Is This A Lemon?

[jaydubz]

Ok this is like my 4th post and so far it has been nothing but problem after problem. First it was the squeaking clutch pedal now a new set of issues!

So I finally got 600 miles on the clock and decide to open her up on the hwy. Car pulls like a freight train and feel wonderful, I still take it easy, nothing over 70mph all smooth shifts and with light driving to warm the engine up properly.

Well I head back to my apt. and as I am crawling doing about 5-8 mph notice that there is a loud winding noise from the front of the car, similar to when new brakes are on a car, but my foot was not even on the brake, so I shift to 2nd and give more gas and the car does it for a split second more and stops!

I dont know if it is the brakes finally getting some real heat into them or if there is a problem with my diff or with first gear or even worse in my tranny! My GTI never did this even under hard driving, What are my options for returning the car since I only have 620 miles on it?

Does anyone have any advice? The noise is quite audible so it does not sound normal to me. PLEASE HELP?!?

[numbnuts22715]

sometimes in manual transmissions it makes a sound like that when youre going slow.

Is this your first car with a manual transmission?

[vlrussian]

no is not e lemon or i dont think so
i believe if its a lemon when 10 times in year big things break in car and go out

[jaydubz]

sometimes in manual transmissions it makes a sound like that when youre going slow.

Is this your first car with a manual transmission?

Thank you for all of the input guys, this is my 5th manual car, my last car was a MKV GTI and even after giving the car a proper work out there was never a sound like that. I know when in first and you crawl, there is a high pitched whining noise, but this sound is like metal rubbing or catching.

The only way I can describe it is similar to applying the brakes very hard on a bicycle or when new brakes are put on, however my foot was not on the brake. I am really concerned about this car lasting the long haul!

Numbnuts22715, has your car made the same noise?

[BOOSTR]

Maybe your calipers are not releasing all of the way. While its in the bumper to bumper adjustment phase of the warranty, take it in and have the dealer take a look at it.

[numbnuts22715]

oh okay, so it was more like a scratching noise then whining noise?

I havent really driven it 5-8 mph to know.. I've crawled at like 2-3 mph and it made a whining noise, and I thought that's what you were talking about.

[jaydubz]

Thanks for the advice, and yes it does sound like the calipers are possibly not releasing, but it would not describe such a loud noise for such new parts. I got the car with 15 miles on it. I am thinking it is something more detrimental such as a proper PDI was not preformed and differential fluids may not have been properly added.

[flipstylex]

yea, let the car get "broken into " first, my car did the same noise in the beginning... after awhile, it stops. my car has 5000k now an it run like a horse

[BOOSTR]

Ok, but if it were my car it would go back for analysis and repair. A new car should be relatively noise free, especially free of any grinding or bearing noises.

[nate0123]

Is there any visible corrosion on the rotors?

[jaydubz]

no visible rust or corrosion on the rotors. I agree with Dawiv, this car has 620 miles on it and should be noise free for atleast the first coupe of years. I am really bummed that my 24000.00 car is now a 24000.00 potential lemon. I was apprehensive to come back to Mazda, but now I feel I have made a huge mistake!

[nate0123]

No need to panic just yet. Have the dealer look at it and if they can't do anything about it, then you are justified in being dissatisfied. Give them a chance to make things right.

[Antonio DiMarco]

no visible rust or corrosion on the rotors. I agree with Dawiv, this car has 620 miles on it and should be noise free for atleast the first coupe of years. I am really bummed that my 24000.00 car is now a 24000.00 potential lemon. I was apprehensive to come back to Mazda, but now I feel I have made a huge mistake!

Take it to the dealer. Even the best cars have some inital issues or sample defects. That is why the auto manufacturer covers adjustments and the like for the first 12,000 miles.

Take a breath and take it to the dealer. :-)

[SwampAss]

I second Nate's post. Noises can be something small amplified by paranoia. Try to find a more "noise savvy" friend and let them listen to it. Get a second opinion before you haul it back to the dealer. Cars have metal parts that contact other metal parts. I be there's a whole slew of noises that would worry you (and me too) if you honed in on them.

[jaydubz]

good points guys, I was hoping that someone would noticed something like this with their speed3, but I will have to wait till tomorrow to take it to the dealer. However this is my second trip to the dealer within 600 miles, I am not too happy so far.

[vlrussian]

may be u also wana change transmition oil who know but u should do it every 30 k or so i do it every 20

[jaydubz]

isnt the intial fluids they put in a car given special additives due to conditioning? I just got back from the quick drive, long enough to get everything up to driving and operating temps and so far it did not do it again, I wonder if it had something to do with the high afternoon temps here in orlando?

[vlrussian]

i dont know lol

[jaydubz]

LOL, atleast it is an honest answer, hopefully all will be better with the car because i absolutely love it and love how it pulls through the gears.

[vlrussian]

yeah its so fun so much power i love it i have ordinary mazda 3 08 but i have after market parts and im about to put turbo after guarantee goes

[vlrussian]

i dont think the weather should effect the car though and they way it drives

[autoxes]

man, this makes me even MORE apprehensive about getting a ms3...

I would say to definitely take it back to the dealer.

[Sierra117]

When I first had my MS3, I had the same problem, and was thinking about taking it to the dealer to figure it out. Was an intermittent problem between 200 or 300 miles, and then it just went away, hasn't happened since.

Seemed to me to only happen when I was driving under ten mile per hour, and its was a sorta of grinding whine, like the kind you hear from those Kenne Bell charged Cobras. At least, thats what the sound was like. All I had to do was pump the brakes once, and it would go away. I think its just everything settling in?

[jaydubz]

When I first had my MS3, I had the same problem, and was thinking about taking it to the dealer to figure it out. Was an intermittent problem between 200 or 300 miles, and then it just went away, hasn't happened since.

