Good afternoon all,

I have a 2017 Maxima that has been the 120 mile round trip daily driver for 4 years. No major issues or fixes. Currently sitting at 165k miles. CVT has been drain and filled 4 times so far with the last one being at 144k miles. Only oil I have ever used is AMSOIL 0W-20 in the engine and 93 gas. Oil change is ususlly every 10k miles since I am out of warranty.

Yesterday I developed a whine and tapping noise which is louder in the video in the driver side floor board. It'a definitely coming from the engine area or lower engine/transmission area.

Ive replaced all 4 wheel bearing hub assemblys and CV axles and brakes but nothing else. I'm assuming its the CVT but its not overheating, slipping, or having any shifting issues so I wasnt sure along with no jumping RPMs. Hopefully you can hear the noises I am speaking of in the video. That was taken from driver floorboard from 30 mph to 79 mph. It's not super loud and cannot be heard over radio or even rain.

No transmission codes or check engine light. Nissan dealership has no clue as well. Video below.

https://streamable.com/cid9y2

 

Obvious questions:
1. Does it make the sound when engine rpm is increased but car is standing still?
2. Do you remember the last thing done before the noise started?
3. Is there any way you can attach an old cell phone or recording device to the CVT housing, hit record, and take her for a test drive?

 

1. No does not make the noise when still in park or in neutral when reving the engine. Only while driving under load.

2. The only thing that has been done was an oil change around 500/1k miles ago. Same oil/filter as before. Checked oil and its full and oil pressure has been the same along with transmission temp.

3. Likely unable, Nissan dealership put it on the rack and drove it and couldn't replicate the noise but they said they could clearly hear it in the video.

Im leaning serpentine belt/alternator or some bearing in one of the accessories while under load or CVT.

 

Engine belt idler pulley might be worth looking at. If so don't forget to change the belts and the water pump out as well. Good luck

 

Sorry to hear about your current troubles, on a positive note it’s encouraging to hear you’ve got over 160k miles. Hopefully it won’t be a serious issue and you can get many more miles!

 

Update:

Took it back to Nissan and drove while the tech listened. Heard the noise and thinks it could be the 2nd gear bearing inside the CVT. Said it could last another 60k but will likely get louder over time. I had them do a CVT flush even though it had only been 20k or so miles.

No metal in the pan, fluid was slightly dis colored with a green tint. Nissan says it goes in blue but they said it wasn't burnt at all. So who knows but sounds remains.

 

Congrats on the miles you have racked up! As an insurance policy, you might check on Ebay for a used low mileage CVT from a wreck.
Best of luck! I am curious just how far your CVT goes.

2016-2019 Nissan Maxima Automatic Transmission CVT | eBay

 

curious how your car is holding up now? Did the flush help at all?

 

So far so good, flush didnt help the noise as it remains. Shaking was fixed with new tires and replaced the 1 wheel bearing assembly that had never been replaced. I now have 181k miles on it with no issues outside of it having 181k miles so I assume the CVT will eventually go but right now shifting seems ok.

 

Also there is no whine with the CVT I can tell, its more of a tapping noise like like the metal belt on the inside is slightly hitting something. No tech can say for sure but they claim its the best driving 181k maxima they have ever seen.

 

Wow 181k miles sounds great, good for you! I can only hope mine will last that long. I don’t plan on abusing it, but I’m a little nervous about the CVT just because of reputation.

 

Is your car stock or did you do any performance modifications?

 

100% stock. Only thing I have done was replace the wheel bearing assemblys, CV axles and spark plugs. CV axles didnt need replaced but I was chasing some vibration issues awhile back.

 

nice, stock=longevity.