I previously posted about my problem with engine knock on my 6MT I purchased back in 8/06 on various forums at the time. I took it in to the dealer and went through what some of you already have, test drove it with tech, confirmed pinging/knock. They reset my computer to "re-learn" my driving style, no joy. Took it in another time and they retarded my timing by two degrees - didn't do anything. I called Infiniti and they stated it's the gas and they have no control over it. I asked the tech back at the dealtership, what would YOU try next if this were your vehicle? He said he would try swapping out the ecu. I said, let's do it. He said he can't unless he got authorization from Infiniti. Infiniti said "no".

So, I am now looking into the LEMON LAW here in Massachusetts. I will not accept this as an answer. I am told that manufacturers will buy back cars if you push hard enough. First they offer you extended warranties, then cash back, ultimately if you push further, they WILL NOT let it get settled by a court...they know they lose, or so I am told. I thought I was the only one with this problem...I guess there is truth to the old saying, "misery loves company". That's not to say I am glad you guys/gals are seeing the same issue as I am, only that there may be a chronic problem with these engines after all. Bythabay, I had hopes in following your efforts, sorry to hear you were not successful. I cannot enjoy this car to the extent I should be - I keep listening for that dreaded PINGING sound whenever I drive!

It's sad to think that the Manufacturer more than likely over-tuned these cars just to market them at their current specs only to have a side effect of making them prone to engine knock. If I learn more, I'll post.

Regards

 

I have an 06 6MT coupe with 14K miles. It's been knocking from the get go, but at first (last summer) it was just a little first to second especially in the parking garage at work. In the winter I didn't hear any knocking at all. Now I can hear it right through 4th gear very consistent and seems to be getting worse as the weather warms up.


Where do you bring your car for service? I have an appt at Herb Chambers Wed morning for them to look at this same issue. Am I wasting my time?

And I agree with your over tuning theory. I had an 03 5AT sedan with 260 horsepower and never heard any knock. Even if I used regular gas it did not knock.

I'd be very interested to hear how you make out with the lemon law. I hate the pinging too but wonder if it would be covered under the law.

 

Alderran, my car originally came from Herb Chambers (it was transferred up to my dealer), not that it means anything. I am actually bringing the car into a dealer down in Hanover tomorrow (I didn't buy the car from them). I also didn't pull the trigger on the Lemon Law route just yet - it's a last resort for me. The dealer I actually bought my car from resides in Norwood. I would steer people away from buying from that particular place by the way.

I spoke with the service manager from the dealer in Hanover and he seemed interested in trying to troubleshoot my problem - he drives a G coupe as well. I am going to give him a crack at it, then we'll see. To be fair, I have only spoken with the service techs over at my dealer, not the service manager. I'll probably do that before I think Lemon Law as well, although I am not holding out much hope that the dealers will find anything.

When did you purchase you car Alderran? Did you report the pinging problem to your dealer when you first noticed it?

Regards

 

I bought my car from Quirk last summer. I bring my car in for service at Herb Chambers. I did mention the pinging at the first oil change. They ran it on the computer it came back at specs. I mentioned it again yesterday and the service manager admitted that FX's and M35's do the same thing and nothing they have ever tried has gotten rid of the pinging. He thought mine was very mild, but I obviously can here it and don't like it.

Seems to me there is something wrong with the tuning of these cars and the only way it will get fixed would be for Infiniti to step in. Most likely a reflash of the ECU and I would guess a drop in horsepower. And to tell you the truth I'd rather have 288hp and no knocking. I don't race this car so I wouldn't notice if it were a couple of 10ths slower in a quarter mile.

 

Just wondering what was your problem with Norwood Infiniti? I think it really depends who you get for a salesman. In 2003 when I bought a G35 sedan I had a great buying experience at Herb Chambers. This last go around I went to HC first. When the salesman heard I'd be interested in leasing he started trying to sell me the car at sticker. The money factor was also not great. I was getting the old why can't we sell you a car today baloney. With Quirk it was a great no pressure, here is the best deal I can do kind of thing. I of course checked that best deal with Norwood and Kelly Infiniti, but it was a good deal.

I probably won't buy Infiniti for my next car. I do like the way this car drives but for 35K I can do without knocking and that clunky transmission.

 

You might want to ask them to retard your timing by 2 degrees (seems standard). You might have better luck than I have. I read in another forum that someone was satisfied with the results. It didn't work for me though. The dealer in Hanover is going to replace an airflow sensor. Hopefully that is the cause but who knows. The dealer was thinking it was the gas...I doubt it is, otherwise plenty of people would be complaining of pinging...wouldn't they?

I agree with you about the clunky transmission (off the line). It might be more from the shift linkage, or from the fact that it's a chain driven engine, not belt driven. Stronger, but noisier possibly?

The problem with Norwood (let me see if I can make this short)
The sales rep (young guy) raced the engine of the demo car he had me drive when he brought it around for me. He tells me he read an article by some guy who repairs lawnmower engines that you don't have to break-in engines anymore, just "beat" on them to seat the rings. I should have walked at that line.

The sales manager, another young guy, gave a vicory yell (can't explain it better) when I sealed the deal on my car. He later apologized for his outburst, but I found that odd and unprofessional. Kind of takes away from the Infiniti brand being considered "upscale" to me.

