Nissan Maxima Service and Repair Manual: Squeak and rattle trouble diagnoses
Work Flow
CUSTOMER INTERVIEW
Interview the customer if possible, to determine the conditions that exist
when the noise occurs. Use the Diagnostic
Worksheet during the interview to document the facts and conditions when the
noise occurs and any
customer's comments; refer to SE-56, "Diagnostic Worksheet". This information is
necessary to duplicate the
conditions that exist when the noise occurs.
- The customer may not be able to provide a detailed description or
the location of the noise. Attempt to obtain
all the facts and conditions that exist when the noise occurs (or does not
occur).
- If there is more than one noise in the vehicle, be sure to
diagnose and repair the noise that the customer is
concerned about. This can be accomplished by test driving the vehicle with
the customer.
- After identifying the type of noise, isolate the noise in terms of
its characteristics. The noise characteristics
are provided so the customer, service adviser and technician are all
speaking the same language when
defining the noise.
- Squeak -(Like tennis shoes on a clean floor)
Squeak characteristics include the light contact/fast movement/brought on by
road conditions/hard surfaces
= higher pitch noise/softer surfaces = lower pitch noises/edge to surface =
chirping
- Creak-(Like walking on an old wooden floor)
Creak characteristics include firm contact/slow movement/twisting with a
rotational movement/pitch dependent
on materials/often brought on by activity.
- Rattle-(Like shaking a baby rattle)
Rattle characteristics include the fast repeated contact/vibration or
similar movement/loose parts/missing
clip or fastener/incorrect clearance.
- Knock -(Like a knock on a door)
Knock characteristics include hollow sounding/sometimes repeating/often
brought on by driver action.
- Tick-(Like a clock second hand)
Tick characteristics include gentle contacting of light materials/loose
components/can be caused by driver
action or road conditions.
- Thump-(Heavy, muffled knock noise)
Thump characteristics include softer knock/dead sound often brought on by
activity.
- Buzz-(Like a bumble bee)
Buzz characteristics include high frequency rattle/firm contact.
- Often the degree of acceptable noise level will vary depending
upon the person. A noise that you may judge
as acceptable may be very irritating to the customer.
- Weather conditions, especially humidity and temperature, may have
a great effect on noise level.
DUPLICATE THE NOISE AND TEST DRIVE
If possible, drive the vehicle with the customer until the noise is
duplicated. Note any additional information on
the Diagnostic Worksheet regarding the conditions or location of the noise. This
information can be used to
duplicate the same conditions when you confirm the repair.
If the noise can be duplicated easily during the test drive, to help identify
the source of the noise, try to duplicate
the noise with the vehicle stopped by doing one or all of the following:
- Close a door.
- Tap or push/pull around the area where the noise appears to be
coming from.
- Rev the engine.
- Use a floor jack to recreate vehicle "twist".
- At idle, apply engine load (electrical load, half-clutch on M/T
model, drive position on CVT and A/T models).
- Raise the vehicle on a hoist and hit a tire with a rubber hammer.
- Drive the vehicle and attempt to duplicate the conditions the
customer states exist when the noise occurs.
- If it is difficult to duplicate the noise, drive the vehicle
slowly on an undulating or rough road to stress the
vehicle body.
CHECK RELATED SERVICE BULLETINS
After verifying the customer concern or symptom, check ASIST for Technical
Service Bulletins (TSBs) related
to that concern or symptom.
If a TSB relates to the symptom, follow the procedure to repair the noise.
LOCATE THE NOISE AND IDENTIFY THE ROOT CAUSE
- Narrow down the noise to a general area. To help pinpoint the
source of the noise, use a listening tool
(Chassis Ear: J-39570, Engine Ear: J-39565 and mechanic's stethoscope).
- Narrow down the noise to a more specific area and identify the
cause of the noise by:
- removing the components in the area that you suspect the noise
is coming from.
Do not use too much force when removing clips and fasteners, otherwise
clips and fasteners can be
broken or lost during the repair, resulting in the creation of new
noise.
- tapping or pushing/pulling the component that you suspect is
causing the noise.
Do not tap or push/pull the component with excessive force, otherwise
the noise will be eliminated only
temporarily.
- feeling for a vibration with your hand by touching the
component(s) that you suspect is (are) causing the noise.
- placing a piece of paper between components that you suspect
are causing the noise.
- looking for loose components and contact marks.
Refer to SE-53, "Generic Squeak and Rattle Troubleshooting".
REPAIR THE CAUSE
- If the cause is a loose component, tighten the component securely.
- If the cause is insufficient clearance between components:
- separate components by repositioning or loosening and
retightening the component, if possible.
- insulate components with a suitable insulator such as urethane
pads, foam blocks, felt cloth tape or urethane tape. A NISSAN Squeak and
Rattle Kit (J-50397) is available through your authorized NISSAN Parts
Department.
CAUTION: Do not use excessive force as many components are
constructed of plastic and may be damaged.
NOTE:
- Always check with the Parts Department for the latest
parts information.
- The materials contained in the NISSAN Squeak and
Rattle Kit (J-50397) are listed on the inside cover of the
kit; and can each be ordered separately as needed.
- The following materials not found in the kit can also be
used to repair squeaks and rattles.
- SILICONE GREASE: Use instead of UHMW tape that
will be visible or does not fit. The silicone grease will
only last a few months.
- SILICONE SPRAY: Use when grease cannot be applied.
- DUCT TAPE: Use to eliminate movement.
