Hello all,

I have a 2008 Nissan Maxima. It was throwing a cylinder one misfire code, then TPS light came on, and then a Bank One Cam Position Sensor code. I replaced the spark plugs and ignition coils and both bank one and bank two positions sensors (I originally ordered cheap replacements from Amazon and the car ran worse with those. Then I ordered Hitachi and the car fired right up and was running smoothly). After replacing all of that stuff, I test-drove the car. It started and idled great and there were no longer any codes or check engine lights. When I took it for a test drive, as soon as I gave it a little gas, there was a low growl from the engine compartment. It did that every time I punched it or increased rpms to around 2900 and above. It does not make the noise when it is in park. It also doesn't appear to affect performance, the car had no problem getting to and maintaining speed and as soon as the idle dropped, the noise went away.

I did find the air filter box is cracked and the filter itself was filthy. I am going to replace both of those.

Any Ideas on why the car is doing this? When I installed the cheap crappy cam position sensors it did something similar when I test drove it but was still throwing error codes for those banks. I don't want to take it to the shop but I am running out of ideas.

Thanks.

 

A growl...very strange, though we might be dealing with semantics.

Anyhoo: (1) Replace your air filter, (2) go to the local salvage yard and see if there is a 07/08 Maxima that you can pull the out box out of. If no dice on a used air box, then go buy some black Gorilla tape and patch the crack in your air box. Do it liberally. That should hold until you get new-to-you air box.

Now, does it still growl? If yes, does it growl, in park, with the engine being revved about 2900 rpms? If yes, then take your phone, have friend rev the engine, and you video record where the sound is coming from in the engine bay. Post said video here. Then someone should be able to help you out.

 

If in park, and it does not make noise even though revved past 2900 rpm, then it occurs, when driving, as soon as you hit 2900 rpm? Or when you go above a specific speed?

 

I am picking up a replacement filter today. I taped up the crack but didn't really slap a lot on, I will do that also. The "growl" does not happen in park, I can rev the engine over and over and there is no unusual sound. It only does it in drive (automatic transmission). I will take some videos and upload it this evening. Thanks for your response.

 

Ah, okay. So, maybe a pulley that one of the belts is attached to...or the CVT...

I never had a growl with the CVT but I did have a whining noise, which was do the CVT oil filter being constricted.

Again, does it occur when the engine revs 2900 rpm at any speed or just at a when you hit a certain speed? For example, does it growl when you go from a dead stop when you rev past 2900 rpms? And if you are on the highway, doing 60 mph, and the car is rev roughly at about 2100 rpms, if you rev it past 2900 rpm to accelerate to say 80 mphs, does it start growing then?

 

It first happens from a stop with moderate acceleration, under 2900 rpms but somewhere between 2000 - 2400. Then it stops. As long as you maintain a gentle acceleration, nothing but smooth engine sounds. If you punch it, and it gets to the 2900-3000 rpm range, the "growl" kicks in again until you reach speed and level off then the sound is gone. The faster you go, the more rpms it takes for the growl to sound. It almost sounds like a stock car that has had glass packs added to give the exhaust more punch. But it doesn't happen in park when revving the engine. But it is coming from the engine area, driver's side.

 

Super strange!

 

Here is a link to several videos of the growl.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/4FgkUBPanxh2FVBD8

​​This forum won't let me upload mp4 video.

 

Sounds like an exhaust leak to me...but it does not do it when you are in park.

Something is loose down there. Everything snug and tight until you increase the force by increase the rpms and then you get the noise.

What is loose? Who knows. Could be a suspension part, tranny mounts, or engine mounts. I wonder if it is one of the mounts, and when you come on it, some part is coming into contact with something else because the engine is moving too much in the engine bay.

 

Here is a video of excessive movement.

 

I thought about an exhaust leak but it sounds like it is coming from the driver's side of the engine closest to the windshield. Could it be the throttle body? I took it off to change the ignition coils and spark plugs. I put a new gasket in when I put it back on. From inside, it sounds like it is coming from the throttle body area of the engine.

