ok, not the clearest Subject line but the brand new (145 miles on odometer) Frontier 2006 LE makes a metallic "Clank" sound like "small wrench tapping exhaust pipe" when changing gears for the very first time since engine start.

after that initial sound, it's quiet for the rest of the drive.

just some parts getting used to movement on a new car?

 

Thats the ABS systemn checking it self. Its always going to do that at the beginning

 

thank you, can you comment on what specific part is causing the sound to be heard?

 

a little additional testing just to be clear and in the hopes it may help someone else:

if I drive in first gear for since engine start for up to 1 mile, it makes no difference as immediately after the first time it shifts to second gear (within 2 - 3 seconds) the sound is heard and it appears to come directly under transmission selector ****

the location would lead me to suspect the torque converter?

 

in the hopes it may help someone else, I'll post an update, car now has 2000 miles

nissan techies had car for parts of two days, asst. service mgr (are they *all* called that?) drove with me the evening I dropped car off at dealer and he heard the noise and commented at that moment "it's a mystery what that is.."

next day he promised to call early morning and to demonstrate to mechanic how to locate the sound, but did not call

I called them in the afternoon (now 4pm) and he said he no longer could hear the sound
To this I asked if he drove it slowly allowing tranny to barely shift from 1st to 2nd and to not accelerate quickly and miss the sound? He did not reply and I simply picked up car an hour later

As I drove off their lot, "clang!!" goes the car, the first time it shifted from 1st to 2nd, within 5-10 seconds

it still does it's clang each day, wonder if I should just ignore it and hope it breaks before 3 year warranty is up

 

I hear your pain [:@]! I have the exact same problem and so far the dealer can not figure out what it is either. Asked about the ABS theory but he said had nothing to do with the ABS. Not sure what is going to happen next, I have to take it back in so they can look into it some more.

I'll keep you posted and if you find anything out please post as well.

 

Are all of your trucks 4x4's? I have heard the sound also and seems to sound more like the transfercase disengaging.

 

Are all of your trucks 4x4's? I have heard the sound also and seems to sound more like the transfercase disengaging.

 

I am new here and just posted a similar story. My noise is a growl/groan at the first shift. The truck is a 4wd Frontier LE. It is at the dealer now getting checked out. They had it all day yesterday and did nothing.

Mine sounds a little like something recalibrating itself. May be the ABS.

 

I just picked up my '06 Frontier and the dealer says it was the ABS making the noise. That's the good news. The bad news is that there is a recall on Frontiers that requires changing the door latches. Unfortunately the door panels have to be taken off.

Another problem was a dull vanity mirror light. They have to replace the entire visor just to fix a problem bulb. At this rate, I will have to have an engine replacement just to change the oil!