[00 FRONTIER]

The last few mornings when driving home I get off the freeway and have about 4 miles to my house. Radios off and as the RPM's increase I can hear a slight whine or whistling sound. Its consistant with the RPM's.

Also, when the RPM's get to about 2k, there is a rattle that sounds like a loose heat shield. However, this isnt noticable until I've spent some time on the freeway and get off and drive surface streets (weird, I know).

I am not sure if if is normal to have a slight whine thats unrelated to the guide issue? (Like belts, or ???) The trucks only got 6400 miles on it and it sounds like poo, kinda embarrasing if my Toyota buddies ride in it)

I know I need to take it to the dealer, but I am sure they will tell me its normal or they cant hear it. Again, its pretty faint and if I didnt know the about the guide issue I probably wouldnt pay any attention. Now the rattle on the other hand...

 

[Boomer]

I hear a whine from my truck every once in a while. So you say it is the timing chain? I had no idea what it was.

 

[dubie2003]

I would believe the timing chain noise is more of a constant thing. There are some videos on YouTube if you search.

I think the "normal" whine we hear is probably the belt tensioner's bearings going out.

The easiest thing to do to check to see if it is timing chain or an accessory is to remove the belt and then turn on the truck. Have someone rev it up lightly and listen to see if you hear the whine or if it is gone. If it is still there, then you know it is internal so it could be the timing chain or water pump or etc...

If the noise is gone, then you know it is the belt tensioner, idler pully or the belt tensioner.

 

[Clint]

I had it on my Pathfinder. One day it wasn't there and the next it was unmistakable. It sounds like a supercharger winding up/ I doubt that's what you have. It's a constant and can be heard over the radio.
Talks like these can kill a vehicles integrity. I had a Titan and it was a great truck as well as truck of the year and other praises too. Then a few owners and not the majority started talks on the forums and killed it's rising popularity.
Do the readers and posters here realize that you're doing sometimes more harm to the Brand and model of the truck you enjoy than good?
My 2008 had a minor thing here or there and I purposely didn't post it here or it could have caused an issue.
My Titan as well as all my Frontiers were and are fine trucks minor flaws included.

Clint

 

[2018 Silver PRO-4X]

I had it on my Pathfinder. One day it wasn't there and the next it was unmistakable. It sounds like a supercharger winding up/ I doubt that's what you have. It's a constant and can be heard over the radio.
Talks like these can kill a vehicles integrity. I had a Titan and it was a great truck as well as truck of the year and other praises too. Then a few owners and not the majority started talks on the forums and killed it's rising popularity.
Do the readers and posters here realize that you're doing sometimes more harm to the Brand and model of the truck you enjoy than good?
My 2008 had a minor thing here or there and I purposely didn't post it here or it could have caused an issue.
My Titan as well as all my Frontiers were and are fine trucks minor flaws included.

Clint

With all due respect, And I know you have had several Nissan trucks etc.. I am not worried about a vehicles integeity. Thats what a free market is about, the best for the best price wins. Its either is a good product, with very few probs and minor ones at that, or they are of poor design, or build quailty. It think Nissan has a hit and miss when it comes to the Frontiers. The day they are built makes a difference too. I think some issues have went on for way to long, but all makers tend to have that prob. (Ford Ranger comes to mind). Anyway what I think gripes most of us with similar probs, is just that an un-addressed prob in the design. On price Nissan does good a job, the best on small trucks, I'd say. But an issue that could be 4+ years old, and not changed, fixed, not good. just my .02 cents

 

[00 FRONTIER]

Not trying to kill the vehicles integrity, just trying to figure out if I really do have the the whine and need to get it addressed. Nissan sorta did this to themselves when they didnt address this issue 5 years into production.

The whine is there and sounds similar to this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6J444x34bw&NR=1 however its not near as loud.

If I have the radio on I cant hear it. If I am driving on the freeway I cant hear it. Again, if I am driving aroud town its noticable.

So I assume if it is the guides it will get worse and louder over time?

