3 problems

1. In my fiancee's '93 Maxima SE, there is a clicking noise in the center console. Its a little forawrd of the shifter, on the passenger side. I ahve no clue what it could be, but it started just recently after I installed a new head unit. Nothing tricky to the install, I bought a kit so it was just plug and plug. Any ideas what this click could be? It's really annoying. To better describe the click, it sounds electronic-like. You know the click you hear when you push the brake, the click that locks the button on the shifter (its an automatic), it sounds similar to that, although not as loud, and from a different place.

2. Also in cylinder #5 the plug has oil on it and the cylinder is dead. The plug is fine, the coil is fine, the plug fires outside the cylinder (when grounded to the block). What could be the problem, rings, valve guide? How much am I looking at to get it fixed?

3. VTC gear. Nissan dealer mechanic listened to the annoying clicking noise coming from the rear of the engine on the passenger side. He said most likely VTC gear, very pricey to fix. How pricey??

This car has had the VTC clicking for a while, about 1 1/2 years. The dead cylinder - a year. and this clicking in the console, about 2-3 weeks.

Thanks in advance for your help!

-Lee-

First, did you take out any screws when you installed the head unit? Second, you probably need rings, do a cylinder compression test and find out what you should read on the gauge. Third, I have never heard of a VTC gear so I cant help you there.

only what was required to remove the head unit, and all screws were accounted for and had their place when everything went back together. I'll do compression check this weekend on cylinder 5. Thanks!

Anything I can do to help. You may want to find the specs on what the "advised" compression is first so you know what it should be. Glad to help.

got a Haynes manual, they got the compression specs in there...

anyone else with ideas about the console-clicking or VTC gear?

bump-really need some help here guys

My 92 Maxima SE manual shift has a console clicking noise attributed to the air conditioner temperature setting. If I slide it all the way to COLD with the setting on forward vents only, I get the clicking. If I slightly warm the temperature, the clicking goes away. I also hear vents opening and closing when the clicking sound occurs. Something is binding inside the vent system for sure. I am not sure if you have the same clicking noise.

I read your post last night, and listened for it this morning...That's exactly what mine does...hmm...

I used to get the clicking noise too. It drove my girlfriend crazy. She thought that I was doing something to make the noise (heh heh heh). I told her that it was the transmission but what did I know.

I always attributed the noise to the air conditioner and temperature control. It seemed to me to be clicking a lot at times because the temperature was right at that threshold point where it would go up and down one degree and open and close something under the console.

I've had my 14 year old Maxima for 12 years now and never had to replace anything associated with the clicking. I don't get the clicking now as I don't really run the fan or the air conditioner much.

Do your best to ignore the clicking sound or try turning on (or off) your fan and air conditioner and see how it affects the clicking.