Noises problem
1992 Nissan Maxima 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 177000 miles
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I have a 1992 Nissan Maxima with the 3.0L SOHC V-6, engine code "VG30E". The car has 177,000 miles on it and rus like new, (knock on wood). However, I brought my vehicle into the garage back in January 06' to have the timing belt, water pump, front cam seals, and front crank seal replaced for maintanence. Since the work was done, I have had a noise coming from the engine compartment, it kind of goes "clack, clack, clack, clack, clack, clack, clack". When the engine is cold it DOES NOT make the noise, when the engine gets to operating temp IT DOES make the noise, but only at IDLE, if you give the engine some throttle the noise goes away. I have put 27,000 miles on it since all work has been completed, and the noise has stayed the same, has not gotten louder nor quieter. In my opinion I really believe the noise is coming from the timing belt tensioner which I DID NOT have replaced. My theory is that when the car is cold, the belt is tight and when the car warms up the tensioner loosens up a hair and lets a hair of slack on the belt and the noise begins, but when you give the engine throttle the tensioner tightens up, takes the slack out of the belt, and the noise goes away. Now, I am not due for another belt until 210,000 miles, I have another 33,000 miles to go. Do you think the car is safe to continue driving until I reach the mileage or do you think the tensioner may become even more loose causing the timing belt to either jump time or come off thus bending all my valves in the cylinder heads? What do you think I should do? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Joe

Hi jpr0204,

I believe the tension of the belt could have been wrongly adjusted. If it is loose you ought to have it adjusted as a loose belt would be easier to snap when it grows older.

When engine is cold, the rpm is higher due to cold start valve so you would not hear the noise.