Help with strange noise!

[joepro]

Since the weather has been nicer lately, I've been driving with the windows rolled down. I noticed a weird noise a couple days ago. It's hard to explain, so I'll try to give as much info as I can:

-I can only hear it starting from a complete stop
-I only seem to hear when I don't give enough gas while releasing the cluth pedal (rpms under 1000)
-Lasts only 1 second
-It's a high pitched sound. Kinda like metal on metal vibration
-It seems to come from under the car
-I've heard the same kind of noise while turning on the ignition on an auto 3
-I never heard that sound last summer

Any ideas? I will bring it to dealer eventually, but since I was there a couple weeks ago, I'd rather wait. Should I be worried?

 

[WalksInDarkness]

I hear this noise too, under simalar conditions. Mine is an A/T though. I think it sounds like something vibrating. It sounds to me like a heat shield (usually on exhaust components). I have heard this before on other 4-cylinder cars, so I don't think it is anything serious.

 

[PGFracing]

I also have this same noise. Did you ever figure out what it is? I'm thinking it's a half shaft noise, or exahust butting up against each other.

 

[mica3speedy]

I have the same noise here too. I have a 5 spd as well. I'm going to take it to the dealership next week to get it looked at.

 

[Jpasta]

its the exhaust pipe vibrating on the heat sheild

i dont think they can fix that

 

[joepro]

Yup, it's the heat shield.

My dealer had ordered the parts, but Mazda Canada cancelled all orders (they told me they had over 600 ordered by them only) until they figure out how to solve the problem. Apparently replacing the part will only fix the problem temporarily.

Sucks.

 

[PGFracing]

Which heat shield?

 

[joepro]

Which heat shield?

Exhaust heat shield