good thing i have an 03 max!!!!nissans are the best cars dude trust me....cars gonna have problems but i understand them not wanting to help kinda sucks...
@blove9387 '03 Maximas don't have issues, That generation Maxima was part of the last generations of Nissans that were designed before the French started cutting corners. I have a 4th generation Maxima with 279k on the clock, runs like a champ, My 240SX was just as reliable. Same with our Altima. Our 2004 Quest tho.. junk!
i have same problem..and i think those are the lifters that is making the noise.
the car is still running good, no need for me to replace the engine or open the engines to replace fix the lifters. I switch 20/50 oil (thicker oil) and the noise is gone.
Now u have nissans having fuel pumps going out, air conditioners that quit, alternators that quit well before 100,000 miles. Over all, Nissans reliability has taken a fall since Renault's influence. French reliability is horrible. The same is true for their airlines. Air France has one of the WORST safety records. Nissan bring ur reliability up to THE BEST in the industry where ur cars last practically forever with nearly zero problems. The 4th gen Maxima is a good example.
U guys r missing the bigger issue here. When Nissan partnered with Renault, Nissan took their lead in installing cheaper parts to curb costs. Renault has THE WORST reliability EVER. and Nissan r not designed to last like they used to. Now Nissans start out being anywhere from better than a average to much worse than average In their first year and then quickly deteriorate just like a Renault would do.
I've got this same sound. I agree that these cars are spunky, but they've got problems. The rear wheel bearing went on mine recently. I bought the parts online and did the work myself. Just need a set of tools, a bit of stamina and a good afternoon to change out.
No: sold Maxima to CarMax and got me a Honda. It wasn't just this timing chain tensioner issue, but I had some serious manual transmission issues and a pesky shimmy in my steering wheel within one year of buying the car (new) that were never resolved, and I understand that things can break, but it was the Nissan's unwillingness to help me out whilst under warranty and their sneakiness to get around my 5 year extended warranty that made me "walk away and don't look back".
@ConsumerAria51 04 Maximas were nightmares, the same as the 00 and 01s. It's sad because these are nice cars, they got spunk but things break on them that should never ever break. I got a 2000 and since 2008 I've dropped nearly $2k in fixing things plus another known $500 to fix a leaking A/C condenser this summer.
my guess is that weird noise when you start your max is due to there is not enough oil in the engine, i didn't check my oil before i realized my engine consumed most of it.
Yeah, mine did the exact same thing. Took to the Nissan dealership today. They did an engine flush and oil change (synthetic). They said if you have gotten an oil change somewhere else to make sure the place uses an authentic Nissan oil filter or equivalent. The Nissan filter has a special port that allows the VQ engine to lubricate the top part of the valve train right away. It seemed to do the trick, the technician said everything looks good now. It cost around $160.00. I will update.
check the oil before start up...my 05 does the same thing...and for some reason oil disappears from the engine...i have 194.000 miles on mine 05 max...and after only a month...i was down three quarts of oil...but get this...no leaks, no smoke, no burning the oil...and i use royal purple or mobile one it's whole life...go figure...when my car starts to knock, i check the oil, i was down three last month....even the techs at nissan can't figure this out...all they do is scratch their asses.
Yeah I am afraid it's one of the timing chains, or a tensioner that's stuck or bust. The car is at the dealership. They are keeping it for a week so they can reproduce it - I posted this video especially for them so they didn't have to do this, ah well
timing chain sprokets
colombia555 1 week ago
good thing i have an 03 max!!!!nissans are the best cars dude trust me....cars gonna have problems but i understand them not wanting to help kinda sucks...
blove9387 4 weeks ago
@blove9387 '03 Maximas don't have issues, That generation Maxima was part of the last generations of Nissans that were designed before the French started cutting corners. I have a 4th generation Maxima with 279k on the clock, runs like a champ, My 240SX was just as reliable. Same with our Altima. Our 2004 Quest tho.. junk!
GrifterS14 2 weeks ago
@GrifterS14 yea i guess i got lucky since i got the 03 model
blove9387 2 weeks ago
i have same problem..and i think those are the lifters that is making the noise.
the car is still running good, no need for me to replace the engine or open the engines to replace fix the lifters. I switch 20/50 oil (thicker oil) and the noise is gone.
gap091204 4 weeks ago
Just posted the fix....not an easy one I might add.
