I was checking my oil today and had the key in the ON position. Popped the hood and I heard a clicking noise:



No idea what it is. The noise is not as pronounced in person as it is in the video (crappy cell phone), but it still concerns me. I went and turned the key to OFF and the noise stopped. It sounded like a valve (solenoid maybe) was closing/opening when I did this, too. Anyone ever heard this before? I haven't got a clue. Thanks.

 

Before I heard the video clip I was thinking electric motor mounts. But that sounds too loud, sounds mechanical. Try unplugging the mounts anyway to rule them out.

 

did you rev the engine a bit to see if it gets faster or stays the same. Does sound like it is in the engine or in the bay. My first thought was maybe a bearing as my 96 monte spun a bearing and it sounded kinda like that.

you know it also could be something vibrating off something else..

 

^^ jeff5347, his engine is off with key in the "on" position when the sound is heard. I'll check my car when I get a chance to see if I have something like that. Somehow, I recall experiencing something similar a while back.

 

sounds like my 97..... but that is a nissans ways to let you know your low on oil it sounds like valve chatter.... try turning it on and reving it if the sound goes away add some oil and you should be good. mine was caused from blown oil pan gasket. but any nissan i have ever seen does that if its low on oil and if low enough can sound like knocking rod or lifter even... but try oil and see if it goes away

 

I'll try that today if I can get a chance.

Yea as Nelsito said, the engine is off when this happens.

Thanks man, let me know what you find out.

 

My VQ does not burn oil. It doesn't make that noise when the engine is on, and even if it did, it would be very hard to hear. Thanks though.

 

I do have a similar sound when I turn the key to the ON position. It is a continuous sound, unlike the one in your video, and it's more like a faint air compressor sound. It is also coming from that same area, as if it is from around the starter. If I start the car I can't tell if it's still there. When I turn the car off leaving the key in the ACC position and go back to the ON position, without starting the engine, the sound is no longer heard. If I turn the key completely to the OFF position and then back ON, then I hear it again, althought that is not always the case. I have no idea what could that be nor do I know if it is harming anything ......

 

sorry, my bad i must have read right past that part

 

Yea I'm clueless. I went to wal-mart earlier and popped the hood after I got back while the engine was still running. Couldn't hear it at all. After I turned the key to OFF and then back to ON the noise is there again. Would the starter make a noise like that?

 

No, it's not powered at that position.

 

Did you get around to disconnecting the motor mounts?

 

its ur evap solenoid valve. get a stethoscope to confirm. leave it on the evap control solenoid valve from startup till the car is warm and ull hear it i just replaced mine.

 

TADA BINGO

 

theres a squirrel living in your airbox

 

Haven't had a chance yet.

So the evap solenoid is bad? Needs to be replaced?

 

Thanks for your help...

 

id start with a stethoscope to make sure, but id say chances are the evap solenois needs to be replaced.

 

I don't have one and I'm away at school. Does autozone (or any other auto parts store) let you borrow an item like this? Is this what I'm looking for? (If it is in fact the evap solenoid that is bad)

 

Can anyone confirm this?

 

I don't know if this will help or confuse the situation, but here's a diagram of the EVAP system. I think the valve your troubleshooting is 14920 in the first drawing. You should be able to hold a screwdriver on the part and hold your ear to the handle to locate the clicking.
Please someone correct me if I'm wrong.

http://www.courtesyparts.com/maxima-...1988_1991.html

 

Do you have a harborfeight near by? They have the stethoscope for like $3.
Or you can simply use a long screwdriver too as mentioned by rvamaxima.

 

I have the same noise when i turn off my car it sounds like really really weird noise too so i know what your talking about personally after i got my remote start on my car i barely hear it at a so iono i got used to it and just let it be

 

I had similar problem with my Maxima 98, and I found out that the problem was the MAP sensor solenoid valve. It was always on, even if the car was off, also battery went dead overnight. Yours could be something else, but I just giving you a clue.