Today's Appt at MoT

[Bean]

Well, since today was yet another PD Day in York Region, I decided to take my daughter down with me for the cars Oil Change and Tire Rotation Appt. (I cannot afford snow tires WAHHH).

Appt was for 11:30 and I got out at 3:00. It was fine, went well, once again no one could hear the phantom noises that have been driving me crazy since I got the car in January of 2007 so it makes me think I am dreaming them and they dont exist. So I wont worry at all. (G)


Saw Jeff and Joe, They are both great and the new Service Advisor I dealth with, Rob is just a wonderful and very patient guy.

[FLIPDADY]

Maybe you should let me drive the car next time your by the dealership so I can listen for the noise.:)

Yeah the addition of Rob to our service team is a big plus. Was great seeing you 2.

[Bean]

I should have done that today but my daughter was getting restless as was my Hubby who came after he went to see his Brother at the Hospital.

[Darkleaf]

Who did Rob replace?Maybe I will start going back if a certain someone is not working at MOT anymore...

[Bean]

Lets just say one of the Advisors almost got HIS head blown off last week by a VERY angry customer and it was NOT Rob

[stas]

Lets just say one of the Advisors almost got HIS head blown off last week by a VERY angry customer and it was NOT Rob

can i guess? lol and let the record show that this time it wasn't me.

what kind of noise is it? in my experience sometimes you have to give them more info about the noise or anything else you find wrong with the car. last time i was there i was checking it with Rick (Service Manager), and he could bearely catch the problem, i explained it to him in more detail and 20 minutes of driving later he acknowledged that something is not right. left the car with them for an hour, they changed the cam timing that was off and the problem was gone.
so all i can say is take the time and show them the problem, drive the car with Rick in it, explain when the noise comes, and if the problem occurs he'll help you

[Bean]

can i guess? lol and let the record show that this time it wasn't me.

what kind of noise is it? in my experience sometimes you have to give them more info about the noise or anything else you find wrong with the car. last time i was there i was checking it with Rick (Service Manager), and he could bearely catch the problem, i explained it to him in more detail and 20 minutes of driving later he acknowledged that something is not right. left the car with them for an hour, they changed the cam timing that was off and the problem was gone.
so all i can say is take the time and show them the problem, drive the car with Rick in it, explain when the noise comes, and if the problem occurs he'll help you

I have had this problem since day one and have had the car at THREE different dealers all with the same results. The noise is ALL the time and my daughter and husband hear it too. It is a audible ping coming from the engine after the car goes into 4th gear. Their answer to me was it needs a fuel injector flush. I think not, but I wont stop at this. I have to let someone else come with me on a drive and we can hopefully nip this in the bud :)

[stas]

I have had this problem since day one and have had the car at THREE different dealers all with the same results. The noise is ALL the time and my daughter and husband hear it too. It is a audible ping coming from the engine after the car goes into 4th gear. Their answer to me was it needs a fuel injector flush. I think not, but I wont stop at this. I have to let someone else come with me on a drive and we can hopefully nip this in the bud :)

thats the best way of doing it.

also if they do fuel injector flush it should be under warranty, they can try 10 times to fix the problem and each time it will be under warranty, that is if your's isnt expired.

[S.F.W.]

Injector flush won't be under warranty, will be considered a wear/use item, and will be ~$150.

[Bean]

$150 of which I dont have and especially with my hubby possibly being out of work by Christmas,well you get the idea.

I dont understand how a car with only 46 k on it can need a Fuel Injector flush when a car I had with 423,000 km on it never needed one

[MajesticBlueNTO]

Injector flush won't be under warranty, will be considered a wear/use item, and will be ~$150.

if the car is within the bumper-to-bumper warranty and the dealer is saying that the injector flush is a solution to an issue that is not the result of wear/use, then the dealer should find a way to get the 'fix' covered under warranty.

she is not asking for the injector flush or any type of recommended maintenance, she is coming to them with an issue and their resolution attempt is an injector flush. if the car is under warranty, it shouldn't be her coin to pay for their attempt to resolve the issue.

[Bean]

Thank You. Thats exactly what I mean :)

[kaval]

If you're hearing more of a pinging sound, my money is on something related to timing as another poster mentioned. I had a similar issue, while not a Mazda, turned out to be bad timing.

[Bean]

So, then that should be under warranty and not cost us anything? This problem has been ongoing now since the car was new. WAYYY too long in my opinion.

[kaval]

If it is timing related and has been going on for that long, I'd be worried of damage to the engine. It would be hard to find identifiable characteristics that would show the life of the engine has been negatively effected by running bad timing for so long though.

Hate it to put it this way but it may seem as though you're stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Best thing to do - get them to check your timing and go from there. If it's off, tell them this must have been the problem all this time and perhaps its caused premature wear to the motor. I'm not sure how they'd warranty that though. It's just not something you can tangibly prove right there and then unless you pull the motor apart and find something that's actually wrong.

[Bean]

If it is timing related, then wouldnt there be a issue with loss of power and such?

Anyways, if thats the case, I will just get rid of the car.

[bbell1984]

I have a very similar noise when i am in 4th gear as well and i've had that noise since day one (aug '07), but like you no one can hear it!!!
Now when i start my car and its really cold, my engine is whiny until it warms up!

[Bean]

Makes you wonder. doesnt it?
Mine is HORRIBLE when its cold,. and its getting worse.

