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Car Forum / Nissan / Nissan Maxima / July 2004

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90 Nissan Maxima Flash Oil Light, Knock, Valve Noise, Oil Pump? HELP!?

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matthew - 29 Jun 2004 14:25 GMT
I have a 1990 Nissan Maxima, not sure if it's a GXE or a SE, (how do you
tell?)
It has the standard 3.0 v6 engine, here is my problem/question(s):

I have checked with the manufactures specs about oil changes, which
recommended -
Changing oil every 3-5000 miles and Filter changes every other oil change.
I did do an oil and filter change back in April, (since the odometer counts
mileage at random, it's at 170K miles - but bad counting gears or rpm wire
only work intermittently, whatever... no worry I change oil by the month,
not the miles).
I did an oil-only no filter change in May (10-w30) and had been noticing a
slight air hiss or popping sound coming from under the car on the drivers
side, leading to about middle under the motor. I checked with a couple of
friends that work at Goodyear and they said it was normal sounds, but
I say if it's normal why did it only start just recently?

My BIG Question is this.
I have what sounds like a valve noise coming from about dead center to the
rear top side of the top of the motor. Mostly sounds like there isn't enough
oil getting up to the parts in the engine. When I first start/spin the
motor, it starts up fine. There are about 3-4 different knocking, clicking
noises that I hear, and 2 of them go away after about 20-45 seconds of
running. The last noise concerns me since it does not go away and gets
louder at times. Some of the time it will go away at higher RPMs, but I am
not sure I am just loosing the sound because of other higher noise. The OIL
LIGHT starts to blink about 20 miles in to a country - non-highway drive.
Some times the light will stay on, but I have the oil dead set on
Normal-Full. When I first noticed this noise, I checked the engine and it
had about 1/2 - 3/4 qt of to much oil, so I drained it and filled it
correctly. The oil light some times flickers or is steady at start up and
goes out which does not worry me. It's when the oil light come back on in
20-30 minutes that make me think it's a bad oil pump, a sticking valve, or
some other thing that I have no clue about.

Also, I am looking for a cheap place to find replacements for my window
regulators, high side power steering line, Front Fascia (bumper cover), and
pitted windshield (that I may let someone else do).

Any comments, or advice, including comic relief are welcome, please post
your reply as soon as possible, I don't want to ruin this engine or it's
driving life.
matthew - 01 Jul 2004 14:08 GMT
After the great responses, (btw Thank you) I tried a Oil treatment which was
some very thick stuff. The noises did get quieter.
What still concerns me is why is the noise that is still there, seem to be
random placements of the time? It's the same repeating 4-5 clicks/knocks,
but it's not in any form of rhythmic patter to say it's happening because of
the engine.
Also, on a side note I forgot to mention, After I start the car up for the
1st time each day, pull out of the drive way, and get to the first traffic
light, the computer can be heard making some sort of grunting, or almost a
grounding/arc-ing noise... where is the computer located? and what can I do
to fix that when I find it?
Thanks again, all responses welcome.

> I have a 1990 Nissan Maxima, not sure if it's a GXE or a SE, (how do you
> tell?)
[quoted text clipped - 38 lines]
> your reply as soon as possible, I don't want to ruin this engine or it's
> driving life.
Chris H - 02 Jul 2004 05:12 GMT
That may be your shift lock solenoid clicking if the noise is coming from
around the gearshift lever.  My wife's 94 GXE does that a lot.  Doesn't seem
to bother anything.  But someday, when I can't get it into gear, I'll know
to replace either the shift lock solenoid, or shift lock controller- or
both, as I've done that on my 90.

Chris
90 & 94 GXE's
matthew - 06 Jul 2004 04:19 GMT
I went by Autozone, and you should have seen the people swarm over to my car
when I pulled up.
They all said it was a Valve sticking, and recommended RISLONE
(www.rislone.com) similar to Marvel Mystery Oil.
This system has a fuel injected, non-carburetor  layout- fyi for other 1990
maxima owners that don't know, I didn't remember.
Someone there told me if it didn't have the fuel injector system, I could
put a little transmission fluid on the valves, if it had a ez access
top placed carburetor , but he warned me it would smoke like crazy, while I
was doing it.
I drained out the Dollar Store's 10w-30 and put in the 20w-50 Coastal, that
was recommended, plus I added 1 quart of Rislone as directed. I checked out
their site and it's a very good possibility that it will take about / up to
700 miles to see results. So I'll keep you all posted as I find out things.

> I have a 1990 Nissan Maxima, not sure if it's a GXE or a SE, (how do you
> tell?)
[quoted text clipped - 38 lines]
> your reply as soon as possible, I don't want to ruin this engine or it's
> driving life.
 
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