I have experienced an on-going problem with our 2008 CX-9 and could use some help.
Basically we hear an engine knock / rattle noise when the engine is under load. It developed at about 9,500 miles and occurs in two scenarios:
1. When driving up a hill leaving our neighborhood in the morning (see attached recording)
2. When trying to accelerate when cresting very small hills
In scenario 1 above, we hear it for a sustained period of time (~ 30 seconds continous).
In scenario 2 above, it only occurs for about a second or two and is much less noticeable.
I have taken it to our dealership three times with no luck in fixing the problem. On the last trip, the dealership kept it for about a week and a half and concluded they could not hear the problem. They told me they had Mazda reps drive in and could not hear it either. Overall, communication to me was very poor, but that is another story for another day. I told them I would record the noise.
So now I have the entire thing on tape, as well as a very good recording using a USB microphone fixed under the hood. For those that are interested and think they can help, I am going to try to attach the microphone recording to this message. In an effort to reduce file size, I have reduced the recording to only the event itself, which occurs as I am driving up the hill noted in item 1 above (less than a mile from my house). The file is about 500K in size, so I am hopeful I can attach to this posting for others to listen.
My problem is that after three attempts, nothing has been done by my local dealership to fix the problem. They are unwilling to take any action on the vehicle after I brought it in for the third time (the first time they rerouted the brake booster connect, the second time they uploaded new codes to the cpu, and the third time they said they couldn't hear anything and did no action).
I contacted Mazda Corporate through their 800 number earlier this week, but I have not heard anything from them since that time. They did mention they would call me to coordinate sending some folks out here to ride in the car. They said to not contact the dealer and to wait for them. I told them I had a perfect recording and video and happy to share to help them diagnose the problem, but again, I haven't heard anything yet.
As for the vehicle, it is a 2008 CX-9 with ~10,000 miles on it. After you hear the recording, you will understand my concern! (noise starts at about 12 seconds into the attached file, then gets really loud... at the end of the hill, I engage the throttle several times to show the noise is coupled to the application of the throttle). My family has not driven the vehicle in a couple of weeks, and it is just sitting in my garage waiting for action to be taken by Mazda.
My questions are:
What to do next?
Does Mazda back their vehicles and support their customers?
Any ideas on what the noise could be?
Anyone else with this noise?
I have never dealt with Mazda before at this level. I do have a 1998 B4000 Mazda pick-up with over 160,000 miles on it, and it is an outstanding vehicle with no problems whatsoever. I also owned a 1987 Mazda B2300 pick-up with over 115,000 miles on it prior to selling it, and again, no problems. Those experiences factored in strongly in purchasing a CX-9 over Honda Pilot or Toyota Highlander, but now my wife and are becoming very concerned given this noise! While we love the CX-9 design and feel, this engine noise at such low mileage is very, very concerning. Again, we have never dealt with Mazda at this level before. We also own a Honda Accord with over 110,000 miles on it, and we did have to deal with Honda on a transmission issue at about 25,000 miles, but they were outstanding, and it was a tremendous, positive experience. The car has been great ever since, and that is over 85,000 miles on it later!
It is upsetting when your 160,000 1998 Mazda B4000 and 110,000 mile 2001 4 Cylinder Honda Accord vehicles sound MUCH better than your new family vehicle (2008 CX-9; V6) with only 10,000 miles on it.
Any and all help/adice is GREATLY appreciated.
Basically we hear an engine knock / rattle noise when the engine is under load. It developed at about 9,500 miles and occurs in two scenarios:
1. When driving up a hill leaving our neighborhood in the morning (see attached recording)
2. When trying to accelerate when cresting very small hills
In scenario 1 above, we hear it for a sustained period of time (~ 30 seconds continous).
In scenario 2 above, it only occurs for about a second or two and is much less noticeable.
I have taken it to our dealership three times with no luck in fixing the problem. On the last trip, the dealership kept it for about a week and a half and concluded they could not hear the problem. They told me they had Mazda reps drive in and could not hear it either. Overall, communication to me was very poor, but that is another story for another day. I told them I would record the noise.
So now I have the entire thing on tape, as well as a very good recording using a USB microphone fixed under the hood. For those that are interested and think they can help, I am going to try to attach the microphone recording to this message. In an effort to reduce file size, I have reduced the recording to only the event itself, which occurs as I am driving up the hill noted in item 1 above (less than a mile from my house). The file is about 500K in size, so I am hopeful I can attach to this posting for others to listen.
My problem is that after three attempts, nothing has been done by my local dealership to fix the problem. They are unwilling to take any action on the vehicle after I brought it in for the third time (the first time they rerouted the brake booster connect, the second time they uploaded new codes to the cpu, and the third time they said they couldn't hear anything and did no action).
I contacted Mazda Corporate through their 800 number earlier this week, but I have not heard anything from them since that time. They did mention they would call me to coordinate sending some folks out here to ride in the car. They said to not contact the dealer and to wait for them. I told them I had a perfect recording and video and happy to share to help them diagnose the problem, but again, I haven't heard anything yet.
As for the vehicle, it is a 2008 CX-9 with ~10,000 miles on it. After you hear the recording, you will understand my concern! (noise starts at about 12 seconds into the attached file, then gets really loud... at the end of the hill, I engage the throttle several times to show the noise is coupled to the application of the throttle). My family has not driven the vehicle in a couple of weeks, and it is just sitting in my garage waiting for action to be taken by Mazda.
My questions are:
What to do next?
Does Mazda back their vehicles and support their customers?
Any ideas on what the noise could be?
Anyone else with this noise?
I have never dealt with Mazda before at this level. I do have a 1998 B4000 Mazda pick-up with over 160,000 miles on it, and it is an outstanding vehicle with no problems whatsoever. I also owned a 1987 Mazda B2300 pick-up with over 115,000 miles on it prior to selling it, and again, no problems. Those experiences factored in strongly in purchasing a CX-9 over Honda Pilot or Toyota Highlander, but now my wife and are becoming very concerned given this noise! While we love the CX-9 design and feel, this engine noise at such low mileage is very, very concerning. Again, we have never dealt with Mazda at this level before. We also own a Honda Accord with over 110,000 miles on it, and we did have to deal with Honda on a transmission issue at about 25,000 miles, but they were outstanding, and it was a tremendous, positive experience. The car has been great ever since, and that is over 85,000 miles on it later!
It is upsetting when your 160,000 1998 Mazda B4000 and 110,000 mile 2001 4 Cylinder Honda Accord vehicles sound MUCH better than your new family vehicle (2008 CX-9; V6) with only 10,000 miles on it.
Any and all help/adice is GREATLY appreciated.