Rattling under deceleration ***Update: Getting my diff dropped on monday***
- Thread starter dmention7
- Start date
J
JustROLLIN
Guest
Are you having the same sypmtoms? Are you hearing in underneath the veh? My first guess would be something engine mount related on a Speed6 depending on conditions, due to their history. But, I dont see why it couldnt be a similar issue. Jay's symptoms were textbook for a plunge joint failure.
dmention7
Hater
*sigh* Well, they agreed to take it back in, but the service manager seemed to be just as committed to the idea that it's my exhaust as he was before.
The clincher in their eyes, is that when they were test driving it to diagnose my turbo problem, they didn't notice it then. Which honestly doesn't surprise me too much, because they weren't looking for a rattling problem. I know for a fact that it was there before I ever thought about installing a midpipe. I guess choosing not to complain about it right away is coming back to bite me in the ass. At this point, I'm really hoping it's just my exhaust, because they don't seem very eager to look at anything but the evidence that points to the exhaust...
Frustrating because they don't even seem willing to entertain the possibility that there's a problem, as long as they can loosely pin it on an aftermarket item. At least they're only holding the threat of making me put EVERYTHING back to stock, rather than voiding my warranty or some other supreme bullshit.
What do you guys think? Should I try bringing it to another dealer, and see what they say? Or is this stuff all in mazda's database, so they'll see that the problem has already been "diagnosed" by another dealer?
The clincher in their eyes, is that when they were test driving it to diagnose my turbo problem, they didn't notice it then. Which honestly doesn't surprise me too much, because they weren't looking for a rattling problem. I know for a fact that it was there before I ever thought about installing a midpipe. I guess choosing not to complain about it right away is coming back to bite me in the ass. At this point, I'm really hoping it's just my exhaust, because they don't seem very eager to look at anything but the evidence that points to the exhaust...
Frustrating because they don't even seem willing to entertain the possibility that there's a problem, as long as they can loosely pin it on an aftermarket item. At least they're only holding the threat of making me put EVERYTHING back to stock, rather than voiding my warranty or some other supreme bullshit.
What do you guys think? Should I try bringing it to another dealer, and see what they say? Or is this stuff all in mazda's database, so they'll see that the problem has already been "diagnosed" by another dealer?
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J
JustROLLIN
Guest
Hmmm...If its more of a rattle issue than a clunking noise, I would also say exhaust. But, if its more of clunk than a rattle, I stand by my original diagnosis. I would say it certainly cant hurt anything to try another dealer. Where do you go currently?
dmention7
Hater
Morries.
And that's the thing... it's kind of both. It doesn't sound like a vibration-induced rattle, but it's not just an isolated clunking either. I dunno, if they ask me to start putting shit back to stock, I'll probably just say screw it--it's not worth my time. If my shit breaks in a few thousand miles, I've got the extended warranty, and I can always point back and say that I've got it on record.
For now, here's my plan: I'm going to bend both of the exhaust hangers on the exhaust so that the pipe is riding high enough that there's no way it'll hit the crossmember. I already tried shoving a piece of thick coolant hose between the midpipe and the crossmember. The sound did not disappear, and sounded the same to me, but it's possible that the sound was still getting transmitted through th hose.
And that's the thing... it's kind of both. It doesn't sound like a vibration-induced rattle, but it's not just an isolated clunking either. I dunno, if they ask me to start putting shit back to stock, I'll probably just say screw it--it's not worth my time. If my shit breaks in a few thousand miles, I've got the extended warranty, and I can always point back and say that I've got it on record.
For now, here's my plan: I'm going to bend both of the exhaust hangers on the exhaust so that the pipe is riding high enough that there's no way it'll hit the crossmember. I already tried shoving a piece of thick coolant hose between the midpipe and the crossmember. The sound did not disappear, and sounded the same to me, but it's possible that the sound was still getting transmitted through th hose.
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JustROLLIN
Guest
Hey Jay, if you are going to be at Porky's this week, maybe we can go out for a quick ride. See if I can hear the noise. I have a good chunk of actual dealership experience under my belt, so hopefully we can pinpoint the noise down a little further.
dmention7
Hater
I'll be there. I'ma call and change my appointment at the dealership to thursday I think... it was originally wednesday, but that's not so good for me anyways. Plus, that way I can save some face if you take one listen and say "yeah jay, you're an idiot... that's exhaust all the way!" haha
D
DrWebster
Guest
My bet is it's something in your transmission, Jay.
J
JustROLLIN
Guest
I am 99% sure its not in the tranmission. Nothing in the tranny is rotating if you are decelerating with the clutch pushed. Obviously it will turn for a few seconds due to inertia, but otherwise no power is going through it. Thats what lead me to believe its not a trans issue. But, I have been wrong before....:sewingblue:
dmention7
Hater
The differential will be still be moving if the clutch is out, won't it?