2012nugget 2 months ago
Now u have nissans having fuel pumps going out, air conditioners that quit, alternators that quit well before 100,000 miles. Over all, Nissans reliability has taken a fall since Renault's influence. French reliability is horrible. The same is true for their airlines. Air France has one of the WORST safety records. Nissan bring ur reliability up to THE BEST in the industry where ur cars last practically forever with nearly zero problems. The 4th gen Maxima is a good example.
TruAgape123 2 months ago
U guys r missing the bigger issue here. When Nissan partnered with Renault, Nissan took their lead in installing cheaper parts to curb costs. Renault has THE WORST reliability EVER. and Nissan r not designed to last like they used to. Now Nissans start out being anywhere from better than a average to much worse than average In their first year and then quickly deteriorate just like a Renault would do.
TruAgape123 2 months ago
wow crossing my fingers this doesnt happen to my 04 its got almost 110k miles on it and 40k miles left on its 150k mile warranty
pbeilstein 3 months ago
I've got this same sound. I agree that these cars are spunky, but they've got problems. The rear wheel bearing went on mine recently. I bought the parts online and did the work myself. Just need a set of tools, a bit of stamina and a good afternoon to change out.
jcsieben 5 months ago
what you got in there ?
biggilles69 7 months ago
Have you found out the reason ?
iftekarahmed 10 months ago
@iftekarahmed
No: sold Maxima to CarMax and got me a Honda. It wasn't just this timing chain tensioner issue, but I had some serious manual transmission issues and a pesky shimmy in my steering wheel within one year of buying the car (new) that were never resolved, and I understand that things can break, but it was the Nissan's unwillingness to help me out whilst under warranty and their sneakiness to get around my 5 year extended warranty that made me "walk away and don't look back".
ConsumerAria51 10 months ago
@ConsumerAria51 04 Maximas were nightmares, the same as the 00 and 01s. It's sad because these are nice cars, they got spunk but things break on them that should never ever break. I got a 2000 and since 2008 I've dropped nearly $2k in fixing things plus another known $500 to fix a leaking A/C condenser this summer.
How do you like your Honda compared to this?
7477238 10 months ago
You need to Replace both secondary timing chains and both secondary timing chain tensioner "shoes
mrtimbola 11 months ago
i been using lukas oil and synthetic blend 10/30 on my altima 3.5 ...so far soo good ..the dealer oil filter didn`t make any difference
altimax9091 11 months ago
same problem---junk
azo9959 1 year ago
Do you still have the same car? What happened - did the dealership fix the tensioners, how much did it cost you? Was it worth it?
drii0327 1 year ago
Looks like its the tensioners! I love my Max but Nissan should (and did eventually) know better.
drii0327 1 year ago
my guess is that weird noise when you start your max is due to there is not enough oil in the engine, i didn't check my oil before i realized my engine consumed most of it.
srgremlin 1 year ago
Yeah, mine did the exact same thing. Took to the Nissan dealership today. They did an engine flush and oil change (synthetic). They said if you have gotten an oil change somewhere else to make sure the place uses an authentic Nissan oil filter or equivalent. The Nissan filter has a special port that allows the VQ engine to lubricate the top part of the valve train right away. It seemed to do the trick, the technician said everything looks good now. It cost around $160.00. I will update.
drii0327 1 year ago
check the oil before start up...my 05 does the same thing...and for some reason oil disappears from the engine...i have 194.000 miles on mine 05 max...and after only a month...i was down three quarts of oil...but get this...no leaks, no smoke, no burning the oil...and i use royal purple or mobile one it's whole life...go figure...when my car starts to knock, i check the oil, i was down three last month....even the techs at nissan can't figure this out...all they do is scratch their asses.
marinessgt1971 2 years ago
maxima's built 04 and later have problems with the timing chains ive heard, from my uncle whos a mechanic for nissan.
viperracer03 2 years ago
Yeah I am afraid it's one of the timing chains, or a tensioner that's stuck or bust. The car is at the dealership. They are keeping it for a week so they can reproduce it - I posted this video especially for them so they didn't have to do this, ah well
ConsumerAria51 2 years ago