Mazda 3 squealing noise

[pookie]

Newest issue in the saga of our fleet and I’m not really sure what it is. Also, I understand attempting to describe a noise via the internet is like trying to describe sexual pleasure to a nun, but here goes.

My wife has a 2008 Mazda 3 wagon, 5 speed, 95k miles. When shifting and letting off the clutch there is an intermittent squeal which sounds like metal on metal. Very short chirp sort of noise. My first thoughts were that it was the throwout bearing or maybe the clutch disc is worn and in need of replacement. If I address one I’ll address the other and knock them both out. This is been going on for the past month or so, it comes and goes, and may be there one day and then not happen again for two weeks. I’ve never really been able to pin down exactly what was going on. I’m also not sure how or even if it is related to issue number two.

This weekend we went on a short road trip to Chattanooga. On Thursday, prior to the trip, my wife says her car is squeeking again as she shifts from 2-3 and 4-5. I drive the car and can’t get it to recreate the noise. On the way home from our trip, driving down the interstate about 80mph, when I would let off the gas and drop to about 75-70 due to traffic or whatever and coast for a second, not change gears at all, and then step on the gas again to accelerate there was a noticeable squeal. I was able to replicate the noise a few times with the same dropping from 80 and then applying the gas. After maybe 4 times it would not squeal anymore.

With either issues there was never a loss of power, no shuddering or jumping, nothing to really notice there was an issue, just the squeals at shifting and letting off the gas. Are the noises related? Am I right to think it is the throwout bearing, clutch disc, or both? Is there anything else I should be concerned with? Anything transmission related?

[Potomac-Greg]

Cicadas?

Your last experience suggests it's not a clutch thing at all (assuming there was no slippage). If just getting on/off the gas in gear does it, maybe it's a motor mount failing, and the gas application is shifting the motor and putting a heat shield or something in play.

[pookie]

Greg, motor mount was suggested on another forum. How do you diagnose a failing motor mount?

Also someone asked if it squealed when revving in neutral. I had my wife try and it does not seem to squeal when revving in neutral. Not sure if that helps or not.

[Potomac-Greg]

Greg, motor mount was suggested on another forum. How do you diagnose a failing motor mount?

Also someone asked if it squealed when revving in neutral. I had my wife try and it does not seem to squeal when revving in neutral. Not sure if that helps or not.

If you could see the motor mount, and knew what it looked like when it was "good" you might be able to diagnose it. But it might take more than that. You might need to see the mount under load (in gear, pushing). If it's a bad mount, then when the engine is pushing the drivetrain (transmission) it is tilting/twisting further than a good motor mount will allow.

You may want to just price out a motor mount change, since diagnosing it might be about the same cost.

[cmartin]

Move the engine with a floor jack, check for excessive movement. Bad mounts are usually pretty obvious. I dont you car but sometimes removing the airbox or other ductwork will free up enough space to get a visual on the mounts. Usually one on each end, front/back, left/right.

[pookie]

Follow up. I was unable to get to the car last night. However, my wife while driving this morning noted there was no squeak or chirp until she turned the a/c on. (I might have forgot to mention that I recently replaced the a/c compressor on the car last month. Just of note I used a factory Mazda compressor and the a/c has been used maybe 10 times since being replaced.) So while driving today, she said once she had turned the a/c on and went to shift gears it chirped. In addition, she said once she left off the gas and got right back on it squeaked. I had her turn the a/c back off and do all the same things shift, on/off gas and there was no noises.

So...I'm now guessing that the squeak is related to the new a/c. Belt, clutch, pulley all will be checked tonight and I will report back. Anything else I should check while I'm at it?

[cmartin]

Mounting bracket.

[pookie]

Work and other issues have kept me from getting to this u tip last night. My wife has been driving my Jeep and I've been taking the 911 to work. It's been rough...

Yesterday, we took the Jeep in to get the wheels changed and we drove the Mazda. After arriving home I noticed what I felt was a lot of fluid under the car. Pulled off the cover and found fluid all over. But it looked like brake fluid, and smelled like power steering fluid. However all of the fluid levels were good and we weren't having any other issues... after posting a rambling, slightly tipsy message here a few hours ago, I think I found the problem. Liquid filled motor mount. From where the fluid is located that has to be the culprit. Starting disassembly now.

[86911TLCAB]

My brother has a similar problem on an infinity i30. can a bad motor mount left uncorrected lead to enough tension on the belt causing the ac compressor clutch to have issues? very similar symptoms of noise with the ac on...quite with the ac off...but when i look at the compressor it is now turning in slow motion with the ac off, and is likely in need of replacement? also seeing some occasional sparking from the area around the compressor clutch.

[pookie]

Tito, I'm new to this a/c stuff since this is only the third car I've ever owned that had a/c, but from what I have learned, a bad motor mount can make a bad squeak all on its own. I assume if the mount isn't solid, then that could lead to excess play when the motor is vibrating. Could it affect the a/c pulley specifically? I don't know, wiser minds will have to answer that one.

[pookie]

So as an update, there was still a squeal from the motor after the motor mount replacement. After reading through endless drivel on the Mazda 3 forums, I found that many had problems with squeaks and after market belts. I plunked down $33 for the OEM Mazda belt, as of this morning we have no squeaks and working a/c. I have no idea what the difference between the Napa belt and the OEM Mazda belt is, but whatever it is it seems to be working now.