Good afternoon everyone,

Had a couple questions regarding some noises going on with my 2017 Maxima. Currently has 111k miles on it (yeah I have a long commute) but other than replacing two driver side front and back wheel bearings, all has been peachy.

Maybe I couldn't hear this slight growl due to the wheel bearing noise but I have noticed recently when slowly accelerating usually from a dead stop at lower RPM and from 20-35 mph I hear a low growl coming from under the car. Is this dreaded CVT problems related or standard noise? It's not extremely loud and not a whining sound but noticable when the radio is off. I haven't noticed it shifting hard or different and once you get to 40mph the noise goes away. It does seem to be a little louder under load if trying to accelerate slowly up a hill or letting off the gas and slowly accelerating. I also can't replicate the noise in park or neutral.

Just had me a little concerned with the dreaded CVT issues of old.


Shaking usually begins at around 50mph and steadily gets worse up to 80mph. No noise is associated with it. New Pirelli Cinturato tires was purchased a week ago along with balance and alignment. Could this be the brakes or a stuck caliper or could it be related to the low growl I'm hearing and another precursor to a transmission issue?

 

When did you change the CVT fluid last? The rule I've followed is every 45-60k miles. The noise you're describing doesn't sound normal.

 

Last time at 62k. This time at 110k. Dealership claims the sound is normal but who knows. I've read a few threads of people with the same noise all being told the same thing by the dealership.

It shifts fine and manual mode with the paddles is normal. It's like its searching for the highest gear and lugging the engine like would happen going slow and shifting into a higher gear. That noise it would produce.

Currently thinking it could be an exhaust leak or intake manifold at this point but going back to the dealership tomorrow to hopefully fix the shaking.

 

Are you in an area where salt is spread on the roads? Could be an exhaust leak for sure. Maybe you have a hole in the system somewhere? Have you tried taking it to a muffler shop for them to take a look?

 

We def get alot of salt in the winter. Haven't done that yet have mostly been concerned with this terrible shaking I have had after new tires, changing front wheel bearing and spark plugs.

 

It’s still shaking? I’m guessing all the wheels were balanced too? Also have you tried a different dealer? Under what conditions does it shake? Stop and go, highway. Acceleration, deceleration?

 

Tires have been rebalanced twice and aligned twice. It starts shaking at around 50mph and gets worse the faster you go. Braking can make it shake a little harder seems like. Dealership ruled out any suspension issues.

Thinking back it didn't start shaking until replacing the driver front wheel bearing assembly and spark plugs. New tires were bought prior to that so I honestly don't think its them.

 

Have your rotors been replaced at all? Wondering if they’re badly warped.

 

They haven't I'd hope that would be an easy check for the dealer when I've now came 2 times with the same issues. Losing faith at this point.

 

Yeah I’ve read about all kinda of things, ranging from the engine cover under the front being cracked to bad rotors, stuck brake caliper. Hard to really diagnose online. Maybe the dealer is the problem.

 

Took it to a local shop today and they immediately felt the vibration... Nissan and tire discounters both couldn't feel anything and claimed nothing was wrong.

Mechanic which is fully certified through Nissan's tech program immediately said 100% both front rotors were slightly warped. I mentioned this to Nissan at the dealership during one of my previous two visits and they wrote it off like it couldn't be an issue.

Needless to say the vibration seems to have got better mostly. I still feel something but it does seem to have fixed the majority.

I did ask about the growling noise from the CVT at low speeds and low acceleration and he like the dealership don't seem to think there isn't any problem with that noise. He said he's fixed/replaced tons of 09s-14 but nothing newer and he can't recall ever having to replace a CVT on a maxima.

 

@shozen. Does the low speed growl sound like this? Video below.

 

Yep exactly the noise... Nissan has driven mine 3 times along with a transmission shop. All say they dont think the transmission has an issue. I dont have a check engine light on either.

Nissan and the transmission shop both said they heard the noise but seem to claim normal CVT noise.

I personally think either an exhaust leak or timing chain/tensioners could be the culprit or it's an actual CVT issue that hasn't fully manifested.

I've driving for 5k more miles since I noticed the noise with no changes.
Any clue?

 

Man, that sucks. No clue at all. I emailed Nissan corporate and have a regional tech coming down in September to check it out. But, I really think i'll get the run around. I feel like hotter weather makes the sound worse which makes me thinks is CVT fluid viscosity issue??? Just guessing of course. Maybe it's a belt tensioner? But then i think NO because it doesn't do that in park or neutral. I also hear a version of that when driving at speed as well. Really sounds like plastic hitting something but the dealership cannot find anything loose. I drive a lot and this noise is going to be the end of me, LOL. Here is another thread i have going on the issue, posted below.

https://maxima.org/forums/8th-genera...le-speeds.html

 

Here is everything I've changed. I also get some vibration while driving. I dont have the annoying loud noise at highway speed just low RPM like in your video.

I've replaced both CV axles, new tires, new brakes and rotors, new spark plugs, and new wheels bearings and didn't fix the issue. I replaced the CVT fluid as well.

I have 115k miles on mine now and it started to be pretty noticable like your video at 110k but it could have been sooner. I do remember it being noticable at 50k but not as bad as it is now.

The transmission shop I talked to said it honestly sounds like the TCM needs to be programmed so it doesn't find that high gear ratio so quickly at low speed and low RPM. Said it only sounds like torisnal motor noise to him example being shifting a manual into 5th while only going 30mph and it luggs the engine.

I'm out of options. I can only thing exhaust or timing chain at this point. I also thought torque converter but the tranny shop said it would be a loud rumble strip noise when it went to lock up or it would try to die in idleing.

 

Man, you've dug deep on the issue, that's for sure. I'm probably going to pay a tech to isolate the noise and then go from there. I had an 08 MAX with the 3.5 and the CVT, never made any sounds like that. Miss that care. SMH

 

ordered a new tensioner, will install this week.

 

Installed the new tensioner but the sound remains. This sucks. Tired of the rattle box.

 

That sucks! I'm assuming it has to be CVT related and is incurable at this point.

 

What did it cost to replace the tensioners? Did you also replace the timing chains as well? Nissan do the work?

 

Any idea what it is???

 

Nah man just chalking it up to CVT noise. Im at 155k miles now and no new issues. Still about the same.