New Member question - G37S Conv chirping / popping sounds

[jpeng]

Hi everyone,

My apologies if this question has already been asked but unable to go through so many posts. Is there a way to create a search on these posts?

Anyways, been driving new G37S Conv for over a week now and a cricket / chirping / popping noise has come up. Most noticeable in 1st and 2nd gear, still audible at 3rd and 4th gears but you don't hear anything at 5th and 6th gears (only the wind ) . Sometimes I can hear it when just coasting as well. Driving me absolutely nuts as I've been telling people that a lucky cricket came w/ the car.

Thanks for any suggestions / advice.

[pfarmer]

Hi everyone,

My apologies if this question has already been asked but unable to go through so many posts. Is there a way to create a search on these posts?

Anyways, been driving new G37S Conv for over a week now and a cricket / chirping / popping noise has come up. Most noticeable in 1st and 2nd gear, still audible at 3rd and 4th gears but you don't hear anything at 5th and 6th gears (only the wind ) . Sometimes I can hear it when just coasting as well. Driving me absolutely nuts as I've been telling people that a lucky cricket came w/ the car.

Thanks for any suggestions / advice.

Release the parking brake! Only partially kidding, is this an electronic type of sound? Is the top up or down when you hear it?

Perry

[jpeng]

Hi Perry

I wish it was a simple as the parking brake, so no it's not the parking brake.

It sounds more mechanical than electrical and I can hear the sounds w/ either top up or down. Just not as loud w/ the top up

Seems to resonate from under the car on driver side.

Thanks.

[pfarmer]

Hi Perry

I wish it was a simple as the parking brake, so no it's not the parking brake.

It sounds more mechanical than electrical and I can hear the sounds w/ either top up or down. Just not as loud w/ the top up

Seems to resonate from under the car on driver side.

Thanks.

Does it change with the brakes on, even if you need to ride them with the throttle to maintain rpms? Does it change if going up hill.

Perry

[jsweaz]

JPeng,

I too have a 2009 G37S Convertible and in fact just started noticing the chirping sound tonight (which is why I searched for and found your post). As you mentioned, I notice it a low speeds and it seems to be louder the slower the car is going (in my case). This could be because there is less road/engine noise or I was thinking it could be that the vibration causing the chirp is exaggerated over a longer length of time. This leads me to believe that it might be caused by wheel rotation (purely speculation at this point).

Does your car have the high-friction brake pads? I was wondering if they might be the culprit? I'll try to get some audio of the chirping sound and try and correlate it to speed, rpm, gear, etc.

It does occur top up or down. The car only has 950 miles on it.

John

[jpeng]

So yes this is what the Nissan / Infiniti technician said about the chirping noise. And please forgive me as I am not a car literate type guy so my terms could be wrong.

So he said that w/ the protective coating (for shipping and storage purposes) around the rear axle and the nut keeping the tire in place, it needed metal to metal contact. So he removed the coating allowing the nut to have direct contact w/ the surface of the rear axle.

And now my car has no chirps and runs noise free!! It's been two weeks now so it looks to have done the job. The tech says it was something they saw w/ an earlier Nissan model and was surpised to see it come up again w/ this Infiniti.

The best test was quick acceleration and braking and u can hear that slippage (chirp). Hope this helps.

[bschurr]

So yes this is what the Nissan / Infiniti technician said about the chirping noise. And please forgive me as I am not a car literate type guy so my terms could be wrong.

So he said that w/ the protective coating (for shipping and storage purposes) around the rear axle and the nut keeping the tire in place, it needed metal to metal contact. So he removed the coating allowing the nut to have direct contact w/ the surface of the rear axle.

And now my car has no chirps and runs noise free!! It's been two weeks now so it looks to have done the job. The tech says it was something they saw w/ an earlier Nissan model and was surpised to see it come up again w/ this Infiniti.

The best test was quick acceleration and braking and u can hear that slippage (chirp). Hope this helps.

WHAT?Are you saying that there was a part left on your car that was supposed to be removed prior to delivery but it was left on? I didnt see anything about yhis listed on my PDI (pre-delivery inspection) but with 2 folks on this board experiencing this - it may be fairly widespread.

Please confirm/elaborateThanks in advance-Barry

[SteveTheTech]

I would first like to start with welcoming the new members to this group.

I don't know what we are really talking about here, as noises are extremely difficult to try to explain in terms that we can all picture and test for.

Many models have a single click when changing the direction of torque. Some of the early G37 models have a buzzing from the rear but that can be isolated by power braking the car slightly to change the pitch. The G37c has a slightly quieter and different exhaust.

In order to offer any more ideas I'll have to take a look at one that is making this noise.

