More "Marbles in a Can" Observations
07-24-2006, 09:49 AM
#51
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I have sent an e-mail to Customer Service in Germany, they asked for a VIN number... and than replied that I should contact a local service centre first.
So I went to my dealer which is on the other side of the city and the service guy said “yeah that might be something with the heating system”
now he will look for some information about that.... and I can only hope he will find something interesting....
So I went to my dealer which is on the other side of the city and the service guy said “yeah that might be something with the heating system”
now he will look for some information about that.... and I can only hope he will find something interesting....
07-24-2006, 10:41 AM
#52
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Mike, your noise seems to be the same thing that I'm getting. I wish someone could take their car to zoom so that he can get a listen at it...
07-24-2006, 09:32 PM
#54
Originally Posted by Raptor2k
I don't understand...if it's 'normal', then why doesn't EVERYONE get the sound?
Sounds normal to me. I've had that since day one and no engine problems here.
Don't like the sound, just have to get use to it.
Many people don't push their car or they have the stereo up.
07-27-2006, 04:22 PM
#57
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I don't mean to be alarmist, but I push my car every day, and I have never heard this sound ... yet. [60,000 miles + -- knock wood] I don't get the impression it's normal.
07-27-2006, 09:05 PM
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I have an 05 6 speed with 12k on it. I revved the engine in the garage when i got home from work and heard this marble in a can noise you guys are talking about. Being a mechanic, it sounded just like a rattling cart, which i have dealt with many times. I'm gonna put it in the air at work tomorrow and see if I can pin point it better.
07-28-2006, 03:01 AM
#61
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Originally Posted by LionZoo
So my car developed what I think is the infamous marbles in a can sound at high rpms that sound others have been experiencing today. I tested it out a few times and here are a few observations that might help shed light on the problem:
1. This started today and my car has about 1200 miles on it. The current tank of gas is Chevron 91, which is a bit different from the Shell 91 that I usually run. I haven't been able to put my normal Shell back in to test whether it's the gas, but the sound started about 120 miles into the tank.
2. Oil level is a few ticks below full, but far from the refill line. It's been 200 miles since my last oil change.
3. The marbles in a can sound also sounds like very rapid popping, more like a bunch of sand actually. It starts at around 7000 rpm and increases in the frequency of the popping all the way until 9000 rpm. Though you can hear it above the engine, it definitely isn't incredibly loud. It seems to be coming from the right side near where the glove box meets the center stack.
4. If you hold it at a high rpm, the frequency of the popping also doesn't change.
5. There doesn't seem to be any power (or more accurately, torque) drop from the sound. There is also no CEL. The car pulls just like it always has.
6. The first occurance was when the ambient temperature was in the mid 90s. I took it out at night when it was in the 70s to see if temperature would have any effect. The car is still making the noise even at the lower ambient temperature.
7. I redline at least once or twice per drive, provided the engine is up to temperature, but normally I shift rather low (3500 or below) in an effort to conserve gas.
8. The car developed the sound after I washed and waxed it.
All this information leads me to suspect that it's not detonation, since pinging would've triggered a CEL leading to a loss of power. I also don't think it's a normal part of the SDAIS operation since my car didn't develop this sound until today. Before when I brought it into high rpms it just made the angry vacuum cleaner Wankel sound. It could be a lack of oil in the rotary, but I'm hoping not as that would be bad news indeed.
My gut feeling (wishful thinking?) is that it's unburned fuel igniting in the exhaust manifold. I think that might be the best case scenario too. As to why it suddenly developed it today if that were the reason, I have no real clue. Maybe my plugs have already started going downhill and so isn't firing as well as it was before.
I hope it's nothing serious, but the noise doesn't sound too good. However, there hasn't been any CEL or anything else that is suggesting engine performance is being affected.
1. This started today and my car has about 1200 miles on it. The current tank of gas is Chevron 91, which is a bit different from the Shell 91 that I usually run. I haven't been able to put my normal Shell back in to test whether it's the gas, but the sound started about 120 miles into the tank.
