NEW MS3 occasional howling noise up front at low speeds??

[nig3]

Im getting this droning / howling type noise at low speeds every once in awhile. im thinking it might be the front brakes, cause if i tap the brakes it goes away. the car has only 350 miles and has never been abused....yet. why would this new ass car be making strange noises like this, has anyone else had this issue?

 

[xmysacredoathx]

I have had the same issue. There are a couple threads regarding this, one where a member took his car in and they replaced the trans axle. If you can get your car to do it consistently, take it to the dealer ASAP. I am not saying its an emergency, just because the sooner the better. I took mine in, but could not get the noise to produce, so I am stuck with it.

Some people may think its the brakes and will swear that its normal (and it may), but I have 6k miles on my car and I still get it every once and a while. Mainly at 2500-3500 rpms, no brake applied and can feel it behind my clutch pedal. But, lately it only occurs when I am "playing around" with the car.

 

[chacon101]

Hey, I had this happen too and so have others on this forum. It appears that nobody has found a true answer to why the noise happens but I agree, I think it's the brakes. I now have 3k miles and it hasn't happened for over 1k now....except for yesterday after I finished washing it. It made that sound again after backing up but that's it.

I wouldn't worry about it and suspect that it will just go away.

 

[clos561]

they changed alot fo stuff on mine, it made noise when i was stopped and turned left or right and took off while turning..same thing for reverse...they changed struts, some parts of axle i think and some bearings and the noise is gona...does it very un noticably and only when cold...its ALOT less than what it was and i cant hear it now..neither can people walking outside my car

- practice on how to make the sound so it does it every time and then take it to the dealer and drive the service rep around

 

[tru-boost]

it gear whine, and it is totally normal. all beefy trans/gears do it !

 

[Craighjr]

it gear whine, and it is totally normal. all beefy trans/gears do it !

No mine does it to. Its more of a groan. I would say it's like a dragging brake or lsd noise (don't know what makes up our diff). When I beat the car then mellow it out I'll get it while turning slowly and pulling away from stops at low speeds.

 

[Betelgeuse]

While I'm usually one to say take it in, the truth is, some dealers (as is evident in some of the threads here) are incompetent enough that they'll change parts needlessly. I've had it off and on but it's been happening a lot less and less as time goes by. My advice is to give it some time. If it doesn't go away, then take it in.

 

[tru-boost]

No mine does it to. Its more of a groan. I would say it's like a dragging brake or lsd noise (don't know what makes up our diff). When I beat the car then mellow it out I'll get it while turning slowly and pulling away from stops at low speeds.

thats exactly what gear whine is ! it may come from the diff. or the tranny... its too hard to tell on a FWD where it is coming from. i assure you it is normal, leave it alone, its fine !

 

[bacarl]

While I'm usually one to say take it in, the truth is, some dealers (as is evident in some of the threads here) are incompetent enough that they'll change parts needlessly. I've had it off and on but it's been happening a lot less and less as time goes by. My advice is to give it some time. If it doesn't go away, then take it in.

Same story here. Have only 1750 miles on my car and haven't noticed it in weeks. But it definitely creeped me out when I first noticed it. I too heard it at very slow speeds (creeping forward at stop signs/lights or gentle accels, esp up hills) but I don't recall how it related to more spirited driving.

I did mention it to my service guy -- I described it as a brake groan or creak -- and he said that Mazdas often have brake noise due to the fact that they use relatively cheap brake pad materials. (dunno)

*edit*
tru, I agree that the MS3 has some pretty pronounced gear whine, but this sound is quite different. It's a stick-slip kind of grunt/groan/creaking noise, louder than gear whine, and of a deeper pitch.

 

[clos561]

mine was ******* loud and they lowered it to a minimum..

 

[amascio]

The noise you are hearing is your brake linings. They get a harmonics thing going on that can be stopped when the brakes are lightly applied (that is, if your car is doing the same thing my did).

I elected to do nothing about it because the brakes still worked great and I HATE going to the dealer for anything.

Now, at 2,200 miles, while out on vacation, my brake noise has vanished due probably to the car getting hammered while on I 10, crossing west Texas on the way to Az. Traveling at speeds up to 100 mph and using the brakes while descending the grades seems to have taken whatever was causing the noise and worn it smooth off.

Haven't heard the noise in days while out milling around in Southeast Az where I am vacationing.

Whenever the car is ready for brake linings, I'll be sure to use brake caliper grease while assembling to make sure the noise doesn't happen with the new linings. Cheers!