So here is the jist of what I have going on. She purchased a 2005 MAzda 3 S Automatic Hatch a little over a year ago. The car just had all the fluids flushed and what not right before she bought it. It has about 100k on it now. The car has light modifications done to it, a cat back MagnaFlow exhaust, Eibach lowering springs, and that's about it. Mostly the car is stock. The car has a few odd symptoms going on and I have my theories but I figured I would pick the brains of some forum members to see if anyone else had some ideas.
There are what seem to be three issues happening with the car but for all I can tell they may all be related.
First issue is a loud clunk from the drive train when the car is put in gear. It sounds a lot like it is coming from the differential where the axles spline in to it. The clunk seems to comes from both axles, one clunk for each that is audible, but the axles themselves dont appear to have any play in them. When you get in the car in the morning after it has been sitting all night, start the car, foot on the brake, and shift it in to reverse you hear two loud clunks before the car moves, while stationary and still on the brakes. I have heard a couple issues that can cause this. One is the "driveline spacer" that I've heard about. The other I read was about the transmission fluid being over filled. I have a feeling the later may have something to do with it seeing as how it was just flushed and I think when cold the fluid is supposed to be at the bottom line of the ATF dipstick, not the full line.
Second, the car feels a lot like it has a turbo on it with a lot of lag. For example, when accelerating from a stop the car is somewhat sluggish off the line, however smooth, and as the RPMs rise the car seems to pull harder. Above 4k RPMs is where the car really pulls like i feel it should. I have a feeling possibly an incorrect fluid or fluid level could be causing the torque converter to not lock up as it should perhaps?
Third, the car surges a lot under cruise control. It feels as though someone is rolling in to the gas pedal and back out every 2 seconds when set to 60mph on a flat road. I was thinking maybe the torque converter lock up could have something to do with that too. You can also watch the rpms surge 100-200 rpm while it is surging. I have also heard of distorted ABS speed sensor signals causing this too but he tires are too noisy to really tell if its losing a wheel bearing or something.
I just replaced both her trailing arm bushings to get rid of her HUGE clunk over bumps (from the trailing arm actually hitting the car) so I would love to get rid of these last three issues to help her fall back in love with the car. She is worried she is going to need a transmission soon and I am hoping that is not the case.
My plan is to flush out the transmission fluid, make sure the level is set right, and see how it is after that. If anyone on here has any other ideas, I am all ears!
Thanks ahead of time
There are what seem to be three issues happening with the car but for all I can tell they may all be related.
First issue is a loud clunk from the drive train when the car is put in gear. It sounds a lot like it is coming from the differential where the axles spline in to it. The clunk seems to comes from both axles, one clunk for each that is audible, but the axles themselves dont appear to have any play in them. When you get in the car in the morning after it has been sitting all night, start the car, foot on the brake, and shift it in to reverse you hear two loud clunks before the car moves, while stationary and still on the brakes. I have heard a couple issues that can cause this. One is the "driveline spacer" that I've heard about. The other I read was about the transmission fluid being over filled. I have a feeling the later may have something to do with it seeing as how it was just flushed and I think when cold the fluid is supposed to be at the bottom line of the ATF dipstick, not the full line.
Second, the car feels a lot like it has a turbo on it with a lot of lag. For example, when accelerating from a stop the car is somewhat sluggish off the line, however smooth, and as the RPMs rise the car seems to pull harder. Above 4k RPMs is where the car really pulls like i feel it should. I have a feeling possibly an incorrect fluid or fluid level could be causing the torque converter to not lock up as it should perhaps?
Third, the car surges a lot under cruise control. It feels as though someone is rolling in to the gas pedal and back out every 2 seconds when set to 60mph on a flat road. I was thinking maybe the torque converter lock up could have something to do with that too. You can also watch the rpms surge 100-200 rpm while it is surging. I have also heard of distorted ABS speed sensor signals causing this too but he tires are too noisy to really tell if its losing a wheel bearing or something.
I just replaced both her trailing arm bushings to get rid of her HUGE clunk over bumps (from the trailing arm actually hitting the car) so I would love to get rid of these last three issues to help her fall back in love with the car. She is worried she is going to need a transmission soon and I am hoping that is not the case.
My plan is to flush out the transmission fluid, make sure the level is set right, and see how it is after that. If anyone on here has any other ideas, I am all ears!
Thanks ahead of time
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