After going on a short July 4th vacation I started hearing an extremely loud noise coming from the center of the car...it doesnt always occur but when it does it is usually after I reversed out and then shifted to a forward gear and then vibration sets it off

it is so loud it feels like the car is shaking apart

The noise seems to go away after a while driving but bumps in the road cause the noise to make a faster fluttering noise presumably from the higher frequency shuddering at higher speeds

I've searched on this, I'm sure it has come up before but it is hard to locate info about it on the site

if you need and more info I'll be happy to provide.

thanks!

-Jason

Check your front passenger side engine mounts , this could be causing the shuddering vibrations.


B...Free
michael

thanks LL I'll look into that...the noise is definitely coming from the center bottom of the car but engine jiggling around will make all sorts of noises

seriously thought the noise sounds like the entire car is shuddering apart

hrmm...strange. definately check to see if the engine assembly rocks from bad motormounts. coming from the center could also mean bad transmission mounts? bad driveshaft? u-joints? get it to the dealer bro...

Yes, please hurry to dealer or get it up on a rack. Check everything. Please don't drive it until you find the problem. A noise like that can lead to damage with the result of the abuse to the car.

going to the dealer in the morning...thanks guys...but I'll pretty sure I'll still need your help because my guess is they won't figure it out...:) good thing I recorded the sound and can replicate it when in reverse letting out the clutch

Sure is indicative of engine mounts that have failed

is there a TSB on the engine mounts failing? I've read of several others who had engine mounts replaced hmmmmmmmmmmmmm

What about that recall for some transmission insulator thing on MTs? Could that be it?

2004 Mazda RX-8 NHTSA Recall ID Number: 04V075000
Recall Date: FEB 17, 2004
Component: POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
Potential Units Affected: 12000
Summary: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, THE HEAT INSULATOR MAY BE CRACKED CAUSING ABNORMAL NOISE.
Consequence: CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE CAN CAUSE THE INSULATOR TO COME OFF AND COULD POSE A HAZARD TO FOLLOWING VEHICLES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEAT INSULATOR. THE RECALL BEGAN MARCH 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.
Notes: MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS, 1704B

thanks Ara! the dealership will be calling me later this afternoon...if they haven't figured it out yet I'll suggest this for sure

well the dealership found the problem...bizarrely it was nothing anyone thought it was, especially not myself

there is a metal 'guard' running across the bottom of the car from left to right...it had been bent up and was scrapping against the muffler...they took off the guard, bent it back into place and the problem is gone

I went camping over the the July 4th weekend, I must have run over something, I don't know but thank goodness the problem wasn't serious just insanely loud...I have a sound clip on my cell phone, I wonder if I can upload it

thanks again everyone!