When I start my car up and begin to drive, it makes a small clunk sound. It has been doing this for about 4 months. Dealer could not duplicate it originally. Took the car in again today and they said the engine belt was dry. Dealer replaced it ($200) but the sound remains. They suggest to try it for 2 weeks as belt is new. My car has 98K km (60K miles). I was surprise the belt had to be changed so soon. Anyone had their belt changed yet and at what milage?

 

That clunk is not your belt. I had my belt replaced at 40,000 miles. That clunk could be a suspension or trans problem. The Infiniti service guys are idiots plain and simple. Go to a good local garage and let them find the problem.

 

If it only happens after you first start you car, it is probably the ABS self check. It is normal and the dealer should know this.

 

There is no clunk noise when the ignition is first turned on. It only makes it when I start driving it. It makes 1 small clunk at the beginning and then it drives fine (even at stop and go). The noise is only there when I start the car up and begin driving. I only noticed this noise a few months ago and would be surprised if it was normal.

K-S-W
40K miles for the belt change?! Wow, that is a short lifespan. I though they usually last 70K - 80K miles.

 

I've had exactly the same thing happen. Bought the car (2005 G35x) new in August; the dealer acknowledged the problem at the 6000 km check, and we agreed to deal with it at the 12 000 km check. They had diagnosed a problem with the rear drive solenoid (whatever that is).

After leaving the car with the dealership for a week, they said they were unable to duplicate the problem, and therefore no fix. When I drove away, of course the noise is still there. I'll have to go for a ride with the service guy(s), I guess, to clear things up. We live two hours away, so it's not easy to just drop in and "get at" the problem.

Very frustrating.

 

Yeh, hmmmm, not sure how they relate a clunk with your surpentine belt ---
It's more likely the ABS self test that Philly_G35 mentioned, or it could be brake pads breaking loose from their contact with the rotors (no biggie)

Oh yes, the belt should be dry.........if it's wet with water or oil, then that could be a problem.
C.

 

Meridian, look up "clunk" in this forum. Read a few posts about the ABS self-check noise, and see if you think that might be it.

Did you try driving a loaner from the dealer? Did it do it too?

 

I do believe I hear that subtle clunk when first driving. It is likely the abs self check

 

Why are you surprised the belt had to be changed at 60k? That's pretty good you got that much mileage out of a belt, usually around 35-40k from myexperience is pretty common.

 

Dude I will almost guarantee you it is the ABS check. I know others have already said this, but it is good to get reassurance from alot of people.

 

Thanks guys. Since the dealer said it was the engine belt making the noise, I was doing a search on that and found nothing. Reading threads under "clunk" has me convinced it is the ABS. Odd I never noticed the noise for the 1+ year I drove it. It was actually my wife that brought it to my attention about 4 months ago. That is when she got her license and took over the G35. I'm back to my old car. It was either that or she buys a new car. Tough decision but I want to save for a house.

Reading the threads, it seems like all the dealers knew (except mine) it was the ABS check. Wish I had asked this forum first before spending $200 on changing the belt. However, it may have needed changing anyways. Actually, does $200CA seem cheap for a belt change? They completed the job in only about 1/2 hour. My Miata costed $250 for the change (at a local shop) and the mechanic had it for about 2 hours. I thought the G35 would take longer (more complicated) and be more expensive. Don't they almost have to take out the whole engine?

Also, I am surpise people are replacing their belts at 30K - 40K miles. Ideally, you would like to change the timing belt and water pump together (70K+ miles on most cars). Both are large jobs individually (I am not sure why the G35 only took 1/2 hour). When the water pump is replaced, the timing belt must be removed. Therefore, it is much cheaper to do them together rather than separate. I.E. same amount of labor when they reinstall the belt (new or existing).

 

What timing belt? The VQ has a timing chain if I'm not mistaken.

 

some of the best advice yet...well put

 

They did not replace your timing "belt". (As mentioned above, the timing "belt" is actually a chain) They replaced your drive belts. Or at least you should hope they replaced them both. Having the stealership tell you the "clunk" comes from a drive belt is a little fishy.

You are correct though, the timing chain should last longer than 45k miles. Infiniti does not even recommend changing it until 60k miles. Well, at least the dealership here recommends changing it at 60k.

 

Allen, I thought the timing chain didn't require replacing at a certain mileage, is it steel or a fiber of some sort? I have never had to replace a chain on a car, now timing belts are another story, I won't get into, LOL!