VQ35 QX4 ticking... Knocking?

[SayNoToPistons]

Lately i've been hearing awkward sounds from the engine area when i accelerate lightly. I know for sure it's not anywhere else in the drive train or wheels. I live in NYC so i drive down city blocks and i can hear the slight ticking echoing from the side when i have my windows open. It doesn't happen every time i accelerate but it does happen quite often (if i go from a stop). Happens usually around 1k-2.5k RPM at low throttle.. Is it knocking? What's going on?

[SayNoToPistons]

Ehhh?

[Buzzman]

We are not ignoring you. It's just tough to say what it might be. Sticky valves?A bad knock sensor?Bad gas? What grade of fuel are you using? Do you have the same problem with premium gas?By the way, what is the mileage on the truck, and is it overdue for an oil change?Lots of stuff to consider.Good luck.

[SayNoToPistons]

I change my oil no later than 3500 miles with OEM oil filters. I use Mobile 1 (forgot which weight). transmission fluid was recently drained and replaced with OEM transmission fluid. Around 85k miles. 91 or 93 Octane.

[AZhitman]

Knocking usually sounds like silverware rattling around in a drawer...

Might be a good time to get a quick scan done and see if anything funky is going on, also check base timing.

Avoid WOT in the meantime.

[Chris92SE]

I have been finding a lot of VQ35DEs have been having this problem -- pinging at partial throttle, especially when it's warm and climbing hills.

I have this problem, as well. I changed all the spark plugs, fuel filter and keep the oil changed every 3k miles.

Unfortunately, I think it is going to be something like the MAF, knock sensor or o2 sensor. I have no way to confirm this, but those are likely suspects.

[bmgiene]

I am no expert, but I had exactly this issue a couple weeks back. I thought that it was just heat shields rattling.

After replacing my MAF due to a P0171 code, the sound has gone away. The only thing I could come up with was detonation.

Now I am kinda worried that I did long term damage to the engine as I mush have driven for a few weeks like this.

[Chris92SE]

I had the day off today and I took out my MAF and cleaned with some MAF cleaner I bought at NAPA.

I cleaned it and kept the battery disconnected for several hours. It stopped pinging, but my idle seems to fluctuate some. I might have to check and see if I accidentally messed with a vacuum hose somewhere.

In talking with the NAPA employee, they have quite a few people with similar problems. Most of it seems to be related to oil from K&N filters settling on the MAF and giving incorrect readings.

Mine had thrown a P0171 code (right bank lean) previously and I was going to replace the MAF, but I thought I would try cleaning mine before spending all that money on another MAF.

I think I am going to replace my K&N with a paper filter.

[SayNoToPistons]

ALright thanks. What is teh cleaner called? I want to try it out and see if it works.

[SnowSurfLax]

The thing with K&N is you can't completely saturate your filter with oil and then you have to let it sit out and dry for 6-24 hours. Only way not to have it mess up your MAF.

[SayNoToPistons]

K&N? What?

I'm using OEM Nissan Filters.

[Chris92SE]

Well, it ran good for a few days and then it started pinging again and the SES light came on again.

The cleaner was just a MAF cleaner they had at NAPA for around $5.

I bought an OEM paper filter from the dealer to eliminate the possibility that it was caused by the K&N, too.

I guess I am going to have to pop for a new MAF sensor.

[Chris92SE]

*Update*

I did some searching and found out that a 2001 Maxima MAF will work on my 2001 QX4.

I bought the Maxima MAF for about $120 from my local dealership. They wanted almost $500 for the QX4 one. You can even get the Maxima MAF sensor cheaper if you shop around, but I was short on time and there is only one dealership within 90 miles of me.

Anyway, I swapped in the Maxima MAF, left the battery disconnected overnight and the next day everything was fine. No more pinging/knocking and it seems to have regained a lot of power. The SES light never came on and hasn't. I have put about 600 miles on it since the swap and everything seems to be fine.

I would like to add that I am not a professional mechanic and I cannot guarantee this will fix your problem, but it worked for me and my 2001 QX4.

The Nissan part number is: 22680-2Y001 if anyone is interested in attempting the same fix.
Modified by Chris92SE at 7:40 AM 10/14/2007

[skassamali]

I have the same problem in my 2003 I35 w/ the same engine and I have same the pinging/knocking noise around 2k rpm. The dealer just replaced the MAF sensor, but no change to the noise. I have run 4 cans of BG44K through the fuel system as well as doing a fuel injection service, with no luck. I'm running out of options as well as patience. Plus I have a feeling I'm doing damage to my car by driving it under these conditions. Any advice?

