VG33E kinda knocky - Infamous Nissan

Bman2895 · 03-21-2022, 03:54 AM

So having completely lost drive to fix my hardbody I went and got a 2000 Frontier 4x4 4 door auto. I kinda got screwed on it because surprise surprise. Theres a knocking now I didn't hear when test driving but its pretty obvious if you just rev it and listen. I say kinda because I knew the deal I got was too good and I did the trade knowing full well id likely be putting some kind of major mechanical work into it. So i didnt notice it because at idle it honestly is a very noiseless engine. Runs very smooth. Its got what i expect it to have for power. No oil light.

So whether its under load or not makes no difference. It doesnt knock at idle an its not a consistent knock either. Its very apparent when you rev the engine. definitely gets faster and louder with rpm. However at certain rpms it comes and goes inconsistently and its either gone or simply to quiet to hear over the clutch fan. Its pretty clearly the left bank of cylinders. and almost sounds like the middle of the bank.

Sorta sounds like a rod. but its odd to me that is so quiet at an idle. You don't hear anything at all. I would think a rod that loud would make noise at idle. its similar to an engine I had in a jeep with a wrist pin knock. just louder. The knock behaves similar except even that one you heard at an idle too Now what it reminds me of most is an atv i had, Identical in behavior, That turned out to be piston slap in the bore.

I guess all I really wanna know is anyone know anything about this? had similar happen? is it a common thing? Thoughts on what it could be? Im into the truck so cheap its getting a new engine either way. Im just curious.

Deerhurst · 03-21-2022, 12:33 PM

Could be lifter noise. The VG lofters are known for making some noise. Hard to say anything without actually being there.

Bman2895 · 03-21-2022, 02:18 PM

So here is the noise I'm hearing. https://youtube.com/shorts/eG3zQmqFVXg?feature=share

89'HBV6 · 03-21-2022, 04:56 PM

So, this has the V6, right? I'm wondering when the timing belt was done last? Could it be a piece of the belt slapping around and causing this sound?

Bman2895 · 03-21-2022, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 89'HBV6

So, this has the V6, right? I'm wondering when the timing belt was done last? Could it be a piece of the belt slapping around and causing this sound?

Hadn't considered that. And im not sure. The truck has 233K on it. so surely it had to have been done at some point.

89'HBV6 · 03-21-2022, 06:45 PM

Yea, but when? ...and how was she abused/taken care of, before you got her? (I know, rethorical)

Might be a good thing to (at the least) have a looksee at the belt and guides. Maybe even time to eval if this is something that needs to be done?

Bman2895 · 03-21-2022, 11:57 PM

Yeah I plan on looking into it. Honestly the truck seems well taken care of. Interior is actually fairly nice for a truck or it's age and milage. Driver seat is alittle wore down. Seems like the last owner did take care of the truck itself. Now I'm not sure of the engine maintenance itself. I saw a video of the same noise in a situation where they overheated their engine. This truck doesn't seem to have any overheating issue though.

It does have 3 codes. The common code for the knock sensor. Code for the coolant temp being low, but it seems to have the issue with the wire to the sensor as sometimes the temp gauge will drop down to zero then come back up. And an Absolute manifold pressure code.

Bman2895 · 03-30-2022, 01:36 AM

So update. Been driving the truck. Noise has stayed consistent. No louder. Although it is a good bit quieter on start up with the engine cold. The knock happens on acceleration. I bring the truck up to say 2k rpm hold it and sometimes it's either not noticable or not there. Although whenever you apply the throttle it knocks very noticable until you stop and hold the rpm steady then it calms down the noise. Like I say.when the rpm is climbing it's clear as day loud. Plan right now is just good oil. An additive. And let it last as long as it lasts.

https://youtu.be/4HPLx3IzOYo

Bman2895 · 04-06-2022, 03:11 AM

Further update. Put a couple hundred miles on it. A good chunk of that in one day. Even towed the boat to the lake. And its not a light boat. And this little motor is just tanking along. Nothing getting louder.

cadillacdude1975 · 04-07-2022, 11:45 AM

Mine has a sound like that, but it is the manual trans input shaft bearing causing the knock/rattle sound.

