, so it has to be something with the suspension when they replaced it.

Thanks for the help so far guys! Will keep you all updated.

 

UPDATE TO THE NOISE:

I got the noise diagnosed at my dealership. It was the new shocks they put on improperly. They're saying to get better struts than the ones I put on, but the ones I put on are Monroe's and BETTER than the OEM ones, so for them to tell me to put better ones on is complete BS and i got mad at my service manager for telling me that. They're replacing the rear right shock for free. Problem SOLVED! .... for now, will road test it once it is repaired

 

Glad you got it fixed - and thank you for letting us know how it all turns out.

Kinda sad though - you WORK AT A NISSAN DEALERSHIP and they are giving you the run around (rocks in your exhaust? better shocks when you already had them install better than oem the first time?)

Imagine what they are doing to everyday customers that don't work at their own dealership!

 

Yeah...the "rocks in the exhaust" story immediately sounded like BS the instant I read it. I can't believe a mechanic stood there and said that to OP with a straight face, especially after having been told that the rattling only started after they had done some suspension work on the car. I wouldn't be taking my car back to that particular dealer for any future service.

 

- UPDATE -
I got the problem fixed. They tried to charge me a half hour of labour this morning saying that I needed new struts and that the ones installed were brought in by me. I was FLABBERGASTED. I instantly said you are going whack let me speak to my service manager. I just barged into his room and showed him the paperwork explaining that I bought the shocks from the dealership I WORK AT and that they were better struts recommended by the parts manager. ( I believe this scenario happened because I didn't have the same service advisor I had the previous times. This guy was a complete dud.)

The verdict... PROBLEM FIXED - replaced Monroe rear shocks - NO CHARGE. I was quite happy but they didn't seem too impressed. LOL.. wonder why!
Now that Maxi's fixed from my dealer i'm now going to service it with my friends. I just wanted to do it hassle free because I work there.

Once again, cheers guys & thanks for the help!

& yes, I completely agree and do feel like I wasted money on the "Rocks in the exhaust" story i got from the service advisor, so let's just not go into that! Lol... Dumb on my part, I should have came here first I just wasn't allowed to post yet since I am new to this site