Seemed to me to only happen when I was driving under ten mile per hour, and its was a sorta of grinding whine, like the kind you hear from those Kenne Bell charged Cobras. At least, thats what the sound was like. All I had to do was pump the brakes once, and it would go away. I think its just everything settling in?

That sounds very similar to my situation, however I still dont think a new car should do that at all. Well right now the car is at Mazda and I am stuck driving a toyota matrix, oh well.

I will keep you guys posted, tech said they never saw anything like it this before which I find hard to believe.

[Sierra117]

Oh I agree with you. It shouldn't but sometimes it does. I was freaked out to all hell at first, this is my first real stick shift, and I was like..."oh shit, I broke something." Then it just went away and its all fine now. If its a big problem, definately let us know what the deal is.

[BOOSTR]

Glad you took it in. I was never thinking you had a lemon based on your description of the problem. My point was that a new car should not make any noise at all. It will as time rolls by but with 600 miles its to soon for oem parts to whine or grind. But that said its not out of the ordinary to have to visit the dealer for adjustments on a new car.

[Sierra117]

Oh, and legally speaking, no its not a Lemon. Has to be in three times for the same problem, and fixed all three times (within a certain period between in shop times), and still not be fixed, and a few other legalese terms. Having something broken in the first few hundred miles is just shit luck.

[jaydubz]

Yeah tell me about shit luck, I had originally left Mazda and went to VW (GTI MKV) the car drove very well, but got to be a bit boring after a while. I decided to research the speed 3 and all reviews seemed very positive and on top of that it was a pretty good value for HP/Money/Space. I really hope I dont come to regret my decision.

[BOOSTR]

Since he's in FL here's a link for the law. Its not complicated nor would you need an attorney to put the dealer/manufacture on notice if you had to go that route.

http://www.800helpfla.com/lemonlaw/doeslemonapply.html

[fourthmeal]

I think a lot of people forget that we have noisy diffs and gears in this cassette-style transmission.

You have got to remember that this car isn't isolated like a VW is, and is much more prone to providing the driver feedback of all sorts. I heard a lot of the noises you are talking about, and have had no problem with the car (except for the engine falling out like it did to lots of other people), and she's doing fine at 11K right now.

We have full floating calipers, which glide along the rotors (there is zero airspace next to the rotor), we have a limited slip differential, we have a few straight-cut gears in the trans...basically we have a track-ready car here and the noises show that. You're fine, honestly.

[jaydubz]

I think a lot of people forget that we have noisy diffs and gears in this cassette-style transmission.

You have got to remember that this car isn't isolated like a VW is, and is much more prone to providing the driver feedback of all sorts. I heard a lot of the noises you are talking about, and have had no problem with the car (except for the engine falling out like it did to lots of other people), and she's doing fine at 11K right now.

We have full floating calipers, which glide along the rotors (there is zero airspace next to the rotor), we have a limited slip differential, we have a few straight-cut gears in the trans...basically we have a track-ready car here and the noises show that. You're fine, honestly.


I guess after my initial run in with mazda quality with my 6, I am expecting the worst. Do you think the metal rubbing noise may have been my brakes getting super hot and expanding?

[Betelgeuse]

It will go away. I had it happen only once but over on the other forum, it has happened to a few people early on. It occurs when the car has been driven really hard and the brakes get really hot. It'll stop doing it after a while. It's the caliper(s) not letting go all the way. If it happens repeatedly then take it in but more than likely it will cure itself. Give the car some time man. You're extremely paranoid. Using your logic, I wouldn't touch VW with a ten-foot pole but I'm more more open minded and see the glass half full.

[jaydubz]

It will go away. I had it happen only once but over on the other forum, it has happened to a few people early on. It occurs when the car has been driven really hard and the brakes get really hot. It'll stop doing it after a while. It's the caliper(s) not letting go all the way. If it happens repeatedly then take it in but more than likely it will cure itself. Give the car some time man. You're extremely paranoid. Using your logic, I wouldn't touch VW with a ten-foot pole but I'm more more open minded and see the glass half full.

Thanks for the info, yeah I am a little paranoid, but I do have god reason to be that way. I went through this with my 6 but I cam back to mazda because of the value of the speed3 plus i got a awesome deal on it.

What about the gear grind? Can you offer any support on that issue?

[Betelgeuse]

Thanks for the info, yeah I am a little paranoid, but I do have god reason to be that way. I went through this with my 6 but I cam back to mazda because of the value of the speed3 plus i got a awesome deal on it.

What about the gear grind? Can you offer any support on that issue?

This has been beaten to death. My advice is to check out the other forum under the stock issues section. Sorry I can't post a link here (the forum would block it).

Anyway my quick advice would be to adjust your seat so your clutch foot doesn't stretch too far. That alone has helped some people and is often overlooked. The grinding is usually a timing issue from what I've seen. You're either shifting into third too quickly or letting off the clutch too quickly. For some reason saying that gets many on the defensive. No I'm not telling you how to drive, it's just that the 2-3 shift in this car requires a little more care (probably a poor design - who knows). Many would blame the mount but that's BS as far as I'm concerned. If the mount was the issue a lot more people would be grinding including myself. Now a completely loose mount is another story - being that yours is an '08 the recall should be unnecessary.

For the time being, try shifting slower from 2-3 until you no longer grind. Then gradually increase the speed until you're comfortable. If shifting slower and adjusting your seat don't work, then have the dealer look at it.

[jaydubz]

Thanks Betelgeuse, I will be getting the car back tomorrow hopefully. The grinding typically happens from 1st to 2nd, however after reading the forums a it it appears that this problem may be present but goes away after some wearing in.