03-21-2022, 03:54 AM	#1
Bman2895 Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: TN Posts: 51 Vehicle: 1989 Nissan D21 4x4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	VG33E kinda knocky So having completely lost drive to fix my hardbody I went and got a 2000 Frontier 4x4 4 door auto. I kinda got screwed on it because surprise surprise. Theres a knocking now I didn't hear when test driving but its pretty obvious if you just rev it and listen. I say kinda because I knew the deal I got was too good and I did the trade knowing full well id likely be putting some kind of major mechanical work into it. So i didnt notice it because at idle it honestly is a very noiseless engine. Runs very smooth. Its got what i expect it to have for power. No oil light. So whether its under load or not makes no difference. It doesnt knock at idle an its not a consistent knock either. Its very apparent when you rev the engine. definitely gets faster and louder with rpm. However at certain rpms it comes and goes inconsistently and its either gone or simply to quiet to hear over the clutch fan. Its pretty clearly the left bank of cylinders. and almost sounds like the middle of the bank. Sorta sounds like a rod. but its odd to me that is so quiet at an idle. You don't hear anything at all. I would think a rod that loud would make noise at idle. its similar to an engine I had in a jeep with a wrist pin knock. just louder. The knock behaves similar except even that one you heard at an idle too Now what it reminds me of most is an atv i had, Identical in behavior, That turned out to be piston slap in the bore. I guess all I really wanna know is anyone know anything about this? had similar happen? is it a common thing? Thoughts on what it could be? Im into the truck so cheap its getting a new engine either way. Im just curious.

03-21-2022, 12:33 PM	#2
Deerhurst 4/86 SE-V6 2 tone 4x4 HB Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Oregon Posts: 8,099 Vehicle: 1986.5 SE-V6 4WD D21, 2003 Audi A4 Avant 3.0 Quattro Thanks: 920 Thanked 1,101 Times in 992 Posts	Could be lifter noise. The VG lofters are known for making some noise. Hard to say anything without actually being there. __________________ 1986.5 SE-V6 4X4 D21 Hardbody Pacesetter Long Tube Headers Morimoto Mini D2S HID Projectors and Hella 500s VG33i

03-30-2022, 01:36 AM	#8
Bman2895 Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: TN Posts: 51 Vehicle: 1989 Nissan D21 4x4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	So update. Been driving the truck. Noise has stayed consistent. No louder. Although it is a good bit quieter on start up with the engine cold. The knock happens on acceleration. I bring the truck up to say 2k rpm hold it and sometimes it's either not noticable or not there. Although whenever you apply the throttle it knocks very noticable until you stop and hold the rpm steady then it calms down the noise. Like I say.when the rpm is climbing it's clear as day loud. Plan right now is just good oil. An additive. And let it last as long as it lasts. https://youtu.be/4HPLx3IzOYo Last edited by Bman2895; 03-30-2022 at 01:49 AM.

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03-21-2022, 02:18 PM	#3
Bman2895 Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: TN Posts: 51 Vehicle: 1989 Nissan D21 4x4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	So here is the noise I'm hearing. https://youtube.com/shorts/eG3zQmqFVXg?feature=share

03-21-2022, 11:57 PM	#7
Bman2895 Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: TN Posts: 51 Vehicle: 1989 Nissan D21 4x4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Yeah I plan on looking into it. Honestly the truck seems well taken care of. Interior is actually fairly nice for a truck or it's age and milage. Driver seat is alittle wore down. Seems like the last owner did take care of the truck itself. Now I'm not sure of the engine maintenance itself. I saw a video of the same noise in a situation where they overheated their engine. This truck doesn't seem to have any overheating issue though. It does have 3 codes. The common code for the knock sensor. Code for the coolant temp being low, but it seems to have the issue with the wire to the sensor as sometimes the temp gauge will drop down to zero then come back up. And an Absolute manifold pressure code.

04-06-2022, 03:11 AM	#9
Bman2895 Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: TN Posts: 51 Vehicle: 1989 Nissan D21 4x4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Further update. Put a couple hundred miles on it. A good chunk of that in one day. Even towed the boat to the lake. And its not a light boat. And this little motor is just tanking along. Nothing getting louder.

04-07-2022, 11:45 AM	#10
cadillacdude1975 The Gear Jammer Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Chattanooga, TN Age: 50 Posts: 10,736 Vehicle: 87 VG33 Pathfinder SE 4x4 & 87 D21 SE Thanks: 462 Thanked 1,411 Times in 1,276 Posts	Mine has a sound like that, but it is the manual trans input shaft bearing causing the knock/rattle sound.