Sounds like small electric motor running when MS3 is off

[ibrewalot]

Anyone have an idea what the small electric motor/fan could be that runs after the cars is off? It even sounds like it runs when the car has been sitting for a while but when you open the door. I can't pinpoint where it is under the hood or behind the dash, but I want to make sure it's "supposed" to be like that and isn't something that will eventually drain my battery.

thanx for the help...

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

I've heard this also and can't figure out what it is or where it's coming from...

 

[mazdaspeedmyk]

I'm hearing the same sound in mine and I just bought it 10 days ago.

 

[ibrewalot]

The only thing I can figure is it's potentially a small blower fan on a fuse box. I have a converter in my camper that does the same thing...when too many lights are on, the board heat up so there's a blower for it.

 

[BlackCherry06]

My best guess is it has something to do with the drive-by-wire. I shut my car off with the hood open and ran up to listen to it, and it sounds like it's coming from very near the intake. It 'runs' for like 10 seconds, then there's a CLICK and it stops. Don't know exactly what it is, but my 2004 3i and my 2006 MS6 both did it.

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

It sounds like that, only it's on the inside and it doesn't stop humming.

 

[MikeC58]

I have experienced the same sound when my Mazda 3 is turned off. From what I have read in other forums, it may have something to do with Mazda 3s equipped with the Technology Package (cooling fan for the NAV or something to do with the push button start?). But whatever is causing the sound, with a little testing I think I figured it out how it operates.

It seems that the sounds starts as soon as you open the door, and it will continue indefinitely (not sure how long - I tested it for about 15-20 minutes) ONLY IF the advanced key is present in the vehicle. However, when I left the advanced key in the house, got in the car and closed the door, the noise stopped after just a few minutes. This was reassuring since my worries were that something was continuously running and would eventually drain the battery if the car was sitting and not started for several days.

Again I am not exactly sure what component is causing the sound, but it appears that it does shut off after you exit the car. Test this out yourself and see if you get the same results.

 

[mazdaspeedmyk]

Genius! Looks like MikeC58 is right. My car has been in my garage all day. I left the key in my room and just sat in the car. The noise went off after about a minute. That was driving me crazy. Thanks for some good Sherlock Holmesian detective work.

 

[mazda35door]

I'm going to try it I've had it at the dealer 5 times and they tell my i'm crazy I work nights and get home at 1am so it's the loudest then. But when I bring it to the dealer they say we don't hear anything mean while the stereo is blasting impact guns going. Of course your not gonna hear it WTF

 

[Three2Five]

We had a similar problem with an '07 CX-7. It was my mom's car (who now owns a 2010), but we kept hearing the same damn noise! She took it to a dealership one day and they knew exactly what it was and went to work. Had to get a rental and all because they said it would a day and half. But from what i understood is it was some kind of actuator that's inside the motor, i guess the whole front had to come apart. I wish i knew exactly what the actuator was called but it was a few years ago.

 

[mrmonk7663]

The sound comes from near the throttle body, so it seems that the drive by wire theory is correct.