Booming/Drone at idle

[Jfpq70]

I have a 2014 Q70 which I have been very satisfied with. Of late I have noticed a booming/droning sound when idling in drive ( such as at a stop light) . It goes away when I select neutral or as a soon as I take off. It would seem that the Active noise control should take care of such as noise. I am not sure if it is working or I have an exhaust or engine issue or it is normal. Any thoughts. I will report it to the dealer next trip, but admittedly it is a minor issue. Just looking for perfection...

[Ilya]

I'm having a hard time imaging what a booming sound sounds like from something mechanical...do you have a video?

[M37xfan]

I have a 2014 Q70 which I have been very satisfied with. Of late I have noticed a booming/droning sound when idling in drive ( such as at a stop light) . It goes away when I select neutral or as a soon as I take off. It would seem that the Active noise control should take care of such as noise. I am not sure if it is working or I have an exhaust or engine issue or it is normal. Any thoughts. I will report it to the dealer next trip, but admittedly it is a minor issue. Just looking for perfection...

I am thinking this could be an issue with the Active noise control.

[Debonair]

Jfpq70, since the Q70 name does not indicate the power-plant like Infiniti's previous naming conventions did, it may be helpful to let us know if you have a 3.5L hybrid, 3.7L, or 5.6L.

[NRGM45]

I know exactly what you mean. The booming sounds more like a really low and really loud bass note at idle. Imagine being in the car with a subwoofer box in the back seat, and you turn up the bass a lot.... I think the engine resonates with the car frame or something at idle. Because I tried turning off the active sound canceling system while it was doing that and the booming didn't go away.

[Debonair]

I know exactly what you mean. The booming sounds more like a really low and really loud bass note at idle. Imagine being in the car with a subwoofer box in the back seat, and you turn up the bass a lot.... I think the engine resonates with the car frame or something at idle. Because I tried turning off the active sound canceling system while it was doing that and the booming didn't go away.

There is no way to turn off the Active Noise Cancelling without physically disabling the microphones. There are some other Bose software gizmos that be switched on/off but not the ANC.

I agree that the noise is most likely a resonant frequency from the engine. Slipping the transmission into neutral quiets it for me too.

[Jfpq70]

Thanks to all for your responses thus far. I have a 3.7 engine. The booming is a low frequency rumble. It is the term infiniti uses in describing the anc function. Also I once owned an acura rl with anc and when you put your finger on the mic you could hear this booming sound. When I do so on the Q there is no difference. The comments and questions so far are spot on. I welcome further insights.

[Ilya]

Where is the mic for the ANC in this car?

[DKASM37]

I had that same problem with my 2011 M37. Took it to Infiniti on multiple occasions and they could never reproduce the sound. I tried to record the sound on my phone but the recording would never pick up the frequency. The crazy thing is that the sound seemed as if it was only audible with the windows down. Ever since I changed to the Stillen cat back exhaust earlier this year I haven't heard that sound. My thinking is that it there might have been some type of exhaust leak somewhere because I would also get an exhaust smell inside the cabin with the windows up when I would open the car up on the highway. That too was eradicated with the change in exhaust. Again that's my experience with it, yours could be something completely different.

[M37xfan]

Where is the mic for the ANC in this car?

There are two..the one that is supposed to cancel 'booming' noise from the engine is located in the roof near back window over the rear passenger seat

[ArmedAviator]

I get the engine noise cancelling to give a real loud, low bass note when I roll down the windows, especially before backing out of my garage. If your windows are open, does it go away after closing them? If you step outside of the car with it all closed up, do you still hear it?

[NRGM45]

So what is the button to turn it off do ? The one at the top right corner from the row of 8 buttons by your left knee ?

[Ilya]

I must not have this...hence why I have no idea what boom ya'll are referring too lol. Interesting thread though.

[Debonair]

So what is the button to turn it off do ? The one at the top right corner from the row of 8 buttons by your left knee ?

