Does your MSP Clunk?

[JonnyMiata]

I am hearing a clunk from the back of the car whenever I go over a larger bump (i.e. raised manhole cover). I know Newf mentioned that he had the clunk in his MP3 that he can never get fixed and I wanted to see if any of the other MSP owners had this as well. It sounds like there is something in the trunk that is not bolted down like the spare tire but I checked and it is secure. Maybe the exhaust is loose or the shocks are not bolted in right. The car seems to drive OK and the suspension is fine but there seems to be a lot of clunking going on over rougher roads.

Anyone have this experience as well? Do you think I should have it looked at?

Jonny

 

[andr3w]

You know I may have heard this once or twice but I am so used to bumps and clunks from living off dirt roads, hmmm, I am certainly going to monitor the situation.

There is a TSB:
http://web2.airmail.net/emann/protegefaq/tsb/mt000003706.html

 

[jroof]

Nothing yet although I only have about 120 miles on it. I'm so nervous about it developing though.

 

[katsmp3]

yall do a search.
the mp3s have had this problem since the day they came out
there's about a thousand post about it.

 

[katsmp3]

well theres no point in doing a search now.. i'll catch you up. We've all had our bushings replaced. Along with other parts. This will give you that warm feeling in your heart for a couple weeks, or in some cases, until the next day. Then the clunk comes back. Then you'll take it to the dealership and they'll insist that they dont hear any clunking. Then you have to go up to the dealership on a cold morning (cause thats when it clunks the most) and ride around with some guy and point out individual clunks so that he does indeed see that his previous repair was unsuccessful. Then you start over.

kat

 

[bellspeed]

Mine Clunks.

 

[JonnyMiata]

Well, as long as we all have it and we are all on the same page...I guess I will live with it. I will just learn to love it and ignore it. Sucks that it can't be fixed.

Thanks for your replies.

Jonny

 

[mazdadan]

well theres no point in doing a search now.. i'll catch you up. We've all had our bushings replaced. Along with other parts. This will give you that warm feeling in your heart for a couple weeks, or in some cases, until the next day. Then the clunk comes back. Then you'll take it to the dealership and they'll insist that they dont hear any clunking. Then you have to go up to the dealership on a cold morning (cause thats when it clunks the most) and ride around with some guy and point out individual clunks so that he does indeed see that his previous repair was unsuccessful. Then you start over.

kat

Exactly! After seeing the undercarriage of the MSP, the rear suspension setup looks identical to the MP3 all the way down to the sway bar endlinks. So they will creak and clunk just like all the other Proteges....it's just a matter of time/climate.

 

[gjmoreo]

It may be able to be resolved though, you might as well take advantage of your warranty get the D part # put on - i had mine done over 3 months ago and it still is good.......cold weather and all.

 

[Mark94]

Only 50 miles here and I thought I heard exactly what Jonny was describing as I was driving to work this morning. As soon as I heard it, I thought that it was the infamous MP3 clunk.

It looks as if we may be cursed with this problem as well, but I thought the MSP's came with the upgraded "D" bushings

Other problems that I am waiting to surface in the MSP which have plagued the MP3 are engine knocking until the engine gets to a certain temp (in cold weather), and clutch chatter.

I'm hoping we don't experience the clutch chatter though considering we have a different clutch set-up.

Mark

 

[scott42]

Whatever you do, don't just accept it...when its happening, your bushings are not tight on the swaybar and it does greatly (at least in my eperience) affect handling...
Take it back, and good luck!

 

[msp1east]

Clunking noise and then some

I too have heard the clunk sound comming from the back of the car. Also now I'm hearing a squeeking sound comming from the front suspension, especially when I go over at slow speeds a speed bump. It does it alot when cold. Anyway I have an app with the dealer next week and I will have a list for them to check. It only has 400miles and already it has problems??? This can't be, I know its not a BMW and its only a 20,00 dollor car, but a new car is a new car. PERIOD.

 

[twiztedjeckel]

my little b**** clunks too and has since the night i got :wtf:

 

[gjmoreo]

yeah, just dont ignore it - use that warranty to it's fulliest extent!
I feel for you all - it's kinda like a love / hate relationship.........

 

[andr3w]

After reading this thread I'd say I do not have the clunk. I may have heard some noises on dirt roads where I live but nothing abnormal. Consider I am in Michigan and have to deal with Michigan pavement, dirt roads and it has barely got to 30 degrees since I got the car.

But that it is not to say that all is cool. I began noticing a coolant smell after longer runs (30-40 miles), figured with all the plastic pipes and a new turbo that I'd give it a chance to get better. A few days ago, to be safe I took it to my dealer. They too noticed the smell but after pressure testing did not identify any leaks but they did find a few drops of coolant under the radiator (before the test). They suggested that these drops were spilled during the work at the port, cleaned me up and sent me on my way. Now the smell is not as bad, and barely noticeable in the cockpit but it is still there and I am going to go back to see whats up. I am at 760 miles, the coolant level does no appear to have gone down.

 

[Newf]

Well, this is discouraging.

 

[Dexter]

its just a noise right? its not like anything is going to break after awhile, correct?

 

[Newf]

actually, your handling will get worse, the sway bar will start to move around like nuts( thus defeating the purpose of having it all), and if you leave it long enough......well, I don't know what happens because I always try to get it fixed. But I will say that the last time it happened, I left it the longest, and there were times I actually had to stop the car in traffic, get out, and make sure the sway bar was still attached. Yes, it gets that loud.

 

[Dexter]

actually, your handling will get worse, the sway bar will start to move around like nuts( thus defeating the purpose of having it all), and if you leave it long enough......well, I don't know what happens because I always try to get it fixed. But I will say that the last time it happened, I left it the longest, and there were times I actually had to stop the car in traffic, get out, and make sure the sway bar was still attached. Yes, it gets that loud.

damn you mazda, damn you.

 

[Grimace]

OK, perhaps a dumb question, but why can't we just fabricate our own bar/links/bushings or whatever it takes to solve the problem? If the bushings keep wearing out, could a large bearing be used instead? Does anyone have a picture of the individual pieces of the rear sway?