Strange engine noise, not sure if anyone can help.
I purchased my Maxima with 89K in january, and it now has almost 104K on it. This noise has only developed within the last month.
The noise sounds like a very light "clunking". It is quite repetitive, like it is caused by something reciprocating. I have been unable to determine if its RPM related however, because I can only hear the noise when I'm outside the, and when I move the throttle cable my intake is too loud to tell if the noise is still there, and if it increases with increased RPMs. Also, the noise is only evident after the car has been driven, it does not make the noise upon initial startup. I deliver pizza, and I notice the noise when I get to a delivery and leave my car idling on the street when I go up to their door. As far as I can tell, the noise is not coming from one side of the car or the other, but is definately coming from the front half of the engine bay down below the level of the valvetrain (but more forward than the valvetrain). The fact that I can't determine which side of the engine its coming from worries me, like it might be a crankshaft problem. I have not noticed any loss of power, or change in performance, exhaust sound, intake sound, valve ticking sound, or anything like that.
Like I said, the noise is only noticeable outside the vehicle and is not very loud. I doubt a normal person would even notice it, but I have, and it wasn't there before. My A/C and radiator fans are off when i hear the noise, when they are on they are too loud for the noise to be evident, but I'm pretty positive it is still there, just drowned out.
Any thoughts would be appreciated, though I suppose i'll have to take it to my repair mechanic (I am my own mods mechanic) and see if I can point it out to him.
The noise sounds like a very light "clunking". It is quite repetitive, like it is caused by something reciprocating. I have been unable to determine if its RPM related however, because I can only hear the noise when I'm outside the, and when I move the throttle cable my intake is too loud to tell if the noise is still there, and if it increases with increased RPMs. Also, the noise is only evident after the car has been driven, it does not make the noise upon initial startup. I deliver pizza, and I notice the noise when I get to a delivery and leave my car idling on the street when I go up to their door. As far as I can tell, the noise is not coming from one side of the car or the other, but is definately coming from the front half of the engine bay down below the level of the valvetrain (but more forward than the valvetrain). The fact that I can't determine which side of the engine its coming from worries me, like it might be a crankshaft problem. I have not noticed any loss of power, or change in performance, exhaust sound, intake sound, valve ticking sound, or anything like that.
Like I said, the noise is only noticeable outside the vehicle and is not very loud. I doubt a normal person would even notice it, but I have, and it wasn't there before. My A/C and radiator fans are off when i hear the noise, when they are on they are too loud for the noise to be evident, but I'm pretty positive it is still there, just drowned out.
Any thoughts would be appreciated, though I suppose i'll have to take it to my repair mechanic (I am my own mods mechanic) and see if I can point it out to him.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,601
Rubber tube listening aid
Originally posted by Nealoc187
I purchased my Maxima with 89K in january, and it now has almost 104K on it. This noise has only developed within the last month.
The noise sounds like a very light "clunking". It is quite repetitive, like it is caused by something reciprocating. I have been unable to determine if its RPM related however, because I can only hear the noise when I'm outside the, and when I move the throttle cable my intake is too loud to tell if the noise is still there, and if it increases with increased RPMs. Also, the noise is only evident after the car has been driven, it does not make the noise upon initial startup. I deliver pizza, and I notice the noise when I get to a delivery and leave my car idling on the street when I go up to their door. As far as I can tell, the noise is not coming from one side of the car or the other, but is definately coming from the front half of the engine bay down below the level of the valvetrain (but more forward than the valvetrain). The fact that I can't determine which side of the engine its coming from worries me, like it might be a crankshaft problem. I have not noticed any loss of power, or change in performance, exhaust sound, intake sound, valve ticking sound, or anything like that.
Like I said, the noise is only noticeable outside the vehicle and is not very loud. I doubt a normal person would even notice it, but I have, and it wasn't there before. My A/C and radiator fans are off when i hear the noise, when they are on they are too loud for the noise to be evident, but I'm pretty positive it is still there, just drowned out.
