I just bought a used 2010 SV last month, and I can't say this noise wasn't there when I bought it.

I'm thinking this is probably normal, but wanted to be sure. I'll try to describe the best I can.

When I get in the car, close the door, and just go to Acc on the ignition, there's a strange sound. Almost like a short, deadened beep. When I go to On then back to Off there's a similar sound.

Now if I cycle through all of those positions again, it doesn't happen. But if I open and close the door, and repeat, that noise comes back.

So it only happens once, until the door is opened and closed. It's not the fuel pump ramping up like in another thread I saw. This sound is definitely in the cabin, under the dash, drivers side.

UPDATE #1:
Here's video of the noise:
http://youtu.be/psCEed0QEM0

UPDATE #2:
It appears to be the locking/unlocking of the steering wheel that's making this noise. So problem or normal?

Any Ideas?
Thanks!

 

No clue man my 2010 doesn't do anything like you're describing ... but 2 similar thoughts:

1.) The car has a feature where the tilt steering wheel will tilt up / down on entry exit (adjustable via the in-dash monitor) If you're steering wheel is NOT working maybe it's something with it?

2.) Very similar the drivers seat has a feature where it slides back a few inches on entry/exit - are your power seats working?

 

No power tilt, or auto back on the seats.

I've posted a video of the sound and when it happens.
At about 4 seconds you can hear it when I go into Acc. And at about 20 you can faintly hear the second sound when I open the car door.

http://youtu.be/psCEed0QEM0

Thanks

 

Zman. After you mentioned the power tilt thing it got me thinking, and I've discovered what is causing the noise. It whatever mechanism locks /unlocks the steering wheel. When I turned the switch to off, jerk the wheel to lock it, and then go through the process, I can see the steering let go from it's locked position at the same time I hear the noise.
So the question now is, should I get it serviced or are others hearing the same?

 

seems like the SV's have a ton of problems.

Don't mean to be sarcastic but it's a Nissan (don't get mad, I have a nissan to. In fact, it's the same car as yours). So if you can ignore the noise then that would probably be the best bet.

 

my SV doesn't have any problems. im noticing its the 2010-2011's that seem to have more issues than the 09's

 

my 2011 SV has no issues ...

 

And my '09 has also been trouble-free from day one.

According to the rating services I have seen, the 7th gen Maxima not only does not have a 'ton of problems', but rates no lower than average in reliability in every category in which I have seen cars evaluated. It is above average in reliability in most rating services I depend on, such as TrueDelta.

 

Finally had time to have this looked at. They told me it's normal, and it's just the solenoid for the steering lock making the noise. I told them, "No it's not normal, and if it is show me another Max on the lot that does it." They tried two, and neither made the noise. So the steering lock is ordered and will be replaced.
On another note it was funny the one tech sat in my car and noticed the interior LED's. He asked if I installed a lighting kit in the foot wells. I know he was getting ready to say I messed with the electrical and that was causing the problem. Stopped him in his tracks when I said, "No it's not a kit. I just replace the stock bulbs." These guys, I'll tell ya."

 

Ha...good thing that you pressed to get it replaced...i just had that happen...where the Steering Lock Module went bad...leaves you stranded!
Anywho...did they give you an ETA on that part arrival? as far as i know there is no ETA on its backorder...anyways...if you get stranded by it www.partsvoice.com will show you a "secret" dealer's stack of this part only available to nissan customers

 

yeah i had a tech start talkin to me about my intake spacers when i came in with a radiator/coolant issue (not a defect, result of an accident that Geico apparently missed). i cut him off short and was like "yea luckily nobody is dumb enough to think intake spacers could even possibly be related to a coolant issue" and he sorta backed off. ive challenged them on a few other things and they stopped trying, then again i think all their mechanics are idiots so not planning on going back.

 

No they didn't give me an ETA, and I don't know the part number to use that site if needed. Do you by chance have it? Has yours been replaced, or are you still waiting on the part?

 

I hear ya. I have about 6000 left on the warranty, then I can go back to my brother-in-law who is the crew chief on a racing team, and has more knowledge about cars then all of these guys combined.

The one tech actually told me they could only reproduce the sound once. After that, it didn't happen again. I told him he needs to open the door for the lock to engage, and then hit the Start to hear it consistently. Idiot... LOL

 

this shoudl give you an idea...
http://forums.maxima.org/7th-generat...not-start.html