[MajesticBlueNTO]

I have a very similar noise when i am in 4th gear as well and i've had that noise since day one (aug '07), but like you no one can hear it!!!
Now when i start my car and its really cold, my engine is whiny until it warms up!

check your oil level. i've noticed that when the 2.3L is low on oil, it whines and you'll usually notice it more when the car is cold.

[Bean]

check your oil level. i've noticed that when the 2.3L is low on oil, it whines and you'll usually notice it more when the car is cold.

My car is a 2.0 litre.

[MajesticBlueNTO]

I have had this problem since day one and have had the car at THREE different dealers all with the same results. The noise is ALL the time and my daughter and husband hear it too. It is a audible ping coming from the engine after the car goes into 4th gear. Their answer to me was it needs a fuel injector flush. I think not, but I wont stop at this. I have to let someone else come with me on a drive and we can hopefully nip this in the bud :)

what year is your 3?

If it is pinging, have you tried upping the octane of gas you are putting in the car (i.e. putting in 89 instead of 87)?

Pinging is usually the result of hot spots in the combustion chamber. However, something like that is usually heard consistently. what RPMs does your car drop to when you shift to 4th? or is it anytime you shift to 4th no matter what RPM?

If it is indeed engine-knock that is the source of the pinging sound, you could have someone pull the spark plugs to check to see if a plug is running too hot. Some of the original 2.3 and 2.0 mazda3s came with a hotter plug from the factory (mine did) and moving up 1-step colder than that one (which some other 3s also came stock with) may alleviate that. advanced timing (there is a +/- range and your car could be on the high + side stock) will also cause a ping ...

immediate attempt would be to run a few tanks of 89 (so that all the old 87 is consumed) and see if the ping is still there. if it is, try 91. if it is still there with 91, it may be something else that is pinging and not the engine (or you have way bigger issues internal to the engine).

could be the shift linkage/cable hitting the header or something else metal (if you look behind the engine in between the firewall and the header, you'll notice 2 metal sheath looking things that go to the transmission, that is the shifter cable cover...they are free to move about - although not much). you can zip tie them together so that they don't move or hit each other. they are covered in a metal sheath to protect them from the heat of the header.

if the ping is not RPM dependent and only happens when going into 4th, i'd take a look at that and see ...it could be a combination of engine movement and shift cable movement when going into 4th that causes metal to metal contact. this all assumes you have a manual tranny.

[Flagrum_3]

Majestic LoL I was thinking the same things, she should first switch to a higher octane gas but I would also suggest putting in some Redline gas system cleaner....if it is the engine timing or carbon build-up, this should remedy it most definately.

_3

[Bean]

My car is regularly driven on the highway. It is not manual but the 4 speed sportronic. I have paid ridiculous amounts to use higher octane gas all to no avail. I have even been scolded by the dealer to not use the higher octane fuel. My Honda had 423,000 km and had NO issues like this car has. The Honda was also regularly driven on the highway too, as I used to do Courier work. In other words, I have all but written off the Mazda

[Flagrum_3]

My car is regularly driven on the highway. It is not manual but the 4 speed sportronic. I have paid ridiculous amounts to use higher octane gas all to no avail. I have even been scolded by the dealer to not use the higher octane fuel. My Honda had 423,000 km and had NO issues like this car has. The Honda was also regularly driven on the highway too, as I used to do Courier work. In other words, I have all but written off the Mazda

Sorry to hear! I think what Majestic and I we're getting at is to use high octane only for a tank or two it would eliminate some things but if the noise continues then there is a another cause to the problem.
Have the dealers you've taken your car to ever install a reader and drive the vehicle? Basically do a diagnostic? ...just curious!


_3

[Bean]

Yes, I would think that would be a good idea but they think nothing is wrong to begin with so how could I persuade them to listen to me?

[Flagrum_3]

Yes, I would think that would be a good idea but they think nothing is wrong to begin with so how could I persuade them to listen to me?

That's a good question.Have you talked to the service manager about your problem? If not I suggest you do but with a firm commitment that if they don't help you, you'll take your business somewhere else....the car is practically new they should be willing to do a simple diagnostic.


_3

[Bean]

I did that with Dave Wood and after several requests, they all but ignored me

[Effin Itai]

Keep trying different dealerships and have an advisor come with you or mechanic. If no one can still pin-point the issue, write a letter to Mazda Canada. I don't know if that will help, but maybe they can give you an alternative or explain the reasoning behind the noise. Also, check the TSB's online. Maybe you'll find something.

[Bean]

I have contacted Mazda Canada several times all to no avail. Its a no win situation and makes me want to get rid of the car. I dont like being treated like garbage

[bbell1984]

check your oil level. i've noticed that when the 2.3L is low on oil, it whines and you'll usually notice it more when the car is cold.


Nope i don't think its the oil level the noise is there in forth usually all the time. The time i hear it is after i have taken my foot off the gas and when i put my foot back on there is a slight whine that i can hear consistantly until the engine noise blocks it out.
Also, now every odd time when i start the car after it has sat for a while the engine will make a loud whiny sound as well, makes me think it might be a belt...??not sure though....

i did have mine diagnosed a while ago when i went in for 24 k service, but part of me thinks that they(ajax mazda) didn't do the diagnostic especially since i was there for 3 hours while i waited for the 24k service to be complete. Oh plus everyone there seemed to be half asleep(first and last time i go there) but i digress..... lol

So im not sure what the noise is, but i need to find some time to bring it in for sure, especially since now my stupid glove box is Squeaking... ah well

anyway so ya my car is noisey:complain:bana2

[Bean]

Its not a belt. And yes my glove box is squeaking too.