I am leaving out a few other examples, I don't want to make this post too long-winded, but I got a far better experience from a little ol' Saturn dealer many years ago than I did from this Infiniti or even from BMW of Norwood for that matter when I leased a 330i and to think the Saturn cost me around $20,000 less than either of these cars. It seems some of these dealers don't have a grasp of the concept of customer experience or satisfaction. They are only there to move vehicles.

 

Maybe most people don't notice it. I'd like to see a TSB from Infiniti on this rather than having the dealer use my car as a guinea pig.

Hey Infiniti if you read this board please feel free to buy my car back. You can use it for research on your pinging problems.

Pretty sad 35K car pings and I had warped rotors before I even got to 5K miles.

 

Infiniti won't issue a TSB unless a lot of people are experiencing this problem and they can reproduce/fix it. For now, dealers are saying the cars are fine and it's the gas. So I am trying the gas station the dealer uses and then I'll report back to them what I find. I am also thinking of recording the sound since I don't think they believe me.

Well, I won't give up. I'll keep trying with the dealer until either they fix it or I have enough to force Infiniti to do something about it.

Warp rotors? Did they replace them under warranty? By the way, there is a campaign (their word) to replace the headlights in our cars...I had mine done. Apparently they are too bright and angled too high. This I can confirm as I had numerous motorists high-beaming me when I go by.

 

Unfortunately the pinging wasn't as loud the day I brought it in. Maybe the gas station makes some slight difference, but I always get pinging to some degree and I don't use the same gas station regularly. I've had Shell, Sunoco, Exxon, Mobile and Gulf in my car. I have a feeling gas is gas and it isn't going to make any difference for you. But if it does please let us know.

They didn't replace they turned the rotors and at 14K miles I can feel it starting to pulse again.

I haven't been high beamed by anyone, but they did mention this recall. I didn't want to wait 2hrs so I didn't let them fix it.

Have you tried writing a letter to Infiniti? I think a lot or most of them ping and people who don't know the sound and what it is just aren't complaining about it. I think they could detune the car. I'd rather have 280 hp and no pinging.

 

Hello all,

I'm experiencing the same problem with my 05 G35 (amongst other problems, like burning oil)...took my car to a dealer and they noticed the knocking and pinging and recommended premium gas, which I have been using. No other explanations was given at that time...

Problem persisted so I took it back to the dealer; this time I test-drove it with a tech. I was told I wasn't reving (RPM) the engine high enough...I ship gears around 3 to 4K. Not enough rpm??? WTF...

I am so disappointed with Nissan. Their service department is awful and warranty is non-existent.

I'd never buy nissan again!!! I'll get a new Hyundai Genesis next year and trade it in this POS nissan.

Dan

 

Here's a little song I wrote about engine pinging...

I have given, I have given and got none
Still I'm driven by something I can't explain
It's not an engine, it is a sound
I cannot help but hear its noise
I only wish that I could listen without shame

Let it ping, let it ping on my engine
Let it ping, oh let it ping
Let it ping on my engine

I have been a witness to the perfect crime
I Wipe the grin off of my face to hide the blame
It isn't worth the tears you cry
To have a perfect alibi
Now I'm beaten at the hands of Nissan's game

Let it ping, let it ping on my engine
Let it ping, oh let it ping
Let it ping on my engine

It isn't easy to be kind
With all these pinging demons in my mind
I only hope one day I'll be free

I do my best not to complain
My face is dirty from the strain
I only hope one day the VQ pinging will stop

Let it ping, let it ping on my engine
Let it ping, oh let it ping
Let it ping on my engine

Come take my VQ35
We can take it apart
And without fear
Even the Nissan engineers can't see why it pings

Let it ping, let it ping on my engine
Let it ping, oh let it ping
Let it ping on my engine

-original: Let It Rain(By AMANDA MARSHALL)

 

WOW, it's not that bad. Other than some spark knock which is not even that loud on my 2005 coupe, this has been a great car. The engine is over tuned for the kind of gas we can buy in the US (CA especially!!) so we have to deal with a little knock at low RPM. But man does it pull good over 4k RPM :-)

Adam

 

I wonder if the oil that's leaking around the piston rings and into the combustion chamber is enough to lower the octane rating of the fuel mixture? I could see this happening given the amount of oil some of these engines use.

I wonder if the oil is sooting up the combustion chamber and also making smaller, thus letting ping happen easier.

 

Hi Adam,

Thanks for your thoughts, but I believe any car company selling cars above $30K should stand by it. I had few problems with my G35 6MT, which the nissian/infiniti dealers will not fix. First, it was my clutch problem under 7K miles. I was told they could not duplicate the problem so I should bring it back when it's noticeable. By the time it was noticeable, it past 12K miles and out of the warranty. No repair...

Second, the Oil Consummation problem; they told me it's Normal for these engines to consume oil. Now, I understand most (if not all) engines burn little oil, not 1qt per 1000 miles. I've owned Mazda RX7 TT that burns oil by design, but it didn’t burned 1qt per 1000 miles. I've asked for documentations but no such docs exist and I have to go by their words as to what is expectable amount.

No more Nissan for me.

Dan

 

Thanks for the laugh bythabay, it's funny in a sad sort of way.

Aman, I agree it's not loud, but I have to dissent about it being acceptable on any car. My answer to them is don't over-tune the cars just to get the specs higher. Almost 300 horses seems better than a possible 270 horses eh? (just making that last figure up).

I tried my last gas station, and it still pings. Now I'm going the route of asking this new dealer to figure it out and if that fails, well...it's Lemon Law time for Nissan.