CONFIRM THE REPAIR
Confirm that the cause of a noise is repaired by test driving the vehicle.
Operate the vehicle under the same
conditions as when the noise originally occurred. Refer to the notes on the
Diagnostic Worksheet.
Generic Squeak and Rattle Troubleshooting
Refer to Table of Contents for specific component removal and installation
information.
INSTRUMENT PANEL
Most incidents are caused by contact and movement between:
- Cluster lid A and the instrument panel
- Acrylic lens and combination meter housing
- Instrument panel to front pillar finisher
- Instrument panel to windshield
- Instrument panel pins
- Wiring harnesses behind the combination meter
- A/C defroster duct and duct joint
These incidents can usually be located by tapping or moving the components to
duplicate the noise or by
pressing on the components while driving to stop the noise. Most of these
incidents can be repaired by applying
felt cloth tape or silicone spray (in hard to reach areas). Urethane pads can be
used to insulate wiring harness.
CAUTION:
Do not use silicone spray to isolate a squeak or rattle. If you
saturate the area with silicone, you will
not be able to recheck the repair.
CENTER CONSOLE
Components to pay attention to include:
- Shift selector assembly cover to finisher
- A/C control unit and cluster lid C
- Wiring harnesses behind audio and A/C control unit
The instrument panel repair and isolation procedures also apply to the
center console.
DOORS
Pay attention to the:
- Finisher and inner panel making a slapping noise
- Inside handle escutcheon to door finisher
- Wiring harnesses tapping
- Door striker out of alignment causing a popping noise on starts
and stops
Tapping or moving the components or pressing on them while driving to
duplicate the conditions can isolate
many of these incidents. You can usually insulate the areas with felt cloth
tape or insulator foam blocks from
the NISSAN Squeak and Rattle Kit (J-50397) to repair the noise.
TRUNK
Trunk noises are often caused by a loose jack or loose items put into the
trunk by the owner.
In addition look for:
- Trunk lid bumpers out of adjustment
- Trunk lid striker out of adjustment
- The trunk lid torsion bars knocking together
- A loose license plate or bracket
Most of these incidents can be repaired by adjusting, securing or insulating
the item(s) or component(s) causing
the noise.
SUNROOF/HEADLINING
Noises in the sunroof/headlining area can often be traced to one of the
following:
- Sunroof lid, rail, linkage or seals making a rattle or light
knocking noise
- Sun visor shaft shaking in the holder
- Front or rear windshield touching headlining and squeaking
Again, pressing on the components to stop the noise while duplicating the
conditions can isolate most of these
incidents. Repairs usually consist of insulating with felt cloth tape.
OVERHEAD CONSOLE (FRONT AND REAR)
Overhead console noises are often caused by the console panel clips not being
engaged correctly. Most of
these incidents are repaired by pushing up on the console at the clip locations
until the clips engage.
In addition look for:
- Loose harness or harness connectors.
- Front console map/reading lamp lens loose.
- Loose screws at console attachment points.
SEATS
When isolating seat noise it's important to note the position the seat is in
and the load placed on the seat when
the noise is present. These conditions should be duplicated when verifying and
isolating the cause of the
noise.
Cause of seat noise include:
- Headrest rods and holder
- A squeak between the seat pad cushion and frame
- The rear seatback lock and bracket
These noises can be isolated by moving or pressing on the suspected
components while duplicating the conditions
under which the noise occurs. Most of these incidents can be repaired by
repositioning the component
or applying urethane tape to the contact area.
UNDERHOOD
Some interior noise may be caused by components under the hood or on the
engine wall. The noise is then
transmitted into the passenger compartment.
Causes of transmitted underhood noise include:
- Any component installed to the engine wall
- Components that pass through the engine wall
- Engine wall mounts and connectors
- Loose radiator installation pins
- Hood bumpers out of adjustment
- Hood striker out of adjustment
These noises can be difficult to isolate since they cannot be reached from
the interior of the vehicle. The best
method is to secure, move or insulate one component at a time and test drive the
vehicle. Also, engine rpm or
load can be changed to isolate the noise. Repairs can usually be made by moving,
adjusting, securing, or
insulating the component causing the noise.
Diagnostic Worksheet
PRECAUTIONS
Precaution for Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) "AIR BAG" and "SEAT BELT
PRE-TENSIONER"
with a front seat belt, helps to reduce the risk or severity of injury to the
driver and fr ...
Other materials:
IPDM E/R (intelligent power distribution module engine room)
Reference Value
VALUES ON THE DIAGNOSIS TOOL
TERMINAL LAYOUT
PHYSICAL VALUES
Fail Safe
CAN COMMUNICATION CONTROL
When CAN communication with ECM and BCM is impossible, IPDM E/R performs
fail-safe control. After CAN communication recovers normally, it also returns
to nor ...
Power supply and ground circuit
COMBINATION METER
COMBINATION METER : Diagnosis Procedure
Regarding Wiring Diagram information, refer to MWI-87, "Wiring Diagram".
1.CHECK FUSES
Check for blown combination meter fuses.
2.POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT CHECK
Disconnect combination meter connector.
Check voltage between combinatio ...
Precaution
Precaution for Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) "AIR BAG" and "SEAT
BELT
PRE-TENSIONER"
The Supplemental Restraint System such as "AIR BAG" and "SEAT BELT PRE-TENSIONER",
used along
with a front seat belt, helps to reduce the risk or severity of injury to the
driver ...