When I start my car and back up or move forward from a parking space, i hear a winding sound coming from the motor. It sounds like the ABS kicking in but im not pressing the brake. Also, do we have an ABS light? Cuz I dont see one when I activate it.

 

Since I don't know what year you have, I'm going to answer based on a 2001 SE. Yes you have ABS, and the light on the dash should only come on for about a second when you turn the key on. Your pump motor is supposed to test once per ignition cycle, but not until 16 mph. It is probably noticable when it cycles the pump for testing, but shouldn't be doing it in a parking space or when maneuvering around at slow speed. I believe that the traction control system (on the 5th gen anyway) will only limit power and tansmission shifting, not engauge the brakes via the ABS module. If you're getting an unusual noise from the engine compartment, is it possibly something else entirely, like an air pump or your AC clutch making noise? A simple way to tell if it's the ABS motor is to feel the pedal while it is making the noise. If you can feel the pedal vibrating it's likely the ABS motor, otherwise it is probably something else making noise.

 

If its a quick 1 or 2 second whining noise, it's probably your electronic motor mounts. Mine has always done this 1 to 2 second whine, I was told it was normal from the electronic motor mounts. Maybe that is what you are hearing

 

Not to scare anyone, I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that when you hear a whining noise coming from your mounts (which I'm sure is what your hearing). Its not a good sign... Acually there has been cases where the motor mounts fail( making that whining noise is a sign of a failing mount), its can actually blow your ecm. Lots of people will unplug there there mounts. The front mount harness is one of the two plugs attached to the bracket on the top left of the heat sheild on the exhaust manifold, I didn't read to far into. It so I'm not to sure on the location of the other electronic mount ( I think there's only two out of three that are electric, the other option is to buy solid urethane fillers for them but I hear there tricky to install . But what They will do is have someone like a friend or whom ever rev the engine and you unplug the wire will the rpms are high in order to keep the mounts firm.it will suck if you just unplug them without revving the motoe because they will remain soft and high rpm drive ability will suffer from an uncomfortable ride. Again I'm not 100 percent sure, it would be a good idea to check into it though.

Ps. I'm sure if its a short whining noise like blue max 01se said its just your mounts "activating" but if it last longer than let's say... 5 seconds its not a good sign.

Best of luck

 

my CSVT would do that after about half a wheel (axle) revolution once per ignition cycle.

in my case it was the ABS pump "priming"? bout a 3/4 second buzz consisting of the same sound as when i activated ABS

 

my bad. i gots an 02 SE. yea the whine is only 1-2 secs. I did not know we had electronic MM. how the hell does that work?

also when i do try to lock up the breaks, there is no ABS light. Dont worry, i was in the snow/ice so no real hard breaking.

 

ABS light doesn't come on when they're in use, it comes on when there's a problem

no abs light

 

The motor mounts change how firm or soft they are. At engine idle, they are soft so they will soak up engine vibrations and get firm for driving when the engine rpm's are above 1,000. They are not used on cars with manual transmissions.

I don't have any actual experience with bad mounts, but from what I have read, they will keep making noise after the car has been turned off. So people have learned to unplug them to save the ecu. Like getflushed said, you do this with engine running faster than 1,000 rpm so that the mounts are in the firm mode.

 

it kinda sounds like a servo......That's it!!!!! Normally when you first start up and shutdown.....

 

So when these presumably mega-spendy mounts wear out, one can theoretically replace them with mounts for a manual tranny engine?

 

No theorietically about it. The two types of motor mounts are 100% interchangeable.

 

manual mounts w/ES inserts all day!

 

ill check into that. thanks guys for all the inputs. Definately helps more than myself to get a very clear answer

 

I was told by the service manager at my local nissan that it is only the front electric mount that can fry to ecu. He also stated that a quick fix is to unplug it and remove the connectors inside the mounts plastic connector piece and plug it back in. So its connected into the ecu plug but there is no connection without the metal connectors. Its funny because he told me he doesn't even know why they have electric motor mounts because when unplugged they perform the same.

 

well thats dumb. nice first post

 

i changed from the electronic to manual motor mounts and all is well got rid of the clunking noise over bumps and that awful loud buzzing sound at start-up and engine shutdown. i found all four engine mounts from a place in California. one day i'll get around to installing the top two. there is an excellent description on here about how to change the mounts out. they saved me a ton of extra work not to mention the money i saved doing it myself.

 

can i have the link for how to change the mount cuz my is bad also i need the name of the place