So my buddy's 2002 Altima with the VQ35DE was burning major oil... Tax return came and he decided to put a new motor in.

Motor was purchased from a reputable on-line distributor (who is already working on sending a new one out to replace this one).

It took us 2 weekends to swap the old for the new...
Started up fine, ran fine around town for the initial break in.
No noises, no pinging, nothing.
Does have some hard starting issues (but un-related to this issue)

Now a week later, and only 175 miles into the new motor, it's developed a bad noise... which sounds like a rod knock to me...

I'm hoping a few of you can listen to make sure i'm not wrong before I go through the hastle of pulling this motor (again) and installing another one.

Videos -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX--dEZ9EKM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_H64GCGDswc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svs3XBN338E

 

That sounds more valvetrain related to me, but I have had rod knock in other vehicles that of course caused bent valves which give you the sewing machine on crack sound.

Rod knock and/or bad timing chain tensioner, bent valve(s)

Id def want another motor.

edit-NM just watched the vid from underneath, thats def rod knock.

 

yeah, definately wanting a new motor.
not too happy about doing the work again though...
Getting a 3.5L and tranny out of this car in one piece is a tough squeeze.

 

Sounds more like the timing chain is slapping the cover.

 

hmm...

you can "feel" something with your hand on the cover.

 

I wonder if a tensioner let loose.

 

easy way to check that w/o pulling it?

 

Doesn't sound too reputable...

Does it have oil?

 

Everyone makes mistakes, and they have been helpfull the entire time.

Yes, it's full of fresh oil.

 

Are you getting any output from the knock sensor?

 

We've reset and pulled the codes twice.
no codes from the knock sensor.
So far just codes for poorly operating cat's. the cats were gutted (for now) due to being clogged with oil from the previous motor.