I got a chance to drive the Max today, and as the car is idling and I'm outside of it, I hear a small amount of knocking from the engine. I always use premium gas, recently had a tune up done in June, and I still hear the noise. When I lift up the hood the noise seems to be a bit closer to the passenger side, I also had the belts replaced along w/ the tune-up and the noise seems to come somewhere around this area, what can be causing this?

 

Try cleaning the throttle body, there's a link in the "4th Gen How To's" Section

Cheers

Keir

 

Timing chain making noise? I think the tensioner goes bad or something.

 

I had the Fuel Induction cleaning when I did my tune up as well

 

It's probably ignition coils.

 

if the ignition coils/coil packs were the case, and I have 109K on the Max, would I be better off changing them?

and if the timing chain tensioner is bad, would that be quite expensive to repair?

 

Correct me if I am wrong, but you cannot actually hear engine "knocking". At least the type of knock that the knock sensor detects.


Belt pully bearing might be bad or timing chain tensioner

 

all I know is the noise is coming from the passenger side, and it sounds like its coming from the belt area, and I had just recently replaced the belts .. so I think you're right, Kevlo, the noise is def. somewhere in either area .. i'll find out whats causing it at my next oil change

 

Does it sound like a knock at every pully rotation? or is it not constant.

 

i have the similar noise and a beleive it is the timing chain tensioner

 

its your noise more like a ticking noise like tick-tick-tick and go up as you accelerate the engine if so i took my car to dealer for diagnosis of that noise they told me valve lash may need adjustment wich is done by using shims(look in haynes manual) haven't done it yet cause waiting so i can replace timing chain too along with ks

 

Crazy thread! It's the "power brake check valve." There was a TSB on it back in 1998. I had it performed, didn't change a thing. It goes away when you rev the motor, and it comes back when the motor comes back to idle. Nothing to worry about....of course if it is the "tensioner" or "valve lash" etc.

 

Tensioner.

Mine does it too and most other higher mileage 4th gens also. Worry about it when it gets really loud. There is an access cover on the timing chain case for the tensioner. If you do need a new tensioner, I recommend bending over and taking it to Nissan. The last thing you want to do is drop a tensioner mounting bolt into the abyss of the timing chain area because it will require removing the timing chain case and that's rather time consuming.

 

Do not pay more than 200 for the tensioner and labor. I have had it done. Some dealers might say to replace hte timing chain but that is not needed.


But since you just got the belts replaced, I would really look at the pullies, because that is what happened to me. After I got hte belts changed, about 2 weeks later this knocking noise came and I replaced the pully closest to the timing chain tensioner cover plate and hte noise went away.

 

it sounds like a knock or 2 every few seconds

i'll have it checked out next thurs. and see what really is causing the noise .. looks like I may be in for more than an oil change

Frank, when you did the TSB for '98 did it cost much?

Kevlo, i take it you replaced the idler pulley, correct?

 

in addition to the noise at idle, I also hear it at startup for a second or so

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=333803