Any thoughts would be appreciated, though I suppose i'll have to take it to my repair mechanic (I am my own mods mechanic) and see if I can point it out to him.
I purchased my Maxima with 89K in january, and it now has almost 104K on it. This noise has only developed within the last month.
The noise sounds like a very light "clunking". It is quite repetitive, like it is caused by something reciprocating. I have been unable to determine if its RPM related however, because I can only hear the noise when I'm outside the, and when I move the throttle cable my intake is too loud to tell if the noise is still there, and if it increases with increased RPMs. Also, the noise is only evident after the car has been driven, it does not make the noise upon initial startup. I deliver pizza, and I notice the noise when I get to a delivery and leave my car idling on the street when I go up to their door. As far as I can tell, the noise is not coming from one side of the car or the other, but is definately coming from the front half of the engine bay down below the level of the valvetrain (but more forward than the valvetrain). The fact that I can't determine which side of the engine its coming from worries me, like it might be a crankshaft problem. I have not noticed any loss of power, or change in performance, exhaust sound, intake sound, valve ticking sound, or anything like that.
Like I said, the noise is only noticeable outside the vehicle and is not very loud. I doubt a normal person would even notice it, but I have, and it wasn't there before. My A/C and radiator fans are off when i hear the noise, when they are on they are too loud for the noise to be evident, but I'm pretty positive it is still there, just drowned out.
Any thoughts would be appreciated, though I suppose i'll have to take it to my repair mechanic (I am my own mods mechanic) and see if I can point it out to him.
of small diameter rubber vacuum hose will help you do this. You can buy
the hose in any auto parts store. They typically sell it in bulk for about
US$0.80 per foot. Start the engine and let it idle. Put one end of the
hose in your ear and the other end near any suspected source of noise.
The engine compartment presents a cacophony of sound. The benefit
of the hose is that it isolates the sound from one specific area. Work safely!
Avoid contact with any moving parts!
You may find it interesting to explore the sounds of your engine with this
inexpensive tool. Each moving part has its own characteristic sound. For
example, listen to the muted clicking of the fuel injectors. They should
all sound alike. If you find one with a different sound (or no sound at
all) you have found a problem.
The dealer's service department is equipped with high-tech diagnostic
instruments. These are wonderful devices but they are expensive and the
dealer has to recover his cost by charging you for diagnostic time.
Sometimes the home mechanic can do legitimate diagnostic work with
nothing more than a rubber tube.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 792
re
BM's suggestion, great suggestion, just be careful...
the cooling fans in the front of the car can start at any time. make sure hair, clothing, etc... doesn't get too close to that area.
on the passenger side of the car, be sure you have nothing dangling like hair or clothing. the belts would love to grab at that kinda stuff...
becareful what you touch as much of that stuff can be hot, as you especially as you get near the exhaust manifolds/engine block. you don't want to touch those parts as they will burn.
good luck!
-V
BM's suggestion, great suggestion, just be careful...the cooling fans in the front of the car can start at any time. make sure hair, clothing, etc... doesn't get too close to that area.
on the passenger side of the car, be sure you have nothing dangling like hair or clothing. the belts would love to grab at that kinda stuff...
becareful what you touch as much of that stuff can be hot, as you especially as you get near the exhaust manifolds/engine block. you don't want to touch those parts as they will burn.
good luck!
-V
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Posts: n/a
Intake noise at idle
I have the same type of noise bothering me lately. I just replaced my stock intake system with a homemade cone intake. I noticed the noise after the switch but it's so slight that it could have been present with the stock intake but unnoticable because of the airbox. It definetly seems to be coming from the intake because I can hear it through the cone filter. I also just cleaned the throttle body and the noise is still there. Just like you it starts a when the car is warmed up and I can't hear it except at idle. It hasn't effected performance so I'm not too worried but it bugs me. If I find anything out I'll let you know. Boy! when we start messing with our cars we really start to notice the little things huh? Sometimes feels like an uphill climb towards perfection.
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ballerchris510
5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003)
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Sep 11, 2015 05:29 PM