Clunk on downshift anyone?

[DaPortugee]

Recently my car has been letting off a clunk sound on downshifting. Usually the sound is worse if I'm downshifting after I have accelerated hard before. It sounds to me like there is a binding in the drivetrain that is "popping" out. It usually comes from the rear but once in a while I do get it from the front.

Anyone else have this happen?

My spd6 has 30000 on it and is going to the dealer Thursday for the 8th time!

 

[jcgemt2003]

You have 30k on it? My speed does that clunk noise when you let the clutch out to fast....I think I read somewhere it is fuel cut to protect the clutch and powertrain from over torque.

 

[DaPortugee]

Yup 30,000! Had a long commute there for a while.

This isnt the sound when your accelerating, its with no throttle downshift. It didnt start till about 500 miles ago. Almost sounds like the something os moving around under there.

 

[jcgemt2003]

That sucks...i just got mine back from the body shop...had a small impact with a tree....took 8 days for them to finish and the fog light bracket is still on back order.

 

[DSMConvert]

hmm did you ever find out what was causing the problem...mine has starting do it now....

 

[Rainman]

Not fuel cut. Mine has done this since I got it on occasion when I downshift quickly without rev matching. Previous discussion about this on another forum attributes this to the differential. This hasn't been confirmed by Mazda but it certainly feels much more mechanical than secondary to fuel cut.

R

 

[acidbug]

Recently my car has been letting off a clunk sound on downshifting. Usually the sound is worse if I'm downshifting after I have accelerated hard before. It sounds to me like there is a binding in the drivetrain that is "popping" out. It usually comes from the rear but once in a while I do get it from the front.

Anyone else have this happen?

My spd6 has 30000 on it and is going to the dealer Thursday for the 8th time!

*taken from another board*

As it appears this is more than an isolated incident, I would like for anyone who has had a problem with broken axles/bolts/mounting brackets, etc., to post in this thread. This way we can form a crude database of issues and solutions to help those in need later.

I wouldn't be suprised if it had to do with bolts loosning on mounting brackets...

 

[DaPortugee]

I have had it in three times now. last time they found broken diff mounts and replaced them. Got better but its still there. Deff seems to be coming from the diff or pto/transfer

 

[PerformanceRacing]

PMd you...

 

[bsprogs]

Now i've got this problem as well however, it's clunking almost everytime I let off or push down on the clutch in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd.

It's been clunking for about a week now but I can't take the car in for at least another week! Any suggestions?

 

[pHeeL tHiZ ViBe]

disconnect your black box (under the driver dash), to make your car FWD. then go get your diff replaced..cuz thats what it is. trust me

 

[bsprogs]

disconnect your black box (under the driver dash), to make your car FWD. then go get your diff replaced..cuz thats what it is. trust me

Just disconnected it. Thank you
I'll have to call tpday and make an appointment for sometime next week.

If I took it in with my CP-E down pipe on, do you think they would say it's not covered under warranty? That thing is so damn hard to change!

 

[pHeeL tHiZ ViBe]

legally no they can't the damage must be caused by the aftermarket product, but realistically they try not to cover warranty on even stock vehicles..so its your call.

i guess they could say the downpipe made the car create more power than was intended by mazda, thats why the drivetrain broke cuz it couldn't handle the additional power the downpipe gave the car.
lol

 

[pHeeL tHiZ ViBe]

hey bsprogs,
does your car still clunk even with that unplugged?

 

[bsprogs]

legally no they can't the damage must be caused by the aftermarket product, but realistically they try not to cover warranty on even stock vehicles..so its your call.

i guess they could say the downpipe made the car create more power than was intended by mazda, thats why the drivetrain broke cuz it couldn't handle the additional power the downpipe gave the car.
lol

lol, thats what I was thinking they will say.

hey bsprogs,
does your car still clunk even with that unplugged?

Nope, the clunk noise is completely gone! Thanks again
However, going from AWD to FWD made me realize that I dont think I could go back to a non-AWD car after this. I guess thats why my next vehicle will be a truck (actually, thats so I can haul around my dirt bikes).

 

[pHeeL tHiZ ViBe]

awesome, that should stop any additional damage from happening in the meantime. and yep i feel ya dog, fwd just sucks after an awd. gotta be awd or rwd from here on out LOL

 

[pHeeL tHiZ ViBe]

i think it would be a good idea for anybody having this issue with their rear differential, to file a complaint here http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/

 

[bsprogs]

i think it would be a good idea for anybody having this issue with their rear differential, to file a complaint here http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/

Thanks for the link! I sent in my complaint on this issue.

Update: The dealer I purchased the car at is now looking at the car at no charge. Hopefully they will not blame the issue on the CP-E downpipe. With all of the occurrences, it just wouldn't make sense.