[SteveTheTech]

After looking into this a little bit more there is a TSB related to a click when drive postition is changed.

ITB08-018

APPLIED VEHICLES:

2008 - 2009 G37 Coupe (CV36)2009 FX35/FX50 (S51)2008 - 2009 EX35 (J50)2007 - 2009 M35/M45 (Y50)2007 - 2009 G35 Sedan (V36)

Again it's not a safety concern just an adjustment and greasing.

[jsweaz]

I can't attest to the 'popping' sound, but I can say that my car chirps like a cricket when moving anywhere between 1-25 MPH. It occurs forwards, reverse, top-up, top-down. I do not notice it necessarily when driving over bumps, potholes or other road imperfections, but just randomly. I haven't had time to thoroughly investigate, but as soon as I can, I will post more information.

[SteveTheTech]

That may actually be the brakes. The Sport brakes are indeed sport brakes and as such they make a little more noise. This is the reason the Brembos were dropped in 2004, well that and replacement price. The new Sport brakes are made by Akebono but are the same fixed caliper quad piston style. Sometimes they need to be re-bed again basically forcefully removing the glaze that builds up. It is also possible that something may be contacting but the Sport brakes are more susceptible to noise especially in DC area driving. If you are in the Alexandria neck of the woods stop by and I can show you how to run through this around here.

These brakes will work much better when they are good and warmed up. Take it out and heat them up a bit and I will be willing to bet you some of the noise goes away.

However the as my leather drivers seat reminded me today it is getting cold and these brakes are going to make some noise in the winter, it's the nature of the beast again. Burnishing the brakes every once and while is the easiest owner maintenance issue.

There are three different types of brakes on the G, at least two on the convertible. Each has their benefits and potential side effects. The sport brakes will fade less than the Journey package brakes (two piston front floating caliper) when racing the car and getting the brakes into thermal operating range. These brakes hate traffic more than I do, and many dealers will offer to cut your brake rotors and sand down the pads to keep the owner happy... this prematurely wears the brakes when that is not really needed but it fixes the issue. That and wheel cleaners and tire shine can permanently stain rotors causing a myriad of noises.

[jsweaz]

Thanks for the response Steve. When I went to go pick up my plates, I left the car with the service department to try and figure the 'chirp' out. Of course we had a serious rainstorm and they called me back and asked if they could keep the car through the weekend because it was difficult for them to pinpoint the sound while it was storming. Ummm... no. I'll let them check it out when the car is in for it's first service.

The car does have the high-friction brake pads on it... and I though maybe the 'chirp' occurred when the brakes were disengaged. I am now leaning towards the 'chirp' being produced at low speeds a moment after the clutch is disengaged and the car is in gear. It also seems to be coming more from the driver's-side rear wheel-well area.

[SteveTheTech]

Classifying any noise by a simple word like "chirp" doesn't really do it justice. Personally a chirp to you might be a click to me. So much of this is perception. The biggest thing you (as owners) can do is try to find a way to reproduce the noise to show the people that are going to fix it. This will also let you know its fixed. For the axle click I use a small hill and lightly powerbrake or side step a manual, just enough to load some torque on the rear axles. If the noise is coming from the rear outside it may very well be the axle splines. It's simple enough to fix, but it may be overlooked by the service guys depending on the noise they are looking for.

the clutch is disengaged

manual convertible. As an aside the manual Gs are much more prone to the rear wheel clicking noise. If you are ever in my neck of the woods (22304) let me know, if you can replicate the noise I can try to help you can stop by anytime. Not fixing it right away (unless its something quick) but just to see, you don't have to come to my dealer. I really want to learn everything possible about these cars and their potential issues to help out members of this group as well.

[mtbkr1030]

Demand your money back! I did and they bought mine back THANK GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have never been so unhaPPY WITH A CAR IN MY WHOLE LIFE.




LEMON LAW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cmesurf]

Just wait and see how much you will hate BMW...

[NewGMan]

I also have the chirping sound in my car at low speeds with the brakes not engaged. I don't normally notice it, but I can hear it when I go through an overpass, or tunnel. Originally I thought it was another car with squeaking brakes, but I have heard it now a number of times, and what are the odds that another car is around me more than once with the same noise?

On my car it is not very loud at all, but can be heard. I am joust going to let this one go I think as it is not really noticeable normally. Will have them check the axle bolt mentioned in earlier post when I go back in this week to have door panel replaced (rattle they could not fix any other way).

For Steve, the noise is very similar to a cricket chirp, not a clicking sound and it is continuous, not related to change in direction, but does change cadence with the speed of the car. I do not have the sport brakes on my car and the brakes are not engaged when the sound is heard.