As long as I'm posting, I just got done using a sturdy hose clamp tightened around both of the front exhaust hangers to lift the pipe as far from the crossmember as possible... there is over a finger's width of clearance, and I could grab the pipe and lift my entire torso off the ground without things making contact. No change in the sound I'm hearing.
As long as I'm posting, I just got done using a sturdy hose clamp tightened around both of the front exhaust hangers to lift the pipe as far from the crossmember as possible... there is over a finger's width of clearance, and I could grab the pipe and lift my entire torso off the ground without things making contact. No change in the sound I'm hearing.
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DrWebster
Guest
I don't think it's necessarily in the gears themselves, but I think it's in the driveshaft somewhere inside of the tramsission housing. Probably a CV joint or something similar, but not necessarily out in the open where you'll notice it (also why the techs haven't noticed it either). I really don't think your exhaust banging around would make the vibration you're feeling transmit all the way to the shifter.
dmention7
Hater
So, here's the latest entry to this little saga.
When I talked to my service manager on monday, he asked me to bring it in again, and they'd take a look. The last thing he mentioned was calling mazda to see what they thought, and if they would make me go back to stock.
So I rolled in today, all ready to do battle--had all my arguments together for how my mods could not possibly be causing the noise... rasied the pipe way off the crossmember, shoved a chunk of coolant hose between the pipe and crossmember, sound persists even while coasting with the engine off and tranny in neutral... everything. And as a last ditch effort, I was ready to try and convince them to let me at least leave the rear mount in, because it's a bitch and a half to replace.
Anyways, after watching CNN talk about the Dow Jones plunging 300 points today (OMG! SELL SELL SELL!!!!!) for half an hour, he comes upstairs and lets me know that they want to take apart the differential first thing next week. Apparently mazda's people agreed with me that it was at least unlikely enough that my mods were the problem that they're willing to authorize having my diff inspected.
It appears that things are looking up for me... I'm just glad I've been keeping persistent but polite about this whole thing. I'm also returning to my original highly positive opinion of Morries' service department. The service manager I've been working with has been a lot more accommodating than I would expect from a dealer (even if they frustrated me a bit with their focus on the exhaust pipe). So, best case scenario I'm looking at a brand new LSD and a week or so in a loaner.... but we'll see what happens.
When I talked to my service manager on monday, he asked me to bring it in again, and they'd take a look. The last thing he mentioned was calling mazda to see what they thought, and if they would make me go back to stock.
So I rolled in today, all ready to do battle--had all my arguments together for how my mods could not possibly be causing the noise... rasied the pipe way off the crossmember, shoved a chunk of coolant hose between the pipe and crossmember, sound persists even while coasting with the engine off and tranny in neutral... everything. And as a last ditch effort, I was ready to try and convince them to let me at least leave the rear mount in, because it's a bitch and a half to replace.
Anyways, after watching CNN talk about the Dow Jones plunging 300 points today (OMG! SELL SELL SELL!!!!!) for half an hour, he comes upstairs and lets me know that they want to take apart the differential first thing next week. Apparently mazda's people agreed with me that it was at least unlikely enough that my mods were the problem that they're willing to authorize having my diff inspected.
It appears that things are looking up for me... I'm just glad I've been keeping persistent but polite about this whole thing. I'm also returning to my original highly positive opinion of Morries' service department. The service manager I've been working with has been a lot more accommodating than I would expect from a dealer (even if they frustrated me a bit with their focus on the exhaust pipe). So, best case scenario I'm looking at a brand new LSD and a week or so in a loaner.... but we'll see what happens.
M
micahlarson
Guest
sounds goood 
J
JustROLLIN
Guest
Awesome to hear! At the very least the issue will likely be resolved, new diff or not.
dmention7
Hater
Yeah, I think the nail in the coffin was when I reminded them that you could hear the noise plain as day while coasting in neutral with the engine shut off. That virtually narrows it down to components between the transmission output shaft and the wheels. Even if I had solid mounts, and my midpipe was laying directly on the crossmember, it would be simply impossible for them to make that noise under those conditions.
dmention7
Hater
Just heard back from the service manager at Morries. It wasn't the diff itself, but it was the reverse lockout plate inside the tranny that had broken, and was rattling against the diff's ring gear. Apparently that would explain why I've accidentally ground against reverse a couple of times while trying to make a 5-4 downshift.
Part will be in tomorrow or wednesday, so I won't have to rock the sunlight silver 3i to porky's!
Part will be in tomorrow or wednesday, so I won't have to rock the sunlight silver 3i to porky's!
M
mazdamn02
Guest
Good work Jay, that's funny how you coasted your car with the engine off too see if it was not the engine, good thinking, I don't think I would have thought of that.
J
JustROLLIN
Guest
Well thats cool... Goes to show what I know... and they pay me to know cars...lol