[zabone]

hey i recently just got this problem fixed on my 01 pathy se. i thought it was engine knocking too but then again i know nothing about cars. so i went to a mechanic and he instantly told me it was the heat guards for the exhausts. they got the car on the lift and the heat guards had rusted holes in them. solutions was i can put a clamp on it to make it temporarely stop that clicking noise or to remove it. i choose to remove it since im not planing on driving through a jungle of grass anytime soon. but i was told to not park on large a tall piles of leaves. since you live in new york, i would assume that there are piles of leaves this time of year so watch out.

[AJRK]

*Update*

I did some searching and found out that a 2001 Maxima MAF will work on my 2001 QX4.

I bought the Maxima MAF for about $120 from my local dealership. They wanted almost $500 for the QX4 one. You can even get the Maxima MAF sensor cheaper if you shop around, but I was short on time and there is only one dealership within 90 miles of me.

Anyway, I swapped in the Maxima MAF, left the battery disconnected overnight and the next day everything was fine. No more pinging/knocking and it seems to have regained a lot of power. The SES light never came on and hasn't. I have put about 600 miles on it since the swap and everything seems to be fine.

I would like to add that I am not a professional mechanic and I cannot guarantee this will fix your problem, but it worked for me and my 2001 QX4.

The Nissan part number is: 22680-2Y001 if anyone is interested in attempting the same fix.

Modified by Chris92SE at 7:40 AM 10/14/2007

Hi, I'm looking to do the same thing, but local Nissan dealerships want close to $500 for the Maxima MAF and they say it won't fit a QX4. Did you buy your MAF new from a Nissan dealership?

[attofarad]

Hi, I'm looking to do the same thing, but local Nissan dealerships want close to $500 for the Maxima MAF and they say it won't fit a QX4. Did you buy your MAF new from a Nissan dealership?

My coworker and I both just did the fix -- his 2001 Pathfinder and my GF's 2001 QX4. We both had the P0171 bank too lean code. We got the part (22680-2Y001) from http://www.infinitipartsusa.com for about $78 plus shipping. He now has no codes, but a P0160 showed up for me -- rear O2 sensor. Both of us have a MUCH better running vehicle, power like they were new. We just installed, reset the codes. At first I had a too-rich code, until the ECM figured it out and adjusted the trim away from the settings to which it had adapted with the bad MAF.

BTW, I measured the direct MAF voltage vs. RPM on the old/bad MAFs. For both of us, the voltage was low but well within the shop manual specified range. So, bad even though tested sorta okay.

[Chris92SE]

Hi, I'm looking to do the same thing, but local Nissan dealerships want close to $500 for the Maxima MAF and they say it won't fit a QX4. Did you buy your MAF new from a Nissan dealership?

Yeah, you have to ask for the specific part number. It should be under $150.

Mine has been working fine and I have put over 1k miles on it since then and no codes.

[ubpsanity]

Just to add to this, I also got the Maxima MAF on mine, but was getting horrendous fuel mileage with it. Just last weekend, I took it off and put the old one back on, and my fuel mileage returned back to where it was.

Don't know if the readings the sensors send back is actually different since it is for a different application, or it's my old sensor that was going bad as giving me better fuel mileage (P0171, 0170 is running lean)

It was significant though

[Chris92SE]

bump for recent questions on this subject...

[Pathy24]

hey guysI just did the mfc sawp (maxima to pathfinder) runs awesome now, but i have a new code now p0420DTC P0420 (RIGHT BANK, -B1) THREE WAYCATALYST FUNCTION

any thoughts??

[Chris92SE]

hey guysI just did the mfc sawp (maxima to pathfinder) runs awesome now, but i have a new code now p0420DTC P0420 (RIGHT BANK, -B1) THREE WAYCATALYST FUNCTION

any thoughts??

hmm...I am not even sure what that code means?

Does that mean it thinks the truck has a bad converter?

Did your truck throw a SES light with this, too?

[vq35]

My coworker and I both just did the fix -- his 2001 Pathfinder and my GF's 2001 QX4. We both had the P0171 bank too lean code. We got the part (22680-2Y001) from http://www.infinitipartsusa.com for about $78 plus shipping. He now has no codes, but a P0160 showed up for me -- rear O2 sensor. Both of us have a MUCH better running vehicle, power like they were new. We just installed, reset the codes. At first I had a too-rich code, until the ECM figured it out and adjusted the trim away from the settings to which it had adapted with the bad MAF.

