Hi everyone, I have wondered about the sounds that I hear at startup and make me uneasy sometimes. It just occurred to me now that of anywhere that I could get my questions answered, as I always have for other things... this is the place! Anyway... There are a couple that I wanted to ask about. First, when you first shift into gear (auto) when the car is cold in the morning, do you hear the transmission 'clunk' into gear? It's been like this since we first bought the car (new) in 98. I suppose that it might actually be the brakes, since I know the car jerks forward a bit when I go into gear w/o holding the brake but the clunk is not noticeably there. However, I don't know if it's gotten gradually worse or not since I have gotten it. The sound disappears entirely once the car is warmed, but never fails to appear when cold. Perhaps it's the higher revs (idle) or cold tranny fluid when first started. Also, I have noticed just recently that when I first start, I hear a scratchy high pitch noise from the sides of the car, when moving only. (brakes?) But it is gone once warm also. Maybe it's the brake still on the disk, riding it when cold? and oh yeah, btw, is it ok to bend away the circular looking 'thing' right in the center of the engine bay, under where the strut bar goes (mine touches it)? (I know, very technical explanation, huh?)

98 SE Auto 27500 miles

Thanks everyone!!

or... maybe this all has to do with: http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....threadid=53203

 

You probably have the right answers to the first two questions, but what is 'the circle thing'?

 

Yeah, I knew I'd lose you in the technical jargon (i.e. 'circle thing') j/k... actually, for lack of knowledge, I can only tell you more about where it is, rather what it is. Ok, imagine where the strut bar goes, in relation to the engine. then, think what parts, above the engine lay in that area, and right in about the center or a few inches off. It's circular and is attached by a metal bracket to be in that place. Also, I was wondering more if everyone else hears those noises I was speaking of, as well.

Thanks!,

Amit

 

Is it plastic,kind of a wide oval, and surrounds the throttle cables?

 

it's a perfect circle, with a metal tube coming out of it. attached to another metal tube via a short flexible tube that's not metal.

 

And its directly in front of the firewall?

 

firewall... hmmmm... sorry, i'm not sure.

 

The thing that separates the inside of the car, and the engine (its painted the same color as your car and has a metal plate attached to it). If that is the part you mean (its black and plastic), then that is the thottle cable housing, but the FSTB shouldn't be that far back. The onlyt other thing in the way possibly is the brake fluid resevoir, but that is way over to one side.

 

I think I know which one the brake fluid reservoir is, but it's not that. this is relly odd... it's like an extra part that I have. Well, not really. I mean, it really isn't that far back. It's right in contact of the FSTB, but ok... not exactly center. It's a few inches to the right, when looking from the front of the car, hood open. that help at all?

 

Nothing there in my car. Sorry. Anyone else?

 

whoa, seriously?... what year is your's?... auto?... that's interesting... no black circular thing in the way of the fstb area, above engine. hmmmm... (conspiracy....)

 

Clunky jerky automatic transmission is pretty much normal for Maximas. Mine isn't very smooth either.

As for the odd noise, sounds like your brake wear indicators.

 

I just went out and checked my 96 auto GXE. I have Courtesy's FSTB. I see a black perfectly cirle device, on one side of the FSTB towards the car front, and yes maybe an inch or two closer to driver's side of the car. You know the FSTB and throttle cable forms an angle. That circle device is right in that angle, sitting on a metal bracket. It's not just a flat circle, but two stage circle with the top one smaller. Base circle is about one and half inch and the top circle is maybe 3/4 inch. In my car it's kind of far from touching the FSTB.

 

thanks... did you move it out of the way to get it like that? About the noise, if it's the break wear indicators, don't they stay on even once warm then?... is it too early for breaks at 27500?...

 

Not at all. I just put FSTB on.
My car has 33K miles now. The 30K mile service report said the brake pad has 60% or 70% left, don't remember exatcly how much but is far from needed replacement.

 

Maybe your FSTB is a "low profile" type? It could vary from one brand to another. My Courtesy FSTB is high in the middle section all accross to the strut, then goes down at an angle to join the mounting brackets. The middle portion touches the black thing attached to the hood. It's not very deep but I do see the mark accross all the way.

 

a mechanic put my fstb on... maybe i should check with someone else to make sure that it's on exactly right... i don't really see how to mess it up, but it's definitely touching... and oddly enough... it's the cause of a crunching noise when it rubs the FSTB.

 

Usually I don't do big things on car as I don't know too much. However for such "small" and straightforward thing I always do it by myself for fun and for money saving as well.