Mazda - Mazda3 :: Front Passenger Side Tire Bottoms Out When Going Over Bumps
Sep 1, 2012
I have been trying to fix a problem with my 06 Mazda3 (almost 90K miles) for, maybe 7-9 months now. I just got home from getting my struts all changed for about $1200 (and I would guess I am $1700+ in the hole overall on it) without fixing the problem.
It started that going over bumps would cause the front passenger tire to "bottom out" and yield a quick "thud-thud-thud" that was very distinct from sound the driver side made, which was fewer, deeper "thuds". The, later, I got noises that initially sounded like the tire brushing against the wheel well when I made sharp right turns. The noise would be more pronounced when I would turn hard right from a stop (so I would be accelerating). I would also sometimes get the suspension to "shudder" on the passenger side when I would accelerate suddenly. It seems like the nose of the car dipping during acceleration is what gets the rubbing/grinding noise.
I have brought this up at 3 oil changes at different places and brought the car in multiple other times when it bothered me. Every time they have told me everything looks fine. The noise used to happen sporadically but I could do it intentionally if I tried. Now it has gotten worse and it even happens when I bring it to the tire place, so at least I seem less paranoid. I am comforted that everything looks in order, but have avoided even getting on the highway for months fearing my wheel would fly off.
Since this started, I have:- replaced the tires- rotated the tires- replaced the brakes- replaced the front shocks- replaced all of the struts (2 hours ago)
and in my ignorance and desperation tried to replace the wheel bearings, cv joints, and tie rods but was told they are fine. I had to push to get the shocks replaced, using the mileage as justification.
I am going to bring the car back to where I had my struts done 7am tomorrow morning, tell them it is still happening, and see if they can take another look. If no dice maybe I'll call car talk a few hours later.
View 3 Replies
Advertisement
My front driver's side tire squeaks like an old mattress when I drive, especially over any bumps or when turning. Could this be caused by a cracked wheel rim? I got new tires and had them rotated/balanced about 3 months ago. The squeaking started right before this so I asked the tire place to check it out, but they said they didn't see anything. The squeaking has become increasingly more annoying since then. Note: I also got new struts about 6 mos ago and then drove my car across country. Since then I have driven quite a bit in the city which involves very bad pot holes.
View 1 Replies
When I first start my car in the morning, every time I go over bumps the right rear tire feels and sounds like it is bottoming out. After driving 10 mins. it stops and acts like the other 3 tires. I understand if it did it all the time it would be a strut or shock absorber which ever a 1998 Corolla has.
View 1 Replies
About a month ago, I noticed my 2007 Mazda3 making a rattling noise whenever the front passenger window is anywhere from cracked to almost all the way down. When the window is up or all the way down, there is no noise. When the door is in it's "sound-prone" state, I can replicate the sound either by going over a bump or just pulling and pushing on the door interior door handle. I've looked this up online and it seems to be pointing toward me needing a new window regulator. I haven't noticed any function loss, just the rattling sound that makes it sound like the car's falling apart. Does this seem like the right thing to try? What would cause the regulator to malfunction after only four years? Should I buy new or look for it at the local salvage yards? If it matters, my Mazda3 has electric windows.
View 4 Replies
About a month ago my 2006 Mazda3 (35,000 mi) started making loud creaking sounds everytime I turned and went over a bump. I took it into two mechanic shops and they both said the struts in the front were leaking fluid and needed to be replaced, in addition to the mounts and the swaybar link. I had all of this done, but when I got my car back it was making a new, very loud, clunking sound that I could also feel on one side when I drove over bumps. The sound was similar to the noise your car makes when the undercarriage hits the ground over a bump. I immediately took it back in, and the mechanic told me that the set of struts he had installed were "bad" and that he would put in new ones. This was done this weekend, but now my car is making the original creaking and groaning sound it did before, except much more audibly now. My car groans and creaks even if I turn the wheel while motionless.
