2003 FX45 Pings

[AVFX45]

Hi Forum :-)

I have a 2003 FX45. It was bought (leased) in New york, and then shipped out to California when I moved here.

The engine pings.

The dealer service advisor brought this to my attention about 1 month ago. He told me it pinged "real bad". When I asked him what I could do about it, he told me to use "proper quality gas". I told him that I hever never ever used anything but 91 octane gas in this car. His response was "Well, try anyways". -And I was to use only Chevron fuels.

So, after 2.5 tanks of Chevron 91 octane with no change in the pinging, I went back to the dealer. This time they added a fuel treatment to the gas and revved the engine to 4000 rpm 5 times. Told me to do the same if the pinging continued. As I was driving off the dealer parking lot, the pinging was right there again. -But I thought I'd go through the remaining amount of "treated" gas I had in the tank.

1 week later, that was done. And the car still pinged. Back to the dealer I went. This time they removed part of the intake system, manually cleaned carbon deposits out and manually flushed the system (whatever that means) and relearned the engine computer.

The engine still pings.

Prior to these issues, I have had numerous other problems:

Loose drivers seat (4 repairs)

Warped brake rotors ("That's normal on FX's")

Tick noise from the front suspension (That's normal suspension movement")

Lots of rattles from various locations in the car

Intermittent whine frm the transmission.

I am getting so incredibly frustrated with the car. I am hoping someone in this forum can suggest what to do to remedy the engine pinging.

I am unfortunately past the first 12 months / 18000 miles where the lemon laws provide an option for a lawsuit and terminating a lease.

[Jason B]

Has your dealer resolved this?

[AVFX45]

It does appear that after yet another tank of Chevron with extra Techron added, the pinging is gone. What remains is an internittent rattle when the engine is idling.

[PalmerWMD]

It does appear that after yet another tank of Chevron with extra Techron added, the pinging is gone.

That makes perfect sense.pinging/knock is often caused by deposits in combustion chambers pre-igniting the air/fuel mixture. The Poor quality of California gas makes this worse of course.

High detergent gas/+ additves can help alleviate that.

I also like the intake/plenum cleaning your dealer did.Sounds like he did what is the right thing to do.

I cant even get my Nissan dealer to admit that my misfire at idle is a problem.Warped rotors arent something to be upset about I think.nearly all cars have them and a heavy vehicles like an FX with high peformance brakes thatb outperform those of all other SUV's will see more frequent rotor and pad replacements.

Fred...

[AVFX45]

Well...

The ping is back.

Right around 2200 rpm at light / moderate load, typically uphill. The sound is like a hum or buzz, sounds like "mmwaannngggg".

The dealer was very insitisting that I use Chevron fuel ONLY last time I had these issues. Obviously I'm not ALWAYS about to use Chevron, but for the past 5 tanks of gas, I have been able to use Chevron 3 times. Today I filled up again with Chevron, and added an extra bottle of Techron.

No change in the pinging.

I'm beginning to think that's the sound I'm hearing isn't pinging after all.... I mean: With all the dealer has done and with how I almost always use Chevron as I have been instructed to do....

Any ideas or suggestions?

[PalmerWMD]

I kinda like your "i think may not be pinging" thoughts.

I wonder if the consult, the dealer plugs in, stores data on if you had detonation causing the ecu to retard timing?

In any case ,you should never hear true pinging for more than af raction of a second as the ecu will immediately retard timing until detonation is gone.

Are you saying you hear it for more than a fraction of a second?

Likely a different noise then, maybe an assessory?I see you are in SO Cal is it AC time there even tho its winter?

(Just a wild thought)

many accessories can make stange noises on a car.

Maybe its time for a second opinion from another dealer?

Fred..

Edited for typos

[AVFX45]

When I hear the sound, it typically stays for 3 - 5 seconds or as long as I can maintain the same exact speed, gas pedal pressure and RPMs. If I take my foot off the gas, the sounds goes away. If I step harder on the gas it goes away also.

I, too, thought it might be an accessory like the AC so I have tried shutting the AC off to better hear what's going on, but that has not made a difference.

Weirdness......

[Q45tech]

US gasoline with WIDE OCTANE SENSITIVITY RANGE [the spread between Motor Octane result and Research Octane result] for example: [84 + 98]=182/2= 91 blended octane BUT [14] sensitivity range.

In Europe/Japan the MON must be at least 85 for Regular whereas US has no minimum and typically runs at 82-83 relying on MTBE/ETHANOL to bump up average.

WHY Japanese won't sell direct injection engines here our fuel quality is too low.

As a test [not for continuous use fouls cats/O2 sensors with repeated use]

Try 12 oz of NOS Racing Formula additive [which contains MMT and should increase a tank of 91 premium's MON by 2 FULL points!http://store.racerwheel.org/ra....html

If [WHEN] the pinging goes away that is the proof that the MON is too low and you need to find better gasoline.

http://www.gtatech.com/news_au_articl.html

http://www.oica.net/htdocs/fue...e.pdf

[NISTECH]

After reading your post on when the noise is heard and not believing its a ping, I am more inclined to thing you have a heat shield rattle. Very commonly mistaken for a ping.