Engine a bit loud at idled

mzd

Member
:
Mazda CX-9 GT FWD 2012
With only over 200 miles on the ODO, I am not too familiar with the car yet, it's a 2012 GT. I feel the engine is a bit loud with its subtle low rumbling sound when it runs at idle speed at normal operating temperature, certainly louder than my MPV and Maxima. Is this normal? Just curious.
 
Engines with timing chains are usually louder than ones with belts.
That might be the difference.
 
With more displacement, 270 horses, a beefier transmission, longer wheelbase and a larger cabin, I would expect more of the low frequencies to pass through. You'll likely hear and feel those more.

I find the CX9 to be quieter than my last luxury car. More sound isolation sometimes makes the sounds of the car itself more noticeable.

Park in a cement garage if you want to have a good listen. Corners of the underground floors work best. You can hear every trickle of its bowels.

See if the airconditioning/climate system is causing this -with compresser noises.
Or if it is more noticeable while you are in gear.
Or when the engine is warming up.
All of these could be normal.

If the engine runs rough, idles too low or has a loose motor mount, etc, you'll hear and feel alot of vibration. Tell the dealer.

Best if you take someone with you, for a second opinion. That way, you won't seem so suspicious hanging around a dark parking garage. ;-)
 
Last edited:
Good rumbling sound indeed!

Before getting this CX-9, I did watch lots of reviews about it, mostly praising how good it handles, brakes, etc... and how quiet it is. When I test drove mine, with only 3 miles on the odometer, the engine idles a bit loud with a low rumbling kind of sound as if it is ready to break away; actually it's kind of good feeling to hear it, but a bit surprised. On the run, be it highway or in the city, the ride was a bit stiff but the cabin was fairly quiet. I am kind of surprise to hear the engine "rumbles in a nice way" because my Nissan Maxima also rumbles when I gave it a little gas pedal, but at iddle it is more quiet than the CX-9. My MPV is definitely silent at idle. Just curious, not that I find anything wrong with the CX-9.
 
You probably are right that it has something to do with your gravel road trip and the dip.
Exhaust noise is a good guess.

No matter what you will need to get on the ground on your back and visually inspect the car
from both sides, the back, under the front, and under the hood inside.

After looking it over once and checking for loose, broken, torn , or open anything.
Then start the do the same inspection, while listening carefully for noise.

This should lead to the source of your noise.
To determine if it is safe or not - be sure the sound is not from something rubbing or hitting anything.
 
Oh, thanks for the advise, but when I hear the rumbling noise, it was at the dealer's place when the car had only 3 miles on the odometer. I heard that in later year models when Mazda engineers increase gas mileage, they did something to the combustion that allow less fuel usage when you release the gas pedal and something else, could be less exhaust feed back (more free flow) that could be the result of more rumbling noise at iddle. Certainly, there is not anything wrong with the car...
 
Back