Maxima9750

My 2003 GLE 3.5L is making some rattling noises. When you rev the engine up, it is difficult to hear until you let off the gas, but if you hold it at a around 2K-3K, you can hear it. It also makes a lot of ticking noises when idling. It's difficult to describe so I recorded a video of it. I first did it inside the car so you can see the tach and what RPM the engine is it, then I did it under the hood and moved the camera around bit to try to show where the noise is loudest. It sounds like it is coming from somewhere around the intake manifold but it could be coming from underneath it too. Another problem it is having is when you floor it in first and the trans shifts into second gear, it shifts to second at about 6100-6300RPM, drops to 4100-4300 RPM, shoots up to about 5000RPM, then jerks back to 4500RPM. When driving like normal, the trans shifts fine in every gear, when it is at WOT and the trans shifts from second to third, it is smooth and shifts as it should. I will try to get a video of that later. I always run 93 octane Shell or BP gas, and it doesn't start making the engine noise until the engine warms up. The transmission problem goes away after it does the first to second shift at WOT 2 or 3 times; it shifts properly and smoothly. This problem started after the 60K mile service and one of the things they did was a transmission fluid dran/re-fill and they used Dextron-III. Nissans says that it is supposed to have Nissan Matic-D fluid. Is there a difference between the two? The service was done at Midas since they wanted $250 and Nissan wanted $800. Nissan looked at the car and said that they don't know what the noise is, however it is definatley not the engine making the noise. There are no error codes or SES light. BTW, the engine doesn't sound so high-pitched and whiney and it is a bit quieter when it is idling, video quality went down the crapper when I uploaded it to Photo Bucket. Any guesses as to what it might be?

Thanks in advance

Video:

SoonerFan

iTrader: (5)

thats the timing chain rattling.

causes -
bad tensioner
low oil

Maxima9750

Do you think this is related to my transmission problem?

SoonerFan

iTrader: (5)

doubtful

wyche89

yeah, the tranny problem is probably a seperate issue... mine is doing that after a flush too and i dont know if my gears are bad or if i shouldnt have flushed it or what.. but from what understand the only time you shouldnt flush a tranny is if the fluid is like BLACK.. or really dark.. then it's best to leave it alone.. but mine was only light brown, so i figured i was alright.. i posted a thread about it, but i don't know what to do now

wyche89

heres what i found on nissanhelp.com:

VARIOUS NISSAN MODELS; ABNORMAL SHIFTING OF AUTO TRANSAXLE (RE4F04B/W)
An Applied Vehicle equipped with an automatic transaxle has ALL of the following
conditions:
• Abnormal shifting (like: slip, "shift shock", no shift, improper shift timing)
• Transmission fluid is not burnt
• No excessive debris in oil pan*
• The incident is listed as an A/T internal fault as per the Electronic Service Manual
(ESM) diagnostic procedure

and after that it talks about cleaning the transmission fluid cooler in the radiator, which is right here: http://www.nissanhelp.com/Ownership/.../NTB00-056.htm


this could also be an issue.. this is for 2000-2001 maximas, but we have the same transmissions, so im guessing it would still apply: http://www.nissanhelp.com/Ownership/.../NTB00-039.htm

CMax03

iTrader: (3)

Hey Guy,
IF I were you! I would get the sorry Dextron out of your Xmission and put the right Nissan recommended fluid! I know for a fact that dextron destroys more Xmissions than any other fluid out there! I 've seen this on Mopar Minivans and they normally last about 250 miles before they destroy themselves! If I used a dextron fluid it would be dextron 4 since it has all the anti-foaming agents/additives in it! Best thing is go by the Owners manual

jasonmax

iTrader: (2)

sounds like your exhaust pipe loosen

MaxBoost925

iTrader: (33)

What in the world are you talking about?

CMax03

iTrader: (3)

I guess if that question is asked...never turned wrenches for a living?

SoonerFan

iTrader: (5)

so if people havent done it for a living, they dont know what they are talking about

from the owners manual -

Nissan Matic “D” (Continental U.S. and Alaska) or Canada NISSAN Automatic
Transmission Fluid*4
*4: DexronTMIII/MerconTM or equivalent may also be used.

looks like you are wrong since the owners manual says that Nissan says that it can be used

pimpin02max

iTrader: (6)

Cool, I have the same noise on my '02 and have been wondering what it was...also I was wondering can this have any long term bad effects???

antonello104

I also have this noise , i belive that it is the heat sheld near the rear exhaust manfold i think. or one of the many heat shelds that are on the car i have taken off as many as i could but the last one i cant get to must be it i will try to post some pictures..

Michaels_maxima

I'm having these same issues did you ever go d out the what tha problem was?

mazda626es

iTrader: (1)

There is a similar problem on my girlfriends car. But only when the car is shut off. I'm 99.9 percent sure its the exhaust, as it sounds like a hollow pipe rattle and it sounds like its coming from underneath the car passenger side. The exhaust bracket broke off the car and I think the way the mechanic welded it back on made it touch the vehicle ever so slightly.

svillegas2253

I started getting that same rattling noise on my 03 6spd. Hear a couple rattles when I shift to 2nd gear. But mostly when you let off the accelerator and turn the car off

Please let us know if someone knowsthee exact cause of this as it getts annoying sometimes