I've heard that cars need time to "settle" into new struts. Does my car just need time to adjust?
View 5 Replies
My 2004 Mazda3 is having an air conditioner issue. The driver side air vents blow hot air, but the passenger side air vents blow cool air (not as cool as I think it should be, just cooler than the hot side.) We had issues with it last summer that were repaired and freon was added at that time.
View 1 Replies
Yesterday, I was dropping off a friend, and after a minute or so of being parked, when I started rolling forward again, this very loud, metal on metal screeching sound started coming from under my car, seemingly on the driver's side. I thought there was maybe something under the car, but I looked, and found nothing. When I tried to leave her street the noise got so loud I was scared and stopped again, and her neighbors came out because they heard it. Again, examination of the wheels, undercarriage, under the hood, it all looked normal. Turning the steering wheel didn't make the noise, but bouncing the hood made a slight squeak in the same area. So I parked it, and this morning had it towed to my mechanics. Of course, once it got there, they said it drove fine, they hear no noise, and saw nothing wrong with the brakes, tires, or axles. Basically, they think I'm crazy.It was lightly misting when this happened but not real rain or anything. The mechanic said they don't see any evidence that anything was stuck in there that might've gotten dislodged by the tow. I'm going to pick it up tomorrow, but is there anything I should have them check before that?
View 6 Replies
I got a brand new 2011 Mazda 3 i Sport 4 door sedan in May and it's been great so far. Lately though, I have started to hear a sound coming from the back left hand side of the car. It really closely resembles the sound of tapping one's finger on a counter top. When I'm stopped, there's no noise but when I go I can hear it. As I go faster it goes faster as well and when I slow down it slows down. What is going on?
View 2 Replies
I have a 2005 1500 Silverado z71 that has started producing a squalling noise in the front pass side when hitting decent bumps during hunting season. This noise can also be reproduced when bouncing the pass front side. It has 99,000 miles. I'm assuming this is the front pass. shock. The truck came with Black and Red shocks. What brand is this? Also, from what I have read Blistens are most peoples replacement choice. I see they make a HD (4600) model and a (5100) model. My ride is stock height. If this is the problem and what brand/model to replace with? Doesn't Z71's have gas shocks and would this influence which brand to use?
View 3 Replies
Just put on new wheels 19x8.5 all around on 235/35/19s. Figured to have no issues, not super low or anything. Passenger side front tire is rubbing on the inside well pretty good. Not on fenders as far as I can tell, just the actual inside of the wheel well. Fender liner is already out on that side as well. Not a thing on drivers side though, and the liner is still in. Thinking maybe just need an alignment.
View 4 Replies
I just got a call from my VW Dealer. He stated that while performing my 10k service, he noticed that there was a crack on my lower engine cover (splash guard) on my front passenger side and that the tire was worn on the inside almost to the metal. He stated that a driver must of hit a curb or a pot hole at a high speed to cause this type of damage... My wife and myself are the only ones who drive it and we are sure we have not hit any curbs or gone over any pot holes at HIGH speeds... some pot holes but nothing my old jeep couldn't handle...
My complaint is that I was hoping that the TReg would turn out to be the off road beast that VW has advertised it to be, but am disappointed that only after 10k miles I need an alignment and a tire change and have not even been off road... what should I expect in the years to come.. I am hoping to not have to treat this Truck like a car...
View 24 Replies
I recently started getting a light tapping noise coming from the front passenger side tire wheel area. It almost sound like a nail stuck in the tire, but lighter in sound and there is nothing stuck in the tire........
Here's the kicker: It only happens when I turn LEFT!!!! I checked and there is nothing obvious that sticks out to touch the tire when it turns...
View 17 Replies
My 95 F150 2WD. The passenger side wheel is leaning in(top) - toed in? and I am A. concerned that this is unsafe to drive it and B. What is the most likely cause and fix? I was just looking for a starting point.
