I have a 2007 nissan maxima se that makes a whining sound when starting and accelerating. I have hear so many different things, most of them expensive( $1500-$2600). I am almost finished paying for it and need to know is it a fixer or do I need to consider trading it in??? Is it timing chain, alternator, belts, pulleys, bearings???? Please Help!!!!

Could it be a noisy power steering pump...am having this exact problem with my MINI that's only got 34,000 miles on it. As the car warms up, the bubbles in the power steering fluid dissipate and will act normally, does the noise ever stabilize or reduce?

I will have it checked out to see if that is what it is. I was advised to check out the cheapest things and get them straight before jumping on the expensive things. It does, but mainly whining occurs when I put my foot on the accelerator. It is loudest when car first starts, especially when it is cold. I have replaced the belts, but that did not fix the problem.

if i were you, i would try to remove the belt and try shake all the pulleys and belt tensioner if it is shaking. i think its the belt tensioner.

+1 on the belt tensioner. Even if you replaced the belt, its only as tight as the tensioner will allow. Check the slack of the belt, and also that your power steering pump reservoir is full.

Just fixed a nasty whine in my 07 Maxima. Thought CVT might be on the way out. Took it to the dealer expecting $$$ repair. Tech listened and said put a Nissan oil filter on the engine, Dubious, but hoping for a cheap solution, I had them change oil using Nissan filter. Whine completely gone! If only there was a cheap fix for my loud timing chain on startup.