Hey everyone, when my car has been sitting for a while and I start it up it makes kind of a clanky gravelly noise for a second or two. I don't know if this is normal or not; my nieghbor has an I35 and I've heard her start hers in the morning and it does the same. I think it may be something in the accessories. The car runs absolutely perfect, but I hate hearing that noise, it sounds junky. Any info, advice before I take it in? Does anyone else's I35 do this?

 

Sounds like it might be the timing chain rattling. The timing chain tensioner can take a few seconds to do it's thing and the oil takes a minute to get up there as well. If it is indeed the timing chain it is not a huge concern......but your car is a little too new for that to be occuring. only time I hear of the problem is on higher mileage 4th gens, not 02's. My car does it for a few seconds if it has been sitting for longer than 12hrs or so. But not being able to hear the noise for myself I am only guessing

 

is it when it just first starts, kinda like a belt is skipping? like crrrrrrrnnnkkkkkkk noise, cause it the starter, mine used to do that and when happens is the grease in the starter gears gets sticky and csause alil grinding, tyhats why in the summer or when ur car is heated and u start again it doesnt make the noise, heres my reference for that

http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/516

 

like 90 % of the 02-03 maxima does that and no one really cares about, it just a normal design flaw
http://maxima.theowensfamily.com/tsb/NTB03-060.pdf

 

That sounds just right. Thanks. So what is it a recall or TSB or what? Is it damaging anything? Nevertheless I'm gonna fix it, it's under warranty. It sounds so junky when the car starts.

 

I took it in and they pretty much said what you said. They said if it lasts for longer than a second to worry about it. Then they offered to give me a loaner and keep my car overnight to hear it the next morning. GOD I LOVE INFINITI SERVICE!!!!!!!!

 

what they give you a FX 35, G35?
yep, nissan service treat you like dirt, Infiniti treat you like god. The funny part is I35 cost about the same as maxima, like 1-2 grand different.

Anyways enjoy

 

Always a G35.

As far as the price difference, to me it is soooo worth it. Not only the service; but how people stare, the "wow" factor; the I35 I think looks extremely classy and much more expensive than it really is.

 

wats a tsb??????/

 

Perhaps it's because my car is old and has no warranty anymore but the Infiniti dealer I went offered none of that(I had to leave my car there overnight, too.) Plus, their service wasn't anything out of the ordinary despite all the raves I've been hearing about their service. In fact, I think I received a better service at a Nissan dealer...at least they offered a survey afterwards.

For those in So. Cal...it's Peyton Cramer Infiniti in Torrance. Maybe some people had different experience.

 

I see them giving loaners out to people with older cars all the time here in Knoxville, and they offer the exact same service. But Knoxville sucks.

 

The same thing happened on my 95 maxima. It started out as a really slight noise and then grew progressively louder and more annoying as time passed. The only thing that fixed it was replacilng the starter. I wouold recommend that you have them put a new one on.