2. Oil level is a few ticks below full, but far from the refill line. It's been 200 miles since my last oil change.
3. The marbles in a can sound also sounds like very rapid popping, more like a bunch of sand actually. It starts at around 7000 rpm and increases in the frequency of the popping all the way until 9000 rpm. Though you can hear it above the engine, it definitely isn't incredibly loud. It seems to be coming from the right side near where the glove box meets the center stack.
4. If you hold it at a high rpm, the frequency of the popping also doesn't change.
5. There doesn't seem to be any power (or more accurately, torque) drop from the sound. There is also no CEL. The car pulls just like it always has.
6. The first occurance was when the ambient temperature was in the mid 90s. I took it out at night when it was in the 70s to see if temperature would have any effect. The car is still making the noise even at the lower ambient temperature.
7. I redline at least once or twice per drive, provided the engine is up to temperature, but normally I shift rather low (3500 or below) in an effort to conserve gas.
8. The car developed the sound after I washed and waxed it.
All this information leads me to suspect that it's not detonation, since pinging would've triggered a CEL leading to a loss of power. I also don't think it's a normal part of the SDAIS operation since my car didn't develop this sound until today. Before when I brought it into high rpms it just made the angry vacuum cleaner Wankel sound. It could be a lack of oil in the rotary, but I'm hoping not as that would be bad news indeed.
My gut feeling (wishful thinking?) is that it's unburned fuel igniting in the exhaust manifold. I think that might be the best case scenario too. As to why it suddenly developed it today if that were the reason, I have no real clue. Maybe my plugs have already started going downhill and so isn't firing as well as it was before.
I hope it's nothing serious, but the noise doesn't sound too good. However, there hasn't been any CEL or anything else that is suggesting engine performance is being affected.
However its its difficult to hear due to the ground sound and wind. I would like to try this well the car is on jack stands or on a lift. I think only then will you hear the "marbles in a blinder sound" very clear.
Last edited by DOMINION; 07-28-2006 at 03:03 AM.
08-05-2006, 11:41 PM
#62
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Update: I got the S Flash that the service advisor said should fix the sound. The sound is still there. I know some people have written off the sound to be the SDAIS, but since mine happens all the way from 6000 to 9000 rpm over the entire band I'm still not so sure. Anybody in the Bay Area (or LA) want to give my car a listen and give me their opinion?
08-08-2006, 01:07 AM
#63
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Yeah I'd have to say it's probably not the transmission. The rattling can be made just as loudly with the car in neutral. I've pretty much given up on it at this point. I unfortunately have bigger fish to fry- namely getting Mazda to fix my 2nd gear. I can't downshift into it period. Ah well..
08-08-2006, 01:10 AM
#64
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Oh, and a minor thing I've noticed- Dominion you should try putting some more tranny fluid in from the shifter hole. I recently did a fluid swap with redline the regular way, and the tranny was still pretty noisy. When I put in my AFE shifter, I added a little redline, and the transmission is very quiet now! I think that the fill bolt is positioned a little low on our transmissions.
Don't worry- I was having 2nd gear problems well before this, so it's not because of the added fluid!
Don't worry- I was having 2nd gear problems well before this, so it's not because of the added fluid!
08-08-2006, 10:35 AM
#65
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same for me...
I have been experiencing the same issue, happened the other day...
I drive an automatic tho, and cannot reproduce the problem when I have it in the dealership.
I originally posted something here online saying it sounded like i was dragging coke cans...but i like the marbles in a blender description better.
I am very upset about this, and hope that someone can find a solution. My dealer thinks i am nuts.
At this point, the sound is driving me in that direction.
I drive an automatic tho, and cannot reproduce the problem when I have it in the dealership.
I originally posted something here online saying it sounded like i was dragging coke cans...but i like the marbles in a blender description better.
I am very upset about this, and hope that someone can find a solution. My dealer thinks i am nuts.
At this point, the sound is driving me in that direction.
08-15-2006, 02:17 PM
#66
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A couple questions for those of us that seem to have the noise:
1. What air setting is your climate control on? (Is it fresh air or recirculate?)
2. What oil do you run?
Yes, there is a reason to at least one of the two questions above, but I don't want to say something before I actually see a pattern.
