There is a low noise (low in the way of volume) coming from my 2003 S/C Xterra, thinking something with the transmission...have never had any problems before and I run Royal Purple fluid...the noise is not present or can't be heard unless the X is at a stop...I can't hear the noise in park or neutral, but becomes apparent in reverse, drive (D, 2, & 1)...any ideas what to check? Thanks for any help...

is it like a rattling noise.... the reason i ask is the heat sheilds rattle alot on the 1st gen

I don't know if yours is a 4x4....

If it is you could see if it still makes the noise with the Xfercase in neutral. That way you could put it in D or R and check where the noise is coming from. (With someone with their foot on the brake, hanndbrake on, chocks etc).

Is the noise at engine speed? does it change with the revs?

Good luck

P.S. New thought... Check your exhaust manifolds for cracks. They can make a ticking noise if they are cracked.

I'll check the heat shields...I can only get the sound when in a gear...the vibrations don't seem to change that much at idle from park/neutral to reverse/drive/2nd or 1st...

is it a rattling noise?????? mine befor i took them off when i would first start the car it would rattle for the first few sec cause the engine revs up..... then it was only at a certin speeds

With the trans in D, hold the brakes and rev the gas, does the sound change with RPM's?

Anthony...tired placing the X in drive and reverse with the park brake & foot brake on sitting in the driveway and the noise goes away with rpm's...it is also only 20 degrees out tonight so I'll test it again tomorrow when it warmer out and the fluids are at temp....

Sounds like my X, I have removed 3 parts of heat shielding from under the X. I'll go take pics of the spots, don't know if it'll help but its what stopped the rattling for me.
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Its a little to cold out right now, its 15 out with the wind chill making it -1... so when it warms a little i'll go back out.

Anthony...the noise goes away when on the brakes and pressing on the gas as the rpm's go up...at idle is the only time it's evident...

William...thanks for taking some pics when it gets a little warmer out...I'll take a closer look at the heat shields tonight...

Thanks guys...

I hvae had this problem before on an old chevy. I was able to bend the heat shield just a little bit and that stoped it from rattling.

Sounds like heat shields to me too.

Yeah mine rattles a bit at idle but i beleive its because one of my cat converters is cracked in half and in addition theres a hole in the muffler. Its had too much offroad abuse.

Sounds good guys...I guess I'll be under the X when it's warmer looking closer at the heat shields....thanks...