Injen intake problems

[jessica370]

I just installed the Injen CAI on my wife's 3s and we've noticed a slight rattling noise between 2500-3000rpm @ 25-35% throttle. I've had several cars with intakes, including a del Sol, CRX, Accord V6, and twin turbo 300ZX. I've never heard this before. I've heard several people describe detonation (knock, ping, whatever) and it sounds somewhat like those descriptions. Has anyone had this problem? It doesn't really make sense to be knock, I mean adding more throttle or backing off causes the noise to disappear, not get quieter, it disappears completely. I've checked all the hose clamps and mounting points and nothing is rubbing. Anyone have any suggestions? I'm afraid to take it to the dealer to be checked out, fearing they may void our warranty since I hadn't had this issue until I installed the intake. Someone please help us out!

Chris and Jessica Dukes

[93RedX7]

Put the stock intake back on. If it continues to make the same noise take it to the dealership, and have them fix it.

[Da 6]

check engine oil level just in case. then check the intake for rubbing against anything like tranny...is it auto trans?

[xenon929]

I just installed my Injen CAI a week ago and so far so good...I've had no noises or any complecations at all actaully. I sugest what 93 Red said.

[bazooka joe]

how would the intake be rubbing on the tranny?

[AzMz3]

I just installed the Injen CAI on my wife's 3s and we've noticed a slight rattling noise between 2500-3000rpm @ 25-35% throttle. I've had several cars with intakes, including a del Sol, CRX, Accord V6, and twin turbo 300ZX. I've never heard this before. I've heard several people describe detonation (knock, ping, whatever) and it sounds somewhat like those descriptions. Has anyone had this problem? It doesn't really make sense to be knock, I mean adding more throttle or backing off causes the noise to disappear, not get quieter, it disappears completely. I've checked all the hose clamps and mounting points and nothing is rubbing. Anyone have any suggestions? I'm afraid to take it to the dealer to be checked out, fearing they may void our warranty since I hadn't had this issue until I installed the intake. Someone please help us out!

Chris and Jessica Dukes

Do you have an automatic Mazda3. If not I'm sure the noise is coming from the intake manifold and is just the shutters for the variable intake system. Nothing to worry about it.

[Da 6]

? shudders that loud? I know of a squeak/wistle at those rpms commonly mistaked for bov but those are caused by exposed tb screws on tb plate. I had sri and cai and never heard rattles till seconds before the pistons tore stuff up.(everone breathe it's not an intake issue....03 engine recall on piston not publicized..) did you take anythingelse apart? better yet did you leave any tools under the hood?

[jessica370]

check engine oil level just in case. then check the intake for rubbing against anything like tranny...is it auto trans?

It's an automatic.

[jessica370]

And we've checked for any rubbing, etc. Everything is installed correctly with no clearance issues. The ticking only happens around the revs/load described above, but the ticking does NOT increase in speed or volume with revs. We put the stock intake back on (minus the resonator) and the sound was still there only not as pronounced with the baffling and stock filter. We first thought it could be bad gas so we tried a higher octane (1/2 tank 93 octane added to the 87 already there, then filled up with 89 at empty.) Still there. I've checked everything I can think of. I've been doing motor swaps for years in everything from Civics to a 3000GT VR4 and a 300ZX Twin Turbo and I've never been so frustrated. I'm scared they'll try to void the warranty if the intake has created some problem. Da 6, elaborate on the piston thing...

[garretts77]

I had something similar, it had about 1/2 inch clearance in the closest spot, but when the car is running or under load, the engine lash would make it rub. I would suggest as above and reinstall the factory intake to see if it is still there.

[pedrump]

engines create harmonics....at different RPMS, different harmonics are produced that might happen to resonate with various parts...maybe your intake?

an old Jaguar XJ6 my pa had would create a nasty resonance at 2200RPM that would make the windows rattle. Below or above 2200RPM, no problem...it just meant you couldn't drive exactly 55.

However, i doubt that's your problem, cuz i've only seen it happen on old cars. when a car is new, all the bolts and rivets are tight, and so everything is essentially one large mass. large object have a low resonance. but as cars age, the bolts/rivets may loosen and so the small individual parts resonate as seperate objects from the rest of the car. and so a harmonic from the engine that had no effect before might make some part go nuts. once again, i highly doubt this is your problem, but you might want to check all nuts and bolts on cai. my injen CA on my p5 has a vibration absorbing connection to some rubber thing that bolts to the body. if the mazda3 injen cai has one, you may want to make sure its connected properly.

just a thought. hope you solve the problem and its nothing major.

[Da 6]

as stated in (---) only a mazda 6 issue...instead of opening every single 2.3 between builds of 6/19/01 to 11/25/03 they seem to be waiting till you have problems and then replace. but yeah there are no tools left under the hood? as for resonance the 2.3 is tame at most rpms unless you have a really loud exhaust like I did. only ticking I heard was the auto tentioner pully going bad(03 mazda 6 known issue as well)

[mic_crispy]

this has been discussed on ************. everyone pretty much aggreed it was VVT. i have the same noise too.

[Da 6]

wow maybe the engine sound deadening is way difrent for 6 then cause none of us hear it?

[mic_crispy]

its not really too bad. i dont notice it at all anymore. its only between like 2500 and 3K anyway. when are you ever in that rpm range ;)

[fishmonkey01]

when i slowly rev my engine to the 3000 mark my car starts to shake at about 2200-2500rpms could this be the same problem also?

[djltoronto]

Our engines have minor harmonics at approximately 2300 RPM..
I suspect that this minor vibration at this RPM is caused by the dual balance shafts used to make the engine smooth at high RPM's

Does anyone have the balance shafts removed/disconnected? If s.. I'd love to know if you have the vibration at 2300?

[fishmonkey01]

yeah i had my car serviced for my 15k yesterday and that is what the guy at the dealership told me. thanks for the info though.