Yep. 300 miles into the trip at 75mph we suddenly heard a LOUD banging sound coming from under our 2008 CX-9 (w/28,000 miles). I slowed and stopped and as I did so it stopped banging and started sounding like an awfully roached wheel bearing grinding away. I checked everything I could on the side of the interstate but couldn't see anything wrong. Being in the mountains of W.Va. around midnight on a friday niight with me wife and 3 small kids I had no choice but to soldier on. The car seemed to be running fine but the sound was awful.
I continued on through to our destination, which was Savannah, GA. Arriving at around 5 am I noticed that the sound now seemed much worse. There was no way we could continue without having it looked at. I found a local dealer about 25 mins away that works saturdays and opens at 8am. I hoped to get some sleep but the worry kept me up. I arrived at the dealer at 7:40 am and they opened at 8am on the nose. I explained my predicament and the manager said he'd help, but had to get the 2 oil changes that were scheduled done first. Fair enough.
I waited about 45 mins and they called me into the shop. Turns out there is a big, heavy heat shield running from front to back along the driveshaft path.
The driver's side rear attachment point had corroded off, and the passenger side rivet had broken due to the resulting stress as we drove, leaving the heat shield resting on the drive shaft, grinding away on the aluminum shield.
They really didn't have a proper solution other than to order a new heat shield, which would necessitate removing the drive shaft and exhaust to replace. I suggested finding a way to zip tie the broken side back on as a temporary fix, and drilling out the failed rivet and replacing it with a new one. Since I was basically stranded they agreed to make a temporary repair to get me back on the road.
Here is the replaced rivet.
And the temporary fix, which is basically a hole drilled in the shield, and zip tied to a bracket.
It cost me an hour labor ($80) and considerable worry, but I was at the room and in bed by 10:30 am. Other than that the 9 performed flawlessly. It drives like a dream and hauled 3 adults and 4 kids in car seats around for a few days as we picked up a friend and her daughter from the airport. It returned a bit over 20mpg fully loaded and rolling between 70 and 80mph.
I do have to say, after being under the car I'm dusgusted at how poorly this vehicle is holding up to our nothern winters. It still has the duelers on it so we don't drive it in bad weather, and it sits in a heated garage. I want to complain to Mazda but I have a feeling it will just be an exercise in frustration.
I continued on through to our destination, which was Savannah, GA. Arriving at around 5 am I noticed that the sound now seemed much worse. There was no way we could continue without having it looked at. I found a local dealer about 25 mins away that works saturdays and opens at 8am. I hoped to get some sleep but the worry kept me up. I arrived at the dealer at 7:40 am and they opened at 8am on the nose. I explained my predicament and the manager said he'd help, but had to get the 2 oil changes that were scheduled done first. Fair enough.
I waited about 45 mins and they called me into the shop. Turns out there is a big, heavy heat shield running from front to back along the driveshaft path.
The driver's side rear attachment point had corroded off, and the passenger side rivet had broken due to the resulting stress as we drove, leaving the heat shield resting on the drive shaft, grinding away on the aluminum shield.
They really didn't have a proper solution other than to order a new heat shield, which would necessitate removing the drive shaft and exhaust to replace. I suggested finding a way to zip tie the broken side back on as a temporary fix, and drilling out the failed rivet and replacing it with a new one. Since I was basically stranded they agreed to make a temporary repair to get me back on the road.
Here is the replaced rivet.
And the temporary fix, which is basically a hole drilled in the shield, and zip tied to a bracket.
It cost me an hour labor ($80) and considerable worry, but I was at the room and in bed by 10:30 am. Other than that the 9 performed flawlessly. It drives like a dream and hauled 3 adults and 4 kids in car seats around for a few days as we picked up a friend and her daughter from the airport. It returned a bit over 20mpg fully loaded and rolling between 70 and 80mph.
I do have to say, after being under the car I'm dusgusted at how poorly this vehicle is holding up to our nothern winters. It still has the duelers on it so we don't drive it in bad weather, and it sits in a heated garage. I want to complain to Mazda but I have a feeling it will just be an exercise in frustration.
. I don't wash the undercarriage, but the car regularly receives a thorough hand wash, at least one full wax a year. My washes are very thorough including the wheel wells, door jams, etc. The wheels are then cleaned until they look like brand new. Brake dust gathering on the wheels is not tolerated. The wheels also get a wax, and at least once a year I clean the inboard side of the rims. I, too, take care to detail the exhaust tips. My preferred cleaner is Wenol.