BTW, I measured the direct MAF voltage vs. RPM on the old/bad MAFs. For both of us, the voltage was low but well within the shop manual specified range. So, bad even though tested sorta okay.

hey, have the same problem with the maf (knocking) - just replaced the gaskets fro throttle and intake plenum after cleaning and slapped on some iridium ngk - i feel there is more power but the pinging is still there - i luckily purchased one from craiglist (used for 3 weeks then xdent) fro 150 and i figures even better than going to maxima xchange - so when i turned on car it ran real rich for about a minute or two and lots of smoke - in reaction i just replaced with old maf after cleaning and idle came back to normal - so its been this way since - so the question is how long was your truck 'learning' before it stabilized and you drove off - i will attempt to re install after leaving the battery disconnected fro a few hours and want to know what to expect (the mechanic suggested that it was a rip off and that the MAF seller tampered with the inner parts and resealed it) -

[vq35]

checked for maf sensor on 2001 maxima at the infinitiparts site you suggested and the $ was around $400 for both the 3.0/3.5 of the same year - were they having a sale or something when u purchased?? anyone point me in the right direction for the 'under' $100 maxima maf sensor - i have no confidense that my used maf will work out (i will still try n post results) thanks for any help!

[Chris92SE]

checked for maf sensor on 2001 maxima at the infinitiparts site you suggested and the $ was around $400 for both the 3.0/3.5 of the same year - were they having a sale or something when u purchased?? anyone point me in the right direction for the 'under' $100 maxima maf sensor - i have no confidense that my used maf will work out (i will still try n post results) thanks for any help!

I went right to the dealership and bought the maxima maf for <$150.

I was quoted around $400 for a Pathfinder (QX4) maf at the same dealership.

Still no problems with mine. Gas mileage is about 17 on the freeway and 15 around town, which is what it was before.

[vq35]

im in toronto and my local dealerwship quoted around $400 for both the maxima and pathy maf - is there a parts store online or otherwise that i can ship to toronto for around the $150 mark (which dealership did u deal with, maybe i can have them ship to me for the same amount you paid) - this has been a pain in the *** for the longest time but i have a feeling that once covered, i will be ok for a long while

again thanks for any help

[bigsun]

I had the same Problem, i took my MAP sensor out and cleaned it with carg cleaner that was O2 sesor safe, replace my air filter, and now the noise is gone, ill let you know how thing go from a few days from now!

[vq35]

im in toronto and my local dealerwship quoted around $400 for both the maxima and pathy maf - is there a parts store online or otherwise that i can ship to toronto for around the $150 mark (which dealership did u deal with, maybe i can have them ship to me for the same amount you paid) - this has been a pain in the *** for the longest time but i have a feeling that once covered, i will be ok for a long while

again thanks for any help

hey all,found a dealership (nissanparts.cc) for the maxima MAF - just finished install and took the pathy for a spin and it was just fantastic - its late so everwhere was empty (redlined in 3rd and 4rth....fifth got a bit scary so i backed off!!) NO MORE FKIN PINGING IN ANY GEAR !!!!!!! for LESS than a hundred bux and about 20 minutes to put together (preceded by disconnected batt. of course) meself !!!!!this started a month or so ago and i have since documented the following - NGK iridium plugs new gaskets for intake plenum as well as throttle body 2 cans of throttle body cleaner for both the intake and throttle body (lotsa gunk removed and back to new) PCV replaced new belts/coolant flush THE LAST ITEM REMAINED THE MOST EXPENSIVE AND ELUSIVE FOR A TIME -the FKN MAF, replaced it just now and no programming, no hassle bolt on solution to a renewed vq3.5 VERY happy and the next mission is the suspension and rear end i will post pix of process as soon as i figure out how to do this stay posted for the rest later onthanx

[bigsun]

hey all,found a dealership (nissanparts.cc) for the maxima MAF - just finished install and took the pathy for a spin and it was just fantastic - its late so everwhere was empty (redlined in 3rd and 4rth....fifth got a bit scary so i backed off!!) NO MORE FKIN PINGING IN ANY GEAR !!!!!!! for LESS than a hundred bux and about 20 minutes to put together (preceded by disconnected batt. of course) meself !!!!!this started a month or so ago and i have since documented the following - NGK iridium plugs new gaskets for intake plenum as well as throttle body 2 cans of throttle body cleaner for both the intake and throttle body (lotsa gunk removed and back to new) PCV replaced new belts/coolant flush THE LAST ITEM REMAINED THE MOST EXPENSIVE AND ELUSIVE FOR A TIME -the FKN MAF, replaced it just now and no programming, no hassle bolt on solution to a renewed vq3.5 VERY happy and the next mission is the suspension and rear end i will post pix of process as soon as i figure out how to do this stay posted for the rest later onthanx

i ordered the same part from the same place, everything works awsome, just wondering if you are going to get your ecm reprogramed, as it was suggested with the note enclosed in the package, do you think its necessary? ANYONE???????

Thanks!

[meyersk76]

old post, but is there a swap out there for my 1998 qx4's MAF sensor? This one is $449 on infinitipartsusa.com!