Not really sweating it as I have years and thousands of miles of warranty left, just trying to decide if I want to waste time and try and get the dealer to figure it out (always a challange) or if I should wait.

 

[dubie2003]

It will defiently get louder over time until it is just metal on metal and you will know when it reaches that point.

I would do the quick belt check to see. It may just be a bearing on an accessory going bad which does happen from time to time and yes, it is annoying.

 

[Clint]

I was referring to boomers post. Not to him specifically but he interpreted it as the noise he hears is the timing chain based on a passing comment or post here. Just because someone wrote it others may accept it as a fact.
There are posts all over different forums and some people write with authority and they are not factually correct. One point was my Titan needed the rotors replaced which Nissan did without any trouble. I had it for three years and 60,000 miles and nothing else ever happened.
It was a GREATtruck.
Then there were forum members who went out of their way to complain about EVERY little thing. Look at the Titans reputation these days.
As I posted above I might need an occasional trip to the dealer for an insignificant warranty item but will not post it as it can pop up on a web search and the guy sitting on the fence deciding between a Colorado , a Frontier or a Dakota can say "screw it" and not have the great truck he could have had. Everything we post pops up on a Frontier search.
If he has a noise someone at a dealership , repair shop or some who had the defect and knows for a fact what it sounds like.
Yes, I understand what you wrote, it bothers me that you just bought the same truck as all of us and have an irritating noise in it. It shouldn't happen.
They will fix your truck and it will be quiet.

Clint

 

[Clint]

Not trying to kill the vehicles integrity, just trying to figure out if I really do have the the whine and need to get it addressed. Nissan sorta did this to themselves when they didnt address this issue 5 years into production.

The whine is there and sounds similar to this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6J444x34bw&NR=1 however its not near as loud.

If I have the radio on I cant hear it. If I am driving on the freeway I cant hear it. Again, if I am driving aroud town its noticable.

So I assume if it is the guides it will get worse and louder over time?

Not really sweating it as I have years and thousands of miles of warranty left, just trying to decide if I want to waste time and try and get the dealer to figure it out (always a challange) or if I should wait.

If you have it you WILL know it. It is audible on the highway.
What I try to convey is when we discuss some things here we are chasing potential owners away. If this was an owners only discussion on a private board would be different. Since it's not others may shy away from a Frontier.

Clint

 

[00 FRONTIER]

So how do I do the belt check?

I assume I remove the drive belt or belts and run the engine and rev it up? If so how long can I run it without a belt to see?

Is that going to cause any other issues while its off?

 

[dubie2003]

So how do I do the belt check?

I assume I remove the drive belt or belts and run the engine and rev it up? If so how long can I run it without a belt to see?

Is that going to cause any other issues while its off?

The "belt check" is easy. Just remove the accessory drive belt and start the truck. I would not drive it around this way since you won't have power steering but if you wanted to, you could. Usually this is a bad thing to do but our water pump is internal so it is ran off the timing chain so you don't have to worry about it instantly overheating. I would not let it idle forever thou. Just start it and let it idle, listen around and then rev it a bit and listen then shut it down.

If you don't hear the whine with the belt off you know it is an accessory related noise. Just go to each pulley and give it a spin. If it feels "chunky" or "uneven" then that may be your culprit. It could be the alternator since it is down low and tends to crap out when it get wet or dusty. Then the AC compressor is down there and that is always a fun thing. Then the PS pump but that is a bit higher up. Heck, it could just be the belt tensioner which has happened to quite a few members and that is a semi-cheap DIY fix.

Give it a try and let us know what you think.

Just beware the fan blades are pretty dang sharp so wear long sleeves and gloves if possible.

 

[00 FRONTIER]

Hmm...

Maybe I will give this a shot. It doesnt seem as noticable when its cold, seems that once its warmed up I can hear the noise and its easier to hear when I am driving vs being parked. Thats why I am wondering if it could be something else.

So it doesnt sound like any harm can come from this? Also, I am mechanically inclined but am not really sure if I should be messing around with this stuff since the truck is new and under warranty.

 

[Clint]

Hmm...

