2000 Maxima GLE: From a cold start, i crank the car up, get a high rev to about 2000 RPM and then a GRINDING NOISE FOR ABOUT 1 OR 2 SECONDS. I have no idea what the noise is; My mothers 95 Maxima makes the same noise from a cold start. Does anyone have any clue to what the problem is? Do other 2000+ Maxima owners have the same problem?

 

what gas type you putting in? 91+ is what maxima's should be getting. if you put anything less in (89), you're going to hear that noise.

 

Using a gas with lower octane will not cause a noise like this. It is one of 2 things, either timing chain rattle or the variable timing control pulley. Neither is thought to be serious, but there is a TSB for the VTC rattle.

Whoops, just saw that your car is a 2000. It is probably timing chain rattle. I don't think the VTC applies to the 2ks

 

Mine does that too. I think its the belts needing to be replaced but timing chain rattle sounds legit as well and that actually may be normal

 

This problem is common among maxima's, it is a result of the grease in the starter motor hardening and becoming sticky. It does not mean that your starter needs to be replaced, if you search, someone did a write up about regreasing the starter. I had this problem on my 95, I never regreased the starter, and never had it replaced. The starter lasted until I traded in the car at 136000. Hope this helps

 

I get that noise too but it doesn't matter whether from a cold start or not. I thought it was a SRS check the car/computer does every so often. I hear it like...every three weeks or so. The grindy noise only lasts a second.

Don't listen to me though, I know nothing about cars. I'm here on Maxima.org to learn.

 

To answer the gas question, I use 93 octane. I've only had the car for a month and I'm sure a lower grade was used due to differences in performance now. But someone made reference to the timing belts; i do know that the high-pitch screeching noise at startup is related to loose timing belts. I wasn't sure that the grinding noise was related to the belts. I only get the noise from a cold start. If i get it during anothing start, it is very minimum and it does happen sometimes. My car has 51000 miles on it. Maxima's make so many noises, we should name them.
So far, this post yield has yield regreasing the starter and timing chain rattling. I'll look at those areas and if anyone else has solved the problem, let me know.

 

How can it be the starter AFTER the 2K RPM spike and then 1-2 seconds after that? The starter is off/disengaged. It's the timing chain rattle...

 

My 98 with 150,000 mile does that too. It started doing this around 135,000 miles. My brother's 2k does this too. He has about 80,000 miles and it started it doing it around 70,000 miles. I too wonder what it could be.. the sound only comes during cold starts.. hmm.

 

I have an 02 and I have heard this noise twice now, when I have started up my car. Don't know what it is but if I hear it again I will take it in I only have 4,000 miles left on my factory warantty.

 

I thought the 02-03 max's had timing chains?? I have the same noise and am curious also.

 

It's the starter as mentioned before. I have a 2k auto and I had the exact same noise/problem and then I pulled apart my starter and regreased it and I have NEVER had the noise since. I posted up a how-to for it in the how-to thread. Trust me...it's the starter.

 

Actually, because the fly wheel is driving the starter at 2k+ (because it hasnt disengaged) is exactly why he's getting that noise.

My 2k was doing it when I traded. The timing chain noise is totally different, its more of a rattle than a grind.

 

Hi, I just started noticing the same type of noise that was mentioned in this thread on my 2000 GXE. To me it sounds like a bearing in a water pump, alternator or air conditioner condensor is going. My question is should I still have it checked out to make sure it isn't something more serious then a starter?