New Engine at 30K

[4DRZ]

Well my wife's Versa had been making an upper engine tapping noise on cold start up that lasted about 20 miles or so. Long story short I told her it sounded like piston slap and that it wasnt normal, nor was it a good thing. Kinda sounds like an upper engine valve train noise. Took it in to Nissan, and of course they couldnt duplicate the sound. A week later I take it back, walk the tech thru the noise, give my input, and then the service advisor has him call Nissan direct....they ran the tech thru some scenarios and a phone call to me later was that a new short block was ordered. Wow....I would have never figured piston slap on a fairly new car. I will advise all that if your engine makes a similar noise, get it in to be looked at. Yes, I know alot of Versa make noise, but this was gut wrenching to listen to. While the car was at the dealership, I went ahead and did the timing chain on my 2000 Frontier. The dealership wants to hire me a few days a week or pay me to be on call a few days....lol I am retired and at 40 I think it would be fun, but then again, fun slowly turns back into work. Ok back on topic. Anyone else have upper engine noise on start up?

[08versailles]

I do but it's not very pronounced. Noise settles in a minute or two. I also use synthetic oil fwiw
Thanks for the heads-up, I'll be watching and listening!

[Ben_B]

I actually noticed kind of a weird ticky noise from the engine today at the dealership...I will ask about it when I go in again on monday, but it was much quieter than what I am hearing online...but different engines.

[BluV3R18]

yes, especially now that is cold it does have a tick noise but it goes away after the engine warms up. more like valves ticking. I'm at 97,000 miles.


btw,
you're retired at 40? That's living it up man! Congrats!!!!

[4DRZ]

Yeah this is what it sounded like, but to me, a car this new shouldnt sound like this on cold start up Sure it went awat with her car also, but something told me this wasnt right. They performed a compression test and there was the proof. Yes I was very aggressive from the age of 19 on. I was investing the whole time I was also employed. When I retired I was a DM with 23 stores under my watch. I just always lived below my means, and thank god I met a woman, my wife...lol, that also agrees with this. She still works, but as a CRNA. Very good money. Oh the dealership loaned us a Cube. Very cute vehicle. Same engine, and sounds like butter on startup compared to my wife's. I like the Cube alot.

Originally Posted by BluV3R18

yes, especially now that is cold it does have a tick noise but it goes away after the engine warms up. more like valves ticking. I'm at 97,000 miles.


btw,
you're retired at 40? That's living it up man! Congrats!!!!

[frenchy chan]

Crap. My husband just pointed out a similar ticking sound like u are describing and we are at 31k :/

[Ben_B]

It's really not that big a deal. Happens in cold weather. Things expand and contract. It's just play that's there because the pistons are able to wiggle a bit until the metal expands under heat.

[4DRZ]

Really? Id still do a compression test. I have a bad feeling Nissan knows there is an issue but wont say. What else is new there. Just like the TSB on the 3.5 VQ35DE engine in my SER and other Altimas for the timing chain, tensioners, and sprockets. Rather than pay Nissan 2K to do my timing chain, I did it myself with all new parts. Piston slap is never a good thing for an engine. Trust me, Nissan wont replace something just to be nice. They usually fight tooth and nail. Now with this said, i dont think anyone should jump to conclusions here. If you are concerned...take your car in and have them pull the #3 injector & or do a comprssion test. The numbers wont lie. A little noise IS normal, but it was starting to sound like a little truck. Kinda like an old Mercedes diesel.

Originally Posted by Ben_B

It's really not that big a deal. Happens in cold weather. Things expand and contract. It's just play that's there because the pistons are able to wiggle a bit until the metal expands under heat.

[06_warrior]

I have about 29K on mine and have been noticing for a while now since it's been cold it has the ticking noise during start ups.

I don't like driving off when the car is bone cold while it is making this noise so i've been starting it up and letting it warm up for about 5-10 mins. before i leave for work usually about 3:30-4:00 a.m.

Once it's warm it's ok for the day. I've been thinking there is something not right and i don't remember ever hearing this when i first got the car or all year til' the weather got cold this fall.

Sucks to think there could be something wrong on a fairly new car. I might have to bring it to the dealership and drop it off over night and be there first thing in the a.m. so they can hear this during a cold start up.

It's still under the factory warranty and i also have an extended warranty. Hope they hear this and agree it's not normal. We'll see.

[Versa S 2009]

When I had the versa for 3 winters, it also made a ticking noise when it was cold. My sentra has one too, but its not as noticeable. But the versa was loud in the winter, but it went away after 10-15mins.