Questions and Answers
Nissan Noise
Q. Dear Vincent, I sure hope you can help me! I have 1994 Nissan pick up KA24E engine. Manual Transmission, 120,000 miles, multipoint Fuel Injection, P/S and A/C.
Several Months ago my truck started to make a rattling noise when it is started up cold. It only lasts for several seconds.
Then it started to make a sound that sounds like a lifter (loud tapping noise that increases with RPM), how ever it only makes this sound when the motor is warm and the motor is turned of for several minutes and then restarted. About the amount of time it takes to stop and gas up. After a minute or two it fades away. Now my check engine light has started to come and go off.
Since this has started I have changed the oil pump, fuel pump, exhaust gas sensor and air temp sensor in the air cleaner that had a bad wire. What puzzles me is whether these symptoms are related?
I regularly change the oil as we live in AZ and summer temps are always over 100, 99% of our driving is at highway speeds.
I bought the vehicle used and do not have the owners manual, so I am not sure what all the engine light covers. I ran the diagnostic procedure that I found in my Hayes manual, on the computer under the seat and it shows that all the systems are normal. Now I am afraid to drive it as we live 30 miles from the nearest town.
Hope you can help!
PaulA. I have seen this happen often in Nissans that get some miles on them. It is most often weak lifters. The springs inside the lifters that hold the oil inside get weak and the oil seeps out. Once this happens they need to pump up and the noise will subside. Sometimes the noise will continue when the oil is hot, like after a short stop and it heat soaks.
So I would think you're looking at a set of lifters that are going bad.
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