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My 2006 Nissan Titan makes an odd sound, like a grinder, mostly when travelling steady at 35, 40 or 45 miles per hour. Even 1-2 mile per hour difference will cause the noise to stop.

The noise will go away if I accelerate slightly or slow down by letting off the gas. I've noticed that it will also make the same sound around 20 miles an hour, sometimes when turning, sometimes not. It will not make the sounds during steady acceleration passing through 45 miles an hour.

Could this be a wheel bearing, or possibly the fuel pump? It's a difficult sound to locate whether I'm a passenger or driving, as I have a custom exhaust that's rather loud.

Thanks for the ideas!

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    If it is only at those speeds then there is a resonance somewhere. Do those speeds correspond to a specific RPM? If so then there is something related to engine speed - perhaps mounts. If it is not related to RPM then check wheels, shocks, bearings etc
    – Rory Alsop
    Commented Mar 16, 2013 at 18:09
  • I'll definitely check and see if it corresponds to a specific RPM.
    – Brandon Taylor
    Commented Mar 16, 2013 at 18:12
  • Brandon, my Nissan does the same thing. Did you ever get the problem resolved?
    – user6758
    Commented Aug 19, 2014 at 18:57
  • Not yet. I know there is some sort of boot or joint seal that is leaking on the passenger rear that I need to get fixed.
    – Brandon Taylor
    Commented Aug 19, 2014 at 19:11
  • I found that mine makes the sound more frequently here lately BC I have been doing more interstate travel.
    – user6758
    Commented Aug 27, 2014 at 14:57

3 Answers 3

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My truck had the same "grinding thing" at certain speeds like you all said... The problem is called -VIBRATION- this happens when you're running your car, not when it's in parking, so this "grinding thing is the laminate cover that protects your catalytic converter that vibrates, you just need to get a long screwdriver or whatever is better for you and move the laminate just a little bit far from your catalytic converter and that's it but if you have two make sure to check them both 👌👍✌

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  • Just wondering why you think telling the OP they are only hearing the noise when not moving, when they specifically said they hears the noise when they're moving? Please consider what the OP is saying and maybe rethink your answer as to what might actually be the issue.
    – Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2 ♦
    Commented Jul 30, 2015 at 1:13
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    Hi everyone. I actually sold this truck to my father-in-law, but it was indeed the converter.
    – Brandon Taylor
    Commented Jul 30, 2015 at 1:35
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I would imagine that something is just rattling.. I say this because if it was an issue of possibly a pulley or a wheel bearing or anything at all for that matter. Then the noise would be more consistent. It isn't too often where you have a vehicle that only has an issue in that tight of a situation.

mostly when traveling steady at 35, 40 or 45 miles per hour. Even 1-2 mile per hour difference will cause the noise to stop. The noise will go away if I accelerate slightly or slow down by letting off the gas. I've noticed that it will also make the same sound around 20 miles an hour,

This leads me to believe that it's an issue of something vibrating. At a stead 35 to 45 miles per hour the engine should be I'd say about 2500rpm on the highway. Around the same rpm that it would be at when coasting 20 miles per hour. A slight increase in speed also is directly related to a slight increase in RPM, and the noise is gone. Turning, (lets build a scenario of you turning right at a read light) you touch the gas slightly and turn. Most likely hitting right around that 2300-2500rpm mark to get the noise to occur.

Next time you're in the vehicle and you hear the noise take note to where in the RPM range the motor is at at the given time. Then when you get back to your parking spot try to replicate the noise while stopped. If you cannot get it to happen while stopped then perform the following test.

Fully engage the parking brake, place the vehicle in drive, and place your left food on the brake pedal. Then with your right foot start to bring the RPM level up (use common sense here, don't just put a brick on the gas pedal because you'll end up slamming into whatever it is in front of you).

Using the second method if the first one fails will ensure that all the components are engaged and being torqued as if you were driving the vehicle down the road. You'll feel the entire car lurch up (resembling a cat ready to pounce).

If you can get the noise to reoccur at will then you can have someone assist you in pinpointing it's location.

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  • Thanks for the ideas. I'll try the parking brake/brake/gas method - with a lot of room in front of me - this truck has 313 HP :)
    – Brandon Taylor
    Commented Mar 17, 2013 at 12:06
  • If you get a chance, slide under the truck and make sure that the the heat-shields around the exhaust aren't touching on the exhaust. This usually happens from going through a nice puddle. They're made of a rather thin aluminum so you can just push them back with a long flat-head screwdriver or if you can reach them safely then just use your hand.
    – cinelli
    Commented Mar 17, 2013 at 21:58
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    I wouldn't describe a vibration as a "grinding" sound. Usually you would hear a rattle or ping. Grinding makes me think something that is rotating. I guess it is possible that something is intermittently touching the driveshaft?
    – Mike Saull
    Commented Mar 20, 2013 at 16:17
  • It's also possible the noise wasn't explained correctly. When giving my answer, tried to think of the symptoms given and forget about the description of the noise. I can see see how a low pitched heat-shield could be processed as a "grinding" noise to a customer. Do you agree?
    – cinelli
    Commented Mar 22, 2013 at 14:01
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    @cinelli Yeah I agree its possible. Just if you are looking for "grinding" specifically that isn't where I would start looking. If you disregard the description of "grinding" then you have to start looking at suspension springs, bushings, shocks etc the list of possibilities goes up like crazy.
    – Mike Saull
    Commented Mar 22, 2013 at 15:32
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Wheel bearing was my first thought but it should get louder at higher speeds and remain during accel and decel.

possibly some issue with the torque converter not locking or slipping at certain speeds? Does it only happen in the highest gear of the transmission?

the turning at low speed leads me to think power steering pump. The sound should change with engine rpm. Try revving the engine at different speeds in neutral.

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  • The sound stays constant in volume, no matter which speed, and only happens at the specific speeds. I'll check to see which gear I'm in when it makes the noise and also check in neutral.
    – Brandon Taylor
    Commented Mar 16, 2013 at 18:16
  • An issue with the converter lock-out clutch would give a feel similar to a failed Mass Air Flow Sensor. The steady jerking or bucking at a constant cruise speed on the highway, or a slight load when going uphill at highway speeds.
    – cinelli
    Commented Mar 22, 2013 at 14:03

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