"Marbles/Sand in Can" Problem -- please respond
 

I know many of you have a "Marbles in Can" or "Sand in Can" problem coming from engine on the passanger side. My vehicle starting having this problem at around 160 miles and continues to do so.

As a reminder, I get a "sand in can/marbles in can" sound in every gear from 5800 RPM up to red line. It's really annoying because instead of hearing my engine (which is one main reason why I purchased the car), I hear this strong rattling noise which greatly diminishes my enjoyement of the car. Every person that I have had in the car has asked me what is wrong with my car...

After taking it to two dealers, I am confident that the issue is one of the following:
- air in heater core, or
- water in heater core

In either case, it's traveling so fast in the heater core that it creates this sound. Both Mazda dealerships basically said they empathizie with me but they don't know how to fix.

After much discussion with Mazda of USA, I am having the regional zone representative AND a technician from Mazda of USA meet me at my local shop to listen to the noise this Thursday.

I would like to start a poll and try and get an idea of how many people are having this issue. I would like to take this information with me to my meeting.

By the way, has anyone having this issue tried replacing the heater core?

I will post the results of my meeting on Thursday. This is definitely a good step and I look forward to helping find a resolution.

I don't really know what it sounds like, so I guess I don't have the problem (i.e. I don't notice any sounds at high RPM). I'd like to hear it just so I know what it sounds like. I'd ask if there's a sound clip anywhere, but then someone would say "Use the Search", then I'd have to admit that I'm lazy... It'd be a mess.

Mine sounds like liquid behind the glove box. Easiest to hear if I'm not moving and blip to a high rev and then let go. Definitely not to noticeable for me, I have to be listening for it usually to hear it. But I only have a little over 20 K miles on the car,

Mike54 did a recording:

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...6&page=3&pp=15

File description:
0-10 second, acceleration, 1st gear
10-16 second - 2nd gear, you can hear the noise between 13 and 16 second
16-21 second 3rd gear - the noise can be heard between 18 and 20 second

Air in Heater Core
 

I have the exact same thing...started when it was new...now has 5k miles on it. Sounds like rustling paper or running water...seems to get load around 6500 RPM on mine...all the way to redline. The local dealer talked to Mazda Technical service...as a test they bypassed the heater core...problem gone. Of course they couldn't leave it like this...so, the dealer ordered a new heater core...been 3 months...still waiting.

I have noticed the problem seems to be randomly loud...it is always there...but sometimes more subtile. With the colder weather...I hear it less.

I have the marbles but it's not the heater core, but rather the intake manifold. Dealership can't fix it.

Can't the intake manifold be replaced?

Wow, I'm glad I don't have that sound. I would be throwing a fit at the dealer if I had to deal with that.

Dunno...it would be kind of awkward for them to replace something like that (and I'm guessing is quite expensive) just because of a minor sound, and to go with thatt I'm told it's 'normal' not just by the dealership but by some people here on this board. It's the fuel injectors at 7300 RPMs for me, and the sound goes away at about 8000.

Honestly Raptor, I wouldn't have the dealership replace the manifold just because of a sound that others seem to think is normal. Too much of a chance of the dealership breaking something else while they're in there "fixing" your problem.

By the way, I'm waiting for zenmoused and Mike54 to join Club Marbles.

excuse my ignorance, but what is SDAIS?

Super Dimensional Air Ionizer System weapon

a.k.a. Gundamn!

um... yeah...

Note: so I don't have the sound. Too bad I can't change my vote.

Mine is definitely the heater core. The technician crimped the house into the heater core reducing water flow, and the noise went away.

Raptor2k, how did the technician diagnosis the problem was the intake manifold?

My noise seems to be worse with cold weather. And, its intermittent. Seems like it is less noticable when I let the car warm up for a long time before I drive. Mine is like a rustling or sand in a can, and seems to more noticable when I get on the gas at low rpm (i.e. 2-3.5k)

Strangely enough, I don't think I noticed this noise at all before I put my RP Supercat on, which was only about 3k mi. ago (I have 34k mi. on the car) I wonder if the supercat could have anything to do with it?

I have the mazdaspeed cat back dual muffler sport exhaust on mine... but I know it's the heatercore. Technician just crimped the hose to heatercore and noise went away.

SDAIS = Sequential Dynamic Air Intake System

It's what controls the opening and closing of our secondary and tertiary ports.

They specifically didn't tell me it was that, but from the forum I've learned it's the SDAIS (which is in the intake manifold, I think..)

I cant really hear anything special from the Clip. Maybe cuz the comp Im using have a suck ass speaker ?

Theres was some *ding ding ding ding* noise when going above 5500 rpm thru about 7K rpm. it happens *sometimes* between those RPM.

Not sure if its the *marble* sound or its just the secondary port opening. I seal the VFAD tube and it seems that the sound went away.(I think)

Let me go out and test right now. I have to pick up my gf anyway. Will report back once I get to her home (about hour and 1/2 from now)

goodness it would be nice if Mazda did something about this. I'm so sick of dealing with it.

Good luck with everything Darien and let me know if you need more info/help.
-Gilbert
EDIT:If you need me to mix down the tape of the "Sound/Noise" that I have captured on video, Send me a pm with a address and I will send you a dvd illustrating this issue that a lot of us are dealing with.

Wow. Thanks for the link. Now I understand what you guys are talking about. That sucks. I certainly don't have that problem, but for those who do, I can understand why it drives you nuts.

Sorry about the late reply, my GF wont let me use internet (You know girls ..... said I pay attention to computer more than her ! .... SIGH!)

and I forgot about it until now ... ok here is my findings.

My car have almost the same sound. starting around 6K rpm I will get the *ding ding ding ding* sound, and after that about Over 7K rpm I will get some *fuuuuUuuuuuu buuuuuuuu* kinda like Water flowing sound.

but I think this is normal maybe? cuz Renesis by design. It opens the Secondary port at around 3500 RPM, Aux Port at about 6250. and Last Connecting intake at 7250

Those number match the sound that Im *hearing*. Does Anybody actually has a dead engine related to this *sound* yet ?

Im fine with the sound, I just treat it as *engine default* noise thats all :O

but its certainly a plus if we can get rid of it !

The water sound is normal I believe.