I've had a strange thing happen this week and tonight...

First time was on Thursday when I reversed into a parking space. No incline, but when I got back into the car. I heard a thump which came from the front of the car. Key was not in the ignition at all. Car did not move forward when I heard the thump either.

Second time was tonight. I had parked the car at work, until I got off. It sat for perhaps 7 hours. Once again no incline. But this time the key was in the ignition and I shifted from P(ark) into R(everse). As soon as I hit the accelerator...once again the same THUMP. The car paused for a second or milisecond before moving.

I really have no idea what's going on. This is the first time I've heard this noise.

On Tuesday I'll be checking all my lug nuts and wheel bearings JUST INCASE it's a problem with the wheels.


Car Info:
Just hit 40,000 miles on Thursday
2003 Maxima
GLE (Automatic)

Cliffs:

The sound I can only describe as something heavy moving into place.
I have a strong suspicion that it could be the transmission?
The movement is only heard and not actually felt.

Question

Does anyone have an idea what is going on with the car?
Does this mean it's time for an auto tranny flush?



If you're going to tell me to search...I did, with only 1 result and it was about racing with an auto tranny.

Thanks if you can help!

 

Sounds like a bad motor mount.

 

my cousin's 02 had the same prob

 

Thanks. Will have to check that.

Anyone know how much it would cost to fix the problem?

I'll be searching threads for the motor mount locations.

 

you can get the polyurethane motor mounts from cattman, dont know about the price but it shouldnt be much. i think they were $50? but the install is kinda hard. the front one is on the left side of the motor, you can see it when you open the hood, youll see this round rubber holding the engine, for the rear you have to remove the lower subframe. good luck.

 

Thanks for the advice!

By the way what causes wear on the motor mounts?

Might be signs that I'm driving my car to hard.

 

it could just be a faulty motor mount, you only have 40k. i mean unless if you drag race everyday and floor it everyday. im not too sure, what makes them go bad. check the group deals, cattman has those weekly sale things and sells the motor mounts. you could still get the factory ones, since the urethane ones are a lil stiffer, but i dont know if ill get the factory ones since they already went bad on you. http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=522292

 

I will say it's the motor mount because I had the same problem with my 3rd gen and to pin point the exact motor mount you will have to prop the hood up and have the car started and shift in to the gears to see if the engine jumps or rocks back and forth when you put the car in the reverse and drive and so on. you have three motor mounts one near the front lower frame and crossmember and where the radiator sits and the back one is near the subframe and under the headers and the one to hold the engine is near the coolant resovior bottle is thats on the left side of the engine. good luck .