Questions and Answers

Tapping Maxima

Q. I have a question about a tapping noise coming from the engine of my '93 Nissan Maxima.

97,000 Miles
190 HP, 6 cyl, Fuel Injection
ABS
Performance Package (spoiler, analog gauges, stiff suspension, etc)
Automatic

I bought the car about 2 years ago. About 6 month after I bought it I noticed a faint tapping noise coming from the engine when I first started up in the morning. It would go away after the car warmed up for 3-4 minutes. This sounded like valve tapping noise. I spoke to a friend who owns the same year car, and he said that his did the same thing.

Now, the tapping is worse, but intermittent. It may make a tapping noise which is louder - and then stop completely - then tap again. This will happen almost anytime I drive the car - hot or cold - short or long trips. Sometimes the noise is absent - other times it's there. Even if the car is idling in the driveway it may start to tap and then go silent for no apparent reason. The car seems to have plenty of power and sounds and feels smooth when driven. Any ideas? I don't want to go to the dealer at this point because I want to make sure I am getting several onions first. My independent car repairman does not have any idea what this noise is without further investigation. I appreciate any help you can offer.

Thanks very much.
Sal

A. This is a common problem with this car. What I used to do before replacing the lifters was try an engine cleaning. What always worked well was an oil change with a new filter. I would replace the oil with four quarts of the recommended oil and one quart of transmission fluid. The transmission fluid has a high detergent content and will clean the inside of the engine of any gum and varnish that has built up. I run this for about 3000 miles and see if there is any improvement in the lifters. If not, I would do it one more time, run it another 3000 miles and if it did not eliminate the noise, I would replace the lifters.