2004 Nissan Maxima Starting Noise

When I start my 04 Nissan Maxima (81K miles) after it has been standing still for a week or longer there is this metal like rattling sound for a few seconds. It can be clearly heard on this clip.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Nissan
• Maxima
• Noise

[iftekarahmed]

Have you found out the reason ?

[ConsumerAria51]

@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".

[viperracer03]

maxima's built 04 and later have problems with the timing chains ive heard, from my uncle whos a mechanic for nissan.

[ConsumerAria51]

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

[blove9387]

@GrifterS14 yea i guess i got lucky since i got the 03 model

[GrifterS14]

@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!

[blove9387]

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...

[gap091204]

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.

[2012nugget]

Just posted the fix....not an easy one I might add.

[TruAgape123]

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]

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.

[pbeilstein]

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

[jcsieben]

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.

[biggilles69]

what you got in there ?