I've got a kind of howling noise that sounds like it's coming from somewhere near the firewall, and varies weirdly with engine speed. It occurs to me the speed sensor might be the culprit. Can I run it with the sensor pulled to see if it goes away? I've got an AT. I assume the tranny fluid sloshes around some, but I don't have any sense of where the level is or how much pressure it's under. I'd probably tape over the hole but that obviously won't hold anything in.

 

its not expensive nor hard to replace it but I doubt you would be able to hear it. More than likely you hear your belt slipping. You do not want to run your engine without it as air will get in

 

http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...tion-idle.html

 

Thanks asand, I've been following that thread, since I think I have that too. But they're different noises.

Shock, I don't think it's a loose belt because it's much lower pitch than typical belt squeal, and I can't hear it over on that side. I may tighten the belts up though just to see, t hough. Since I hear it at idle, it didn't seem likely to be the VSS, but I'm grasping at straws here. I'll pull it just to check, but it's not likely enough for me to spend the $30 or so.

 

If you replace the VSS and need tips on how to remove it, read this link

http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...-pictures.html

New vss cost me $30.xx.
Comes with a new harness and the o-ring on it already.