Low pitching honking sound and tires slipping [SOLVED -AWD transmission case]

[KarasM56X]

Hello!
I have a 2011 M56X with about 70,000 kms. I've noticed a strange low pitch (but loud) honking sound when I'm driving around tighter corners (like in a parking garage), and also some tire slippage. The less tight the corner, the less I hear the sound and the tires slip less. It happens turning left or right. If I don't have my foot on the gas and roll around the corner there is no sound. Does anyone have any clue what could be wrong? Thanks in advance.

[steve_c]

How are your tires wearing? How many miles / km's do you have on them?
If it were my car I would first check tire pressures. If OK, I would rotate tires front to rear to see if any change.
From what you describe it sounds like tire squeal from camber angles. Could be improper tire pressures, or uneven wear on front tires inboard/outboard treads. Check front tires to see if they are balding on the edges.
The second thought is a hub bearing noise, but the way you describe it does not lead to that, and with only 70k km's it is unlikely.

Are you still on your original set of tires? Sounds like you might be! They could be worn.

[Ilya]

Welcome to the forum.

Moving this to the correct forum. You posted in the M35/M45 forum.

[KarasM56X]

Hi Steve_c -

I was told that there is drive line binding happening (not tire slippage). The tire treads are fine (last year new). I had one mechanic check them and the rotation speed last weekend and they were ok, but he noticed a wobble in the front left axle. I've also had an Infiniti dealer look at it, but they want to charge $$$$ to diagnose a problem, so I am going to have a used axle put in to see if it solves the problem. Makes more sense than just paying to have them maybe confirm that is in an axle. Never heard of these cars having a problem like this!

[KarasM56X]

It was my transmission case. Quoted $3,600 from the Infiniti dealer to replace it. :/

I'm just out of the 6 year, 110,000 km drive train warranty (Canada), although my car only has 70,000 kms on it. Has anyone heard of a transmission case failing on an M56? (Tire size is and has always been the same)

[DubXSY51]

Question, did you have you car Serviced (by a reputable dealer or 3rd party service company ) regularly and have the transmission case oil checked or changed at 30K, 45K and at 60K ?
also all other fluids checked or changed at that time? (example Manual transmission fluid, automatic fluid etc.)
https://www.openbay.com/maintenance/201 ... m56/zd-kz7

3,600.00 is a little steep considering the part is 1896.00 (1,600 to install) http://www.infinitipartsonline.com/auto ... -case-scat

[KarasM56X]

All of the regular scheduled maintenance was done at the Infiniti dealer where the car was purchased. No expenses were spared in maintaining because costs were being covered by a business. (I bought this car off my boss).

I had the timing chain recall done last September ... does any part of that job have anything to do with the transmission case? I'm trying to figure out if this was something that could have been prevented or if it's a faulty Infiniti part.

Was the link for the part in US dollars? It's $3,600 CAD

[agoodall]

I am having a similar issue with myM37x rear differential I have the fluid changed and now my car is juddering and binding when I first drive it in the morning. After a few turns it does sound/feel as bad...still kills me and now I am going to bite the bullet and by a used low mileage rear diff

[KarasM56X]

The first place I took my car (an Infiniti/Nissan specialist with a dealer background) thought it was my rear diff too, but suggested I get a second opinion. He had replaced my front driver axle (which didn't fix the problem) and didn't want me to keep spending money if he didn't know for sure if it was the diff. At the dealer, the shop foreman drove my car and seems very confident that it's my transmission case. They said they'd give me a written guarantee that it will fix my issue.

[agoodall]

Just talked with my buddy/mechanic I am going to my his shop in a bit to have him look at it again and purpose the transmission case possibility. He found me a used diff for $400 with 28k on it that makes me feel better than the $1100 brand new oem rear diff from Infiniti

[reggiebrown40]

Hello!
I have a 2011 M56X with about 70,000 kms. I've noticed a strange low pitch (but loud) honking sound when I'm driving around tighter corners (like in a parking garage), and also some tire slippage. The less tight the corner, the less I hear the sound and the tires slip less. It happens turning left or right. If I don't have my foot on the gas and roll around the corner there is no sound. Does anyone have any clue what could be wrong? Thanks in advance.

Honking? I think you mean howling sound. If yes, then I had the same issue and it was the transmission case. TWICE. I had it replaced once and then 3 months later. Thankfully it hasn't returned because I'm now out of warranty. It usually happened only once a day when the car is cold and when pulling out of a space and making a right turn; a a sharp right turn.

