Engine knock in 2003 at 1800 RPM ??

Jun 9th, 2003, 11:07 AM

Hi everyone. We're new here, but it looks like a great set of forums. We bought a 2003 Maxima in October. We love the feel and drive of the car, but it has been in the shop a couple of times for what appears to be an engine knock. Perhaps a fellow Maxima owner will have some insight into this, since so far we've had little success at the dealership...

The problem started overnight in February with what appeared to be an engine knock at 1100 RPM when under load generally up hill only. The problem eventually moved to 1800 RPM. It does this regularly and noticeably on 89 octane, much more and much louder on 87 octane (our manual indicates the car can use 87), and even sometimes on 91 octane. It always does it at 1800 RPM uphill and sometimes but less often when accelerating. It does not knock when revved at that RPM in park.

We've received different opinions at the shop. The shop foreman rode with me and said it was without question an engine knock. The service manager says the knock sensor doesn't indicate any knocking, and therefore it's not a knock but some other noise (no suggestion of what the source of noise could be though).

We feel that something may be wrong with both the oxygen sensor and the knock sensor. At any rate, the car sounds embarrassing, but the dealership indicates we'll have to deal with Nissan to authorize additional work to find and fix the problem.

Has anyone heard loud engine noises (knock or otherwise) from their Maxima at a certain RPM that is dependant upon octane level? It seems that on premium gas and supreme gas, there should be no such noises in this new car.

Thanks!

Mo and Sheila.

**Slurppie** · Jun 9th, 2003, 12:04 PM

I have noticed a knock going uphill around the same RPM. I only run 91+ octane and have noticed that BP gas lessens the knock. I have also noticed that the knock does not happen when the car is not warmed up. As for a solution I have known at this time

Jun 9th, 2003, 01:39 PM

Yes, I forgot that point. Especially in the cold weather, the car doesn't make this (apparantly knocking) noise until it has warmed up a few minutes.

What year is your car, and has it been looked at by a mechanic?

Thanks.

Sheila

**Slurppie** · Jun 9th, 2003, 01:45 PM

2002 Altima w/ the VQ35 and I have yet to take it into the dealer. To be honest I thought it might be due to having my timing advanced but now I'm thinking differently.

hnda etr · Nov 16th, 2003, 05:14 AM

why on earth would you advance the timing?

also in my opinion, and probably most maxima/altima owners, avoid the low octane gas - get the highest grade you can.

maximadave · Nov 16th, 2003, 01:29 PM

Nissan has a big recall on engine sensor that may cure your problem. I myself am noticing abnormal pinging and knocking. Just wait for the letter or email about the recall. For more info about the recall visit www.nissannews.com

BlueBOB · Nov 17th, 2003, 08:31 AM

advancing the timing gives greater performance...

and all the VQ's (95 and up max and V6 SE Altimas) require 90+ octane... if you've been running cheap gas, your car will run horribly. trust me... it isn't pretty

96_vqmax · Nov 17th, 2003, 11:47 PM

Yes,get better grade gas like BlueBOB said,our car was design to USE premium,anything less will likely degrade the performance of your car.I alway used 93 octane(in TX,I know in some other States it might be different) on my Max and no knock or pinging at all.As for the manuel,if I'm not wrong it said minimum octane was 91^ for Anti-knock.

Titan · Dec 9th, 2003, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maximadave

Nissan has a big recall on engine sensor that may cure your problem.

That recall is for crank position sensors. It doesn't have anything to do with knocking or pinging.

BlueBOB · Dec 10th, 2003, 08:00 AM

that's not 100% true. if the sensor is off and sending weird data but still sending data which would make the ECU think it's fine, then a LOT of things could be going wrong...

but it's probably his gas...

Sterling2000 · Dec 15th, 2003, 09:16 PM

My car knocked like it was on bad gas, then I went in and they replaced the ignition coils under warranty. This is on a 2k GLE however. Not sure about the setup on a 3.5L.

96_vqmax · Dec 21st, 2003, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueBOB

that's not 100% true. if the sensor is off and sending weird data but still sending data which would make the ECU think it's fine, then a LOT of things could be going wrong...

but it's probably his gas...

Yeah that's why I never get any cheap gas for my Max,alway Shell 1st,Chrevron,Exxon,and Texaco last in that order.But always 93 octane if possible.