 

Here are some video links I uploaded to youtube with the engine growl.

https://youtu.be/jGRT20sae6o

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2Ax-XGQBgKk
https://youtube.com/shorts/mrvFPUKpJAw

 

I replaced the filter and the box I salvaged from a Nissan Altima in the junkyard. That had no effect on the engine growl. Could it be the throttle body? I took it off a couple of times in the process of changing spark plugs and ignition coils. I did put on a new gasket when I put it back on for the final time.

 

Well, you're gonna have to go back over it to make sure everything you took apart is still tight, though I am imagine you would also have engine codes because air would be getting in above the MAF. If any of the 4 bolts are loose, then ya might have your smoking gun.

It could be the butterfly valve in the throttle-body, though that would be rare, but certainly not impossible. The valve plate could be loose on the spindle. The internal gear mechanism that controls the butterfly plate could also be shot.

Maybe this....

 

The VIAS valve kind of makes more sense to me. That engages at 3000 rpm so the engine can breather better at high rev/speeds.

This video shows VIAS valve making some noise over and above the engine, though the car is stationary.

 

Mine does the same noise or growl as I acerate from a stand still. I too replace plugs, rear coils, and gaskets. I get no codes and performance is better than ever. I have not checked the air box for cracks, but to me with any additional air would cause a lean mixture. Everything taken off seems to be in place and tight. Taking off without a heavy pedal, or in park, is fine and running down the hwy produces no noise. Too me the sound is more liking to a race car. The work was done three months ago and like I said the cars runs very well. So, I guess wait until a failure pops up but I will, like someone said, to ck the air box for cracks. I have a 2008 Max SL 108,000 miles.

 

Same here. Performance-wise, it's running great. The race car comparison is on point. It's my wife's car and she is afraid to drive it now because it wasn't making that noise before I did the repair. I drove it on the highway, turnpike, city streets, stop and go traffic and even left it running at the car wash while I cleaned inside and out. Not a single issue, check engine light or error code. I read in some other posts people with the same Generation Maxima saying the same thing about an engine noise but no other obvious problems. The Maxima has 184,000 miles and has started to have minor problems and my wife has lost faith in the car. It still needs a valve cover gasket replacement but the oil leak stopped after I added Barr's to it. We just need to get a few more months out of it then we can sell or trade it in for her new car.

 

My guy told me that he did remove a lot of carbon from the intake system and maybe it's taking in more air. However, I told him even when new it never made that sound. I did ck the air box and made sure a filter was in there and seems all okay. It's beyond me. Maybe a motor mount on that side. He told me to drive it for a while, has been three months, and then bring it back and he'll try and localize the noise. Car runs like new with the new plugs and gives me up to 28 mpg.

 

I put in a new throttle body. No change at all. The car is running great other than the noise. Oh, and I have a power steering fluid leak.

 

Just curious to know did this issue get resolved for anyone?

 

Well, nothing has changed on my 2008. I've ck everything I could visually, and all seems in place. Car is still running great with no hiccups. Some say exhaust but that's not it. Seems to be an air sucker but why not show up in park at any RPM? If it were extra air coming into the engine, you'd I think, get a lean mixture reading. Let her ride! I wonder if this could be put to Nissan, not the dealer, International. Has to be some propeller heads working there.

Going back to my 2003 Maxim, I think Nissan had engineered an exhaust system that gave the car an extra jump. I wonder if there is something like that on this car. However, when new I never heard this sound.

 

No resolve. Car runs great.

 

Same ole same ole...still running great. 5/14

 

Now on occasion but not every crank, having a long crank. I did just get a TCS OFF SLIP Light and service light that came on for the first time. That light went off on next crank bur still have the service light.Reset the whole control system, at battery, and will try her out today. I wonder, had both back wheel bearings replaced last fall. Maybe bad sensors. Haven't ck codes yet and will let my mechanic run through it. Maybe it's time for new brakes.
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UPDATE: To go on, I did something dangerous and read up on systems and fixies. Was suggested to ck all fluids and try to reset all controls
with gas pedal and or a battery disconnect. I did and drove it around and
got nothing as to lights. But now that I removed all codes, I'll have to wait until the next time this all happens. No need to have it ck until then. Car cranked and ran fine.