How do I discern if it is the CVT whining or the power steering? The whine can't be heard when the heat or ac is on but it's there especially loud upon acceleration and cold start up... What do you guys think?

 

Have you topped of the power steering fluid?

 

Yes I just topped it off about 20 minutes ago. It seems to get low every week because this is the 3rd time in 3 weeks I had to top it off. when I topped it off this time I didnt hear the whine as much , if at all. I also had to top off coolant twice , but mechanic says the 7th gen Maxima uses a open cooling system and not to worry about it ? (Is this true?) Thank you so much for your reply by the way.

 

I'll answer your question (Is it true?) with a question. If it is true then have you been topping off coolant occasionally in the past? If not then it is something to worry about as that coolant is going somewhere, especially if there is no puddles under the car. I've had my 09 for almost 8 years and never had to add coolant except to change it out.

 

Yes I have had to add coolant twice in past two weeks. The radiator is full of coolant, but the tank on the passenger right side in front engine bay is empty. Like completely empty. Any ideas? It's a 2009 Maxima

 

The coolant is causing the whine but you definitely have another problem besides the whine if you have coolant missing. Get a big ol cardboard box,put it under the car. Let it run and see where the coolant is dripping. That issue has to be addressed

 

The whine is most likely you Power Steering (Losing fluid, quiets down when added) Is it hose or pump?
Hopefully, your coolant is going on the ground and not in the heads. (Down and dirty check is to check the oil and make sure it isn't "creamy") I just had to replace my radiator a year ago but there is a plastic "manifold" that connects the Radiator to the Cap, Upper hose and the overflow reservoir. That too had stress cracks that leaked and caused the reservoir to empty frequently (week or two)

 

Also, not sure if it's the same with the Max. but on my MDX, the transmission cooler was attached to the radiator, and had a crack, so coolant was leaking into the transmission fluid and vice versa, is the color of the coolant normal?

 

The oil dipstick isn't creamy and looks good. I checked the oil cap and it looks clean too. No signs of coolant mixing with oil.. the coolant in the radiator is still the old green 50/50 that was in the car when I purchased it last year. The only coolant that I have put into the car is the blue Nissan coolant (which I can see is still on reserve iguess? Because at very bottom of the reserve coolant tank (I'm guessing thats what it is?) On the passenger side, I can look through the passenger wheel well and I see blue coolant . Which means that somehow the coolant is stuck there? How can I be losing the blue coolant In the coolant tank, but the coolant is still at the very bottom of the tank when I look through the passenger wheel well? I can tell there is at least some of the coolant left that I added, because I can look through the wheel well near the bottom of the car and see the blue coolant I added. Also, besides topping off the coolant tank 3 times in the past 3 weeks with blue Nissan coolant, only 50/50 green coolant was used in the car before this... Any suggestions?

 

UV radiator dye, blacklight and glasses. Indispensible for finding leaks. Make sure you dont spill any dye or overfill or you will be seeing nothing but floresence.