2003 Nissan Altima Rattle Noise

Tiny
TONYTTRAN
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 38,000 MILES
Rattle noise comes from the front wheel, but not sure left or right and only occational. It will making noise from the begin until the end of the trip (car stop), but may go away on the next one (restart and running it again) It is not because bumpy road
Monday, August 25th, 2008 AT 7:50 PM

9 Replies

Tiny
BLACKOP555
  • MECHANIC
  • 10,371 POSTS
It rattle when moving only? Idling? Change in different gears, rpm? Speed? Weather? Warm, cold engine?

Sound engine related or drivetrain.
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Monday, August 25th, 2008 AT 9:53 PM
Tiny
TONYTTRAN
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It rattle when moving only?
Yes
idling?
No
change in different gears, rpm? Speed? Weather?
Warm, cold engine?
Not really matter.
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Tuesday, August 26th, 2008 AT 9:29 AM
Tiny
BLACKOP555
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This is gonna be a hard one, because chances are its in the drivetrain, suspension components. Or it could be the engine.

Uhh at this point take off the drive belt and keep turning it off, and on to see if the noise will come, if not put belt on, does noise reappear?
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Tuesday, August 26th, 2008 AT 11:01 AM
Tiny
TONYTTRAN
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I do not think it is engine because the noise occurs only on bump. The question is why it is not doing it all the time and going away on the next trip?
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Tuesday, August 26th, 2008 AT 1:27 PM
Tiny
BLACKOP555
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Oh only ont a bump! Well then I thought the way you made it sound it would do it all the time.

So it rattles when you hit a bump, then as soon as the bump is done it stops?

Can you describe the rattling? Very fast metal on metal banging? Or just a few clunks and thats that?
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Tuesday, August 26th, 2008 AT 1:38 PM
Tiny
TONYTTRAN
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So it rattles when you hit a bump, then as soon as the bump is done it stops?

Yes

can you describe the rattling? Very fast metal on metal banging? Or just a few clunks and thats that?

Sound like a clunk. Number of clunks depend on the number of bumps. In addition, it is not only occur on bump (notice easier/louder) but rough road, hill or even the step from the garage will also make it happen
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Tuesday, August 26th, 2008 AT 2:36 PM
Tiny
BLACKOP555
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Ok, first thing I would check would be stabilizer bar bushings, strut bushings if equipped, radius arm bushings if equipped, torsion bar bushings if equipped.

After those are looked at I would look at tie rods, and ball joints.
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Tuesday, August 26th, 2008 AT 4:16 PM
Tiny
TONYTTRAN
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Wow, that is a lot to check. Do you know who I can trust to perform this kind of check and repair? I brought it back to dealer couple time when it was under warranty, but they did not find anything wrong or because it is not happen consistently.
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Tuesday, August 26th, 2008 AT 6:07 PM
Tiny
BLACKOP555
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A dealership would be best if its under warenty. Do you know when hte noise started and how? After any service performed?

Have the dealership take it for a day or two and have um keep using it till it works, or when its making the noise, take it in and tell um to get in there now

if they are uncoperative, say youll take it to another mechanic, and ask they tip the bill.
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Tuesday, August 26th, 2008 AT 9:34 PM

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