Maybe I will give this a shot. It doesnt seem as noticable when its cold, seems that once its warmed up I can hear the noise and its easier to hear when I am driving vs being parked. Thats why I am wondering if it could be something else.

So it doesnt sound like any harm can come from this? Also, I am mechanically inclined but am not really sure if I should be messing around with this stuff since the truck is new and under warranty.

If it's under warranty let the dealer get dirty as they get paid by Nissan anyway.

Clint

 

[2018 Silver PRO-4X]

I was referring to boomers post. Not to him specifically but he interpreted it as the noise he hears is the timing chain based on a passing comment or post here. Just because someone wrote it others may accept it as a fact.
There are posts all over different forums and some people write with authority and they are not factually correct. One point was my Titan needed the rotors replaced which Nissan did without any trouble. I had it for three years and 60,000 miles and nothing else ever happened.
It was a GREATtruck.
Then there were forum members who went out of their way to complain about EVERY little thing. Look at the Titans reputation these days.
As I posted above I might need an occasional trip to the dealer for an insignificant warranty item but will not post it as it can pop up on a web search and the guy sitting on the fence deciding between a Colorado , a Frontier or a Dakota can say "screw it" and not have the great truck he could have had. Everything we post pops up on a Frontier search.
If he has a noise someone at a dealership , repair shop or some who had the defect and knows for a fact what it sounds like.
Yes, I understand what you wrote, it bothers me that you just bought the same truck as all of us and have an irritating noise in it. It shouldn't happen.
They will fix your truck and it will be quiet.

Clint

Yes, I understand what you wrote, it bothers me that you just bought the same truck as all of us and have an irritating noise in it. It shouldn't happen.

Thanks!! If it weren't for the support I've got here It would be much harder to deal with.

Also I forgot to say that a Nissan shop forman told me that the timing chain and tranny fluid mix should'nt occur on 09's and 10's if he knew what he was talking about.

 

[Argo73]

With it only having 6400 miles on it and being a '09, I don't see how it could be the tensioners at this point. If it was then there's something amiss @ Nissan.

 

[something else]

screw trying to figure it out yourself, have Nissan do it! any honest dealer service rep will recognize something is out of normal. with 6400 miles use your warranty!

 

[00 FRONTIER]

Yea, but there was an 08' on here with 4k that had them replaced. And it was supposed to be fixed in 08, go figure.

I dont think I will mess with it. I'll just keep an eye (ear) on it and see if it gets worse. Thats what the warranty is for right?

 

[Boomer]

With it only having 6400 miles on it and being a '09, I don't see how it could be the tensioners at this point. If it was then there's something amiss @ Nissan.

I agree. Mine has 8,000 miles now and I shouldn't be saying that something like this needs fixed. And I'm not even saying that now. But it's good to be able to get a heads up on these things so I'll know to watch out for them. I thought that's what this forum was for.
I only posted because I have heard a similar noise a few times and always thought what in the world is that noise.

 

[00 FRONTIER]

Well I went to the dealer today and the service mgr went for a ride and said that there was nothing abnormal with my truck. He heard the slight whine and assumed it was the belts. He said it was definately not the tensioners. As far as the 2k RPM rattle, it would not do it today no matter how hard I tried. It always does it when I am on my way home from work in the morning. Maybe it has something to do with the outside temp as its usually in the 30's when I am coming home.

Called a few other dealers and they said:

My truck is too new to have the problem with the tensioners, it only affects the 05's - 06's. It was fixed in 07' (I think we know that is not correct)

Another said that I didnt have enough miles to have the issue yet, usually happens around 30k'

And another didnt really know what I was talking about.

So, I guess the whine is normal and the rattle would not happen. I also inquired on goodwill repairs once warranty is up, service mgr advised that it does happen and it helps if you service your vehicle at the Dealer.

 

[Clint]

As long as you brought it to their attention it's on record. Maybe some 2008 engines were left over from 07 and had the issue. Has anyone on here compared vin#'s to see build dates on their 08's.
Now time to just drive and enjoy your truck. Have you gone under the truck when cold and banged on the exhaust to see if it will rattle?

Clint