View 2 Replies
So this morning is just getting better and better. Was coming back in from getting the mail and noticed a small puddle under the passenger side tire/wheel area.
I never ever have a puddle of any sort in my drive way so...I start crawling around the truck and this is what I find. I can free spin the dust seal, but its all the fluid that has be worried. With less then 4 days till I have to haul everyone to the airport this is not what I need.
IF (man I feel stupid for asking) IF I leave it in 2 wheel drive how big of an issue would it be to drive it?
None of the parts will be in before I have to drive everyone out to the airport, this is the only reason I'm even considering this..
Plus would this explain a sudden lost of MPG?
View 12 Replies
I own 2016 Camry special edition, and while driving i hear something knocking sound like ping pong ball sound coming from passenger side front tire, feels like shock is not working properly, in warm weather (over 60F)it drives better no sound or anything, what can it be? Is it because of 18" tires?
View 2 Replies
I bought a 99 Mazda Protege ES two years ago. About eight months ago, i noticed that my rear passenger tire seemed very low. Not flat, but very very low. I filled it back up to 32psi, as recommended in the owner's manual. Then in June, it seemed low again. I bought a pressure gauge, checked all my tires and filled up the one that was low (14psi). Throughout the summer and early fall, I would check my tires once a month and the rear passenger tire would always need air. Now it is the end of October and I've had to fill the tire up three times in the past month.
Obviously, I need a new tire. My question is: is there a viable way to fix a slow-leaking tire? Or do a need to buy a new one? Also, can I just buy one tire?
View 10 Replies
I have a 2004 Passat 2 wheel drive. I've noticed when going around right hand corners there is a Whop Whop noise seeming to come from my passenger side front tire. If I he really slow you can not hear it while going around corners. But I'm only hearing it going around right corner. I'm not sure what it is. I've went and has my rim and tires looked at. I took it in for a fuel filter to be put on and because I'm going out of town I had them inspect the my car they said nothing.
View 5 Replies
I'm driving a 2002 Chevy Prizm (123k miles) and when I drive over bumps in the road or sewers etc. there is a clanking sound but it only happens on the front right side.I've purposely driven over the same bumps in my parking lot with the left side and it's fine.I recently had the engine mount replaced and the rear sway bar link on the right side replaced.This problem has been going on for well over a year now,maybe even 2.In this time I've also had the brake pads/rotors replaced and checked at a different shop to make sure that wasn't the noise.I drive typically 10-12k miles a year.This has been a problem for at least 15k miles if not more.
View 4 Replies
Can I swap my seat bottoms? I have '99 F350 with 40-20-40 seats. Drivers seat is getting tired. Would like to take just the seat bottom and flip-flop. Can it be done?
View 3 Replies
Can I swap my seat bottoms? I have '99F350 with 40-20-40 seats. Drivers seat is getting tired. Would like to take just the seat bottom and flip-flop. Can it be done?
View 14 Replies
I have a 2005 Mazda3 with a 2.0 engine & a five speed transmission and 94,000 miles. Since June the car has twice not started, and so far three trips to two different Mazda dealers have not resolved the problem. The car had sat overnight, when I tried to start it the engine it turned over normally, and sounded normal, for just a second. Then it sounded like it started turning over much much faster than normal and the turning over sound changed to the sound of a high speed "whirl" (I don't know any other way to describe it).
In both cases the car just turned over and over and never sounded like it was going to start, resulting in a tow being needed. I've now found out that the dealer started the car by pushing the gas pedal to the floor, then cranking over the engine and then very slowly releasing the gas pedal until the engine started to fire. In the three months in between the non start days the car has started fine and it drives fine, lots of power, constant power with no surges or bogging down. The dealers have checked the compression, fuel PSI, and run computer diagnostics and everything appears to be normal. They also removed the value cover and say that as far as they can tell the fuel injectors seem to be functioning normally.
View 5 Replies