These? Warning systems AKA LANE DEPARTURE WARNING (LDW), SYSTEM/LANE DEPARTURE PREVENTION (LDP) SYSTEM, BLIND SPOT WARNING (BSW) SYSTEM, BLIND SPOT INTERVENTION (BSI)
SYSTEM

[LVApeMan56]

I have this as well, and it goes away when I put in neutral. I was told it was the vehicle harmonics / resonant frequency as well, but from the AC Compressor. It still makes the noise even after doing the AC TSB for the sound insulating brackets.
The service adviser basically told me there isn't a fix and I have to live with it. It's annoying as F*ck and the only thing I hate about the car. Well, that and how everything interior plastic seems to rattle in it. haha..

[NRGM45]

So what is the button to turn it off do ? The one at the top right corner from the row of 8 buttons by your left knee ?

These? Warning systems AKA LANE DEPARTURE WARNING (LDW), SYSTEM/LANE DEPARTURE PREVENTION (LDP) SYSTEM, BLIND SPOT WARNING (BSW) SYSTEM, BLIND SPOT INTERVENTION (BSI)
SYSTEM

Thought that's what 11 is... On mine it has (what I thought) looks like a speaker with a bunch of sound waves going through it. I was under the impression that turns the active noise canceling system on and off. Guess not ?

[Ilya]

These? Warning systems AKA LANE DEPARTURE WARNING (LDW), SYSTEM/LANE DEPARTURE PREVENTION (LDP) SYSTEM, BLIND SPOT WARNING (BSW) SYSTEM, BLIND SPOT INTERVENTION (BSI)
SYSTEM

Thought that's what 11 is... On mine it has (what I thought) looks like a speaker with a bunch of sound waves going through it. I was under the impression that turns the active noise canceling system on and off. Guess not ?

That might be the lane departure...is it in the top right? If so, then yes, it's lane departure (stops the beeping if you get on the painted road line).

[NRGM45]

I took a picture of it..

[NRGM45]

Looks like the LDW Neeeevermiiind then.... lol

[Ilya]

Yep those are the same buttons I have. That's the chime for going over the line, basically.

[NRGM45]

What would go inbetween the top buttons ? What option are we both missing ? I can't think of any...

[DoN_BLaZe34]

On my '14, the button for the parking sensors is located in that empty space.

[NRGM45]

Ah... So maybe a 13-14 option, when the parking sensors were actually available. Cool.

[Jfpq70]

Just FYI, I went to the dealer yesterday and reported my noise. The tech came out and listened and said it was normal. He told me that at one time the Gs had a similar condition and they replaced a bunch of stuff trying to eliminate the noise with no success. It is just the nature of the car. I will just try to ignore it.

[NRGM45]

Yeah that booming noise is pretty annoying and unacceptable for a 60k car. It remind me of being a s*** econbox with a tiny 4 cylinder that's vibrating the car apart at stop lights. Sigh.

[M37xfan]

Just FYI, I went to the dealer yesterday and reported my noise. The tech came out and listened and said it was normal. He told me that at one time the Gs had a similar condition and they replaced a bunch of stuff trying to eliminate the noise with no success. It is just the nature of the car. I will just try to ignore it.

I am sorry but the answer from the tech is unacceptable. I do believe it is pointing to an issue with the ANC.

I purposely to some extent "disabled" the rear microphone in my M37x. (long story it has to do with the sound system). And I now do get the "booming" at times at idle but I am ok with it.

[walt1227]

I get it on my 56s as well but like it because at least it sounds like a V-8 rumble a little now. It didn't start until after I had the timing chains replaced in August. The car is louder now than it was prior to letting the dealership do the chains. I'm not sure if it is an exhaust leak or what because I smell this funny (assuming) exhaust smell when I get on it sometimes. It even gets hot on the inside when I have the windows down and it never did that prior to having the timing chains replaced.

[TreyhunnaM37x]

I got this sound until I snipped the rear mic wire at the amp in the trunk.