1. What air setting is your climate control on? (Is it fresh air or recirculate?)
2. What oil do you run?
Yes, there is a reason to at least one of the two questions above, but I don't want to say something before I actually see a pattern.
08-15-2006, 02:29 PM
#67
I still belive it's the ports opening, especially after rereading the diagrams in a Rotory Mag.
It's nothing to woory about as they use the same engine in forumula one and GT.
Plus alot of people Auto Cross and track.
The engines haven't broken yet.
It's nothing to woory about as they use the same engine in forumula one and GT.
Plus alot of people Auto Cross and track.
The engines haven't broken yet.
08-15-2006, 06:26 PM
#68
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Yeah, it's just annoying. I've sorta given up on it for now. I have it in their system that I brought it in, so if the engine explodes later, it's on record that I tried to get it fixed.
08-18-2006, 03:43 AM
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Razz1 - it's not the ports opening... trust me, at least not in my car...
LinZoo - I have tried many A/C and fan settings including switched off.
I'm using Mazda Dexelia synthetic motor oil ($11/1L) - as a matter of fact Mazda Europe issued a bulletin saying that it is not allowed to use any other oil in the Renesis (I believe it was last month)
I'm still fighting with my service centre - so far they only confirmed it might be related to coolant flow at high engine speeds.
LinZoo - I have tried many A/C and fan settings including switched off.
I'm using Mazda Dexelia synthetic motor oil ($11/1L) - as a matter of fact Mazda Europe issued a bulletin saying that it is not allowed to use any other oil in the Renesis (I believe it was last month)
I'm still fighting with my service centre - so far they only confirmed it might be related to coolant flow at high engine speeds.
08-18-2006, 11:13 AM
#70
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Well I seem to be finding that if the vents are on fresh air, the noise happens almost every time, but if I put my vents on recirculate with the fan off, the noise happens a lot less.
08-22-2006, 04:21 PM
#71
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Do you guys experiencing this problem have stock intake, or aftermarket?
I have heard this noise only at high rpm, but really only noticted it after installing my k&n ver.2. I figured it was just the extra intake noise and vibration causing something to rattle in the dash or engine compartment. It may have been there before, maybe the extra sucking noise and vibration made it more noticable??
I don't notice this noise while sitting in neutral and revving. I only use 93 octane. Any ideas?
I have heard this noise only at high rpm, but really only noticted it after installing my k&n ver.2. I figured it was just the extra intake noise and vibration causing something to rattle in the dash or engine compartment. It may have been there before, maybe the extra sucking noise and vibration made it more noticable??
I don't notice this noise while sitting in neutral and revving. I only use 93 octane. Any ideas?
08-22-2006, 04:54 PM
#72
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Stock Intake, 5W-20 Castrol oil, the marbles come all all times - A/C on or off, recirculate or fresh air. The only time I don't get the marbles is revving in neutral.
It's the SDAIS port openings for me, I think. I've come to the conclusion that it's normal, but just more pronounced in my car.
It's the SDAIS port openings for me, I think. I've come to the conclusion that it's normal, but just more pronounced in my car.
08-24-2006, 07:27 PM
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Well my brand new 2 week old car now has this noise. Probably always had it just never noticed it since I have only been up to 7,000 RPM yesterday and today, following break in procedures. Mine sounds like it is coming from the pasenger wheel well or the engine/trans hump of the passenger wheel well. Sounds like a mild coffee grinding noise. Like small bits of something are swirling around a metal can. Or think of one of those wind tunnel vacuums with kitty litter or something inside.
I've been using 93 octane Exxon and my last fill up was with 93 at a crown station. I was able to easily reproduce it in my driveway by just reving past 6,500 rpm. I'll have tor do some tests this weekend.
I've been using 93 octane Exxon and my last fill up was with 93 at a crown station. I was able to easily reproduce it in my driveway by just reving past 6,500 rpm. I'll have tor do some tests this weekend.
08-24-2006, 09:22 PM
#75
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Yet another observation: It seemed that when I was down in LA, my car didn't really make the noise, but now that I'm back up in the Bay Area, it seems to be making the noise a lot more. Of course, geography might not be and probably isn't the cause; I just posted this as maybe a reason for me to move back to LA.