1998 Nissan Maxima Noise from front end

LJJSCS

MEMBER
1998 NISSAN MAXIMA
3.0L
V6
FWD
AUTOMATIC
240,000 MILES

My car is making a loud rattling sound from the front end engine area. It sounds like a marble being shook in a tin can. It only makes this noise in Drive and Reverse.

Tuesday, July 22nd, 2014 AT 6:27 PM

3 Replies

FREEMBA

MECHANIC
1,152 POSTS

You'd be better off having a tech to listen to it in person. They'd usually do it at no charge, plus that first hand account would go much further that me trying to guess what the sound is like or what area underneath it comes from. (Unless, of course you could upload a video of the car clearly making the sound, that would be nice.)

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Tuesday, July 22nd, 2014 AT 7:10 PM

LJJSCS

MEMBER
2 POSTS

I don't have a video but I have some more details. Noise stops when belts are disconnected but returns when the serpentine belt is reconnected. The noise only sounds when in reverse and drive gears (no neutral nor park).

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Monday, August 4th, 2014 AT 5:36 PM

FREEMBA

MECHANIC
1,152 POSTS

Check the belt tensioner pulley for wobble or any indication that the bearings are about to fail.
With the belt off you can check each pulley for noise when you spin them by hand (this should help you locate the problem).

By the way, Is the a/c on when you hear this noise? If so, try it with the a/c off to see if it goes away.

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