[KarasM56X]

The problem with my transmission case seems like a rare one, so hopefully it is your diff. I also won't know for sure until the new/used transmission case goes in if that's what the problem is.

[KarasM56X]

Twice?? wow. Did they give any explanation as to why that would happen twice? The drive line binding on my car is happening when the car is warm and cold, and during any slow speed maneuvering. When the car rolls it's fine, but under any acceleration there is binding.

Honking? I think you mean howling sound. If yes, then I had the same issue and it was the transmission case. TWICE. I had it replaced once and then 3 months later. Thankfully it hasn't returned because I'm now out of warranty. It usually happened only once a day when the car is cold and when pulling out of a space and making a right turn; a a sharp right turn.

[reggiebrown40]

Twice?? wow. Did they give any explanation as to why that would happen twice? The drive line binding on my car is happening when the car is warm and cold, and during any slow speed maneuvering. When the car rolls it's fine, but under any acceleration there is binding.

No explanation given. They just took it back when I showed them it was still doing the same howling noise. Definitely wasn't a differential issue.

[agoodall]

Just had a conversation with my mechanic and he is thinking my issue is also transmission case(leaking, noisy bearings, turning judders, and shaft binding). Since this is a known issue for Infiniti 'X' models he feels this is my problem. $325 for a recondition transmission with tcase (hooray!)... 5.5hrs of labor to install(booooo!)

The silver lining is that if a new(er) transmission case doesnt fix it, my mechanic said he will eat the labor.

[agoodall]

New transmission case was installed today... all issues are resolved.

[Ilya]

New transmission case was installed today... all issues are resolved.

Nice! Good to know...what was his labor rate or what did the whole thing turn out to cost you?

[EdBwoy]

Thanks for posting your experiences both of you. Is there anything that can be done like fluid changes, etc or just save up and wait up? I suppose it's hard to prevent it if you don't know what it is exactly.

... At the dealer, the shop foreman drove my car and seems very confident that it's my transmission case. They said they'd give me a written guarantee that it will fix my issue.

What's the dealership name? Good to know where the knowledgeable & principled folks are.

[KarasM56X]

New transmission case was installed today... all issues are resolved.

glad everything is fixed. mine goes in next Wednesday, hopefully it'll fix my problem too.

[KarasM56X]

Thanks for posting your experiences both of you. Is there anything that can be done like fluid changes, etc or just save up and wait up? I suppose it's hard to prevent it if you don't know what it is exactly.

... At the dealer, the shop foreman drove my car and seems very confident that it's my transmission case. They said they'd give me a written guarantee that it will fix my issue.

What's the dealership name? Good to know where the knowledgeable & principled folks are.

The dealer is Alta Infiniti in Vaughan, Ontario, about 30 minutes north of Toronto. I'm putting in a used transmission case, so they won't honour the guarantee, but it will save me a couple thousand dollars.

[agoodall]

New transmission case was installed today... all issues are resolved.

Nice! Good to know...what was his labor rate or what did the whole thing turn out to cost you?

I use my friend's shop (i get a small discount because of the amount of referrals i send).
Shop: Import Intelligence, West Chester PA
Rate: $95/hr

I bought a used/reconditioned transmission case with 28k on it for $395 (which was great)...until my friend told me it was about 5hrs in labor. With my discount and asking/telling him I cringe at the idea of a $1000 invoice the total came to $999.50 (he is a smartass) Though he did comp me the new fluid.

How can this be avoided...? Make sure you follow factory service flushes. I am the 2nd owner of this vehicle and purchased it from Infiniti of West Chester. I was told factory service was up to date(LIES). When I had my transmission case and rear diff flushed they(my friend) said there was a ton of junk/gunk in the case as if it had never been flushed(they repeated pulled metal shavings out with the magnet). The gunk was holding the whole thing together once it was cleaned the issue arose.

I chock it up to "you have to pay to play" Hoping I have no other major issues or I might have to switch back to Lexus

[KarasM56X]

My new transmission case has been installed and the problem is fixed.

I bought a used transmission case with 45,000 kms - it cost me $400 (Canadian dollars). I was quoted 8 hours of labor at $125 an hour by the Infiniti dealer, but got a good will discount from Infiniti (a long story about that).

In the end it was about $1,000 CAD total with taxes.