[Wittinator]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_kMGH4DKK3A

Noise is at 3 sec and 17 sec

Hi there,

I have an 04 Mazda 3 2.3L with 180k on it. Recently there has been a very obvious creaking sound coming from the front right area, ONLY when accelerating from a stopped position, when the vehicle's weight is transferred to the back of the car. Once I get out of first gear the noise is pretty much gone.

Before I take her to a shop I figured I'd post and see if anyone has any ideas as to what's causing the noise. The suspension is relatively new. I installed it at 168k and have never had any problems. Other than that, nothing has been recently done to the car.

It sounds to me like a very superficial noise, not necessarily something in the wheel area. It sounds like it's coming from just under the glove drawer but I'm not sure.

Any ideas as to what may be causing this is greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot.

Cheers,

 

[kms1990]

my 08 2.3 hatch makes a creak every now and again from the dash with 85k on it. i just figure its something in the glove box or the fuse panel thats right up in that area moving slightly. as i have removed it several times to get at the cabin filter and the change 2 fuses i blew so it cant be factory tight. i do notice mine most right after take off as you do but i also notice it on bumps like speed bumps (no matter how slow i go) more than acceleration. but its not every time in fact its only very rarely and it sounds like something plastic slightly loose or rubbing in the cabin and i have random crap in my glovebox so i chalk it up to that.

 

[Wittinator]

my 08 2.3 hatch makes a creak every now and again from the dash with 85k on it. i just figure its something in the glove box or the fuse panel thats right up in that area moving slightly. as i have removed it several times to get at the cabin filter and the change 2 fuses i blew so it cant be factory tight. i do notice mine most right after take off as you do but i also notice it on bumps like speed bumps (no matter how slow i go) more than acceleration. but its not every time in fact its only very rarely and it sounds like something plastic slightly loose or rubbing in the cabin and i have random crap in my glovebox so i chalk it up to that.

I'll take a look in and around the glovebox and see if I notice anything. For me though, the noise is consistent, rather loud, and only occurs during that initial acceleration. Never heard it over speed bumps but I appreciate the reply. I'll check it out.

 

[kms1990]

I'll take a look in and around the glovebox and see if I notice anything. For me though, the noise is consistent, rather loud, and only occurs during that initial acceleration. Never heard it over speed bumps but I appreciate the reply. I'll check it out.

do you live somewhere cold? i have heard of these cars and the mazda 5 having dash cracking issues in very cold climates from this and other forums i am on. it seems to be the earlier models like yours.i just saw your video link, so i listened honestly that sounds like a swaybar bushing or some piece of rubber in the suspension has broken and your hearing pieces rub when you accelerate. i would get the car on ramps or jacks and jackstands and take a look underneath and make sure your bushings are all in tact. even though you just redid the suspension it is very possible even with oe (but especially if knock off aftermarket) parts were used to have a bushing break or fall out, or get put in slightly wrong. what brand parts did you use on your suspension repair?

 

[Wittinator]

do you live somewhere cold? i have heard of these cars and the mazda 5 having dash cracking issues in very cold climates from this and other forums i am on. it seems to be the earlier models like yours.i just saw your video link, so i listened honestly that sounds like a swaybar bushing or some piece of rubber in the suspension has broken and your hearing pieces rub when you accelerate. i would get the car on ramps or jacks and jackstands and take a look underneath and make sure your bushings are all in tact. even though you just redid the suspension it is very possible even with oe (but especially if knock off aftermarket) parts were used to have a bushing break or fall out, or get put in slightly wrong. what brand parts did you use on your suspension repair?

Nah the weather here has actually been very warm as of late. I'll have a look at the bushings and see if I notice anything. I put on OEM Monroe struts. The previous owner lowered the car with performance struts and ended up blowing two of the struts, so I replaced them all and raised the car back to stock height.

More Information for MONROE 172264

Haven't had any issues with them until, possibly, now. The noise is very clearly coming from the FR. I know I installed them correctly, but I did not check the swaybar during the process.

I rocked the car and there is a bit of a creaking sound. Not sure if it's the same sound but it sounds like it's coming from just behind the glovebox. When driving the car, the noise is just very clear and crisp. It really doesn't sound like it's coming from the wheel area or under the car. At least, if it was, I figured the noise wouldn't be so crisp, but I'm no mechanic.

If anything I'll take her in to a shop and see what they can find.

 

[kms1990]

yeah i could tell from your video it was a front right noise, if you shake the car can you hear it from the outside? if not more likely a piece ofd the interior loose or rubbing. if so its more than likely a suspension or strut issue, maybe the springs you used are not measured just right and are rubbing, or as you said a strut locked up or something. monroe makes great struts but its possible to get a bad one. did you prime them before installing them? you have to do that before putting them on. i had a kyb lock up on my protege due to a bad spring then a gabriel did but alot quicker then the kyb. (gabriel was an emergency fix i had to wait a week to get the springs shipped and needed a good strut right then.) put 2 new kybs on with the new springs and never had another issue. if you over tightened the swaybar links when you put struts on creaking can be heard i think 30-35 ft pounds is the spec. for tightness. they need to be tight but not over tight. when you did the struts did you do the quick struts with the mount strut and spring or did you just reuse the mounts? if you reused the mounts they maybe shot as they tend to wear with the struts. if you have the repair manual i would get under and check the tightness of all the suspension bolts and make sure they are to spec with a torque wrench.

 

[Wittinator]

I can vaguely hear some creaking from the outside when I rock the car but I wouldn't put any money on it being the same noise. It's very quiet and it's hard to tell where it's coming from. I used Monroe quickstruts, so the spring and mount came with it, all pre assembled and ready for install. I'll probably take a torque wrench to everything in the FR area when I have time and hopefully I'll find something loose or over-tight.

One thing I noticed is that if I'm stopped on a hill and let the car roll forward with the clutch in, interestingly enough, there is no noise, even when I give it gas after I've rolled forward a bit. I only hear it when I give it some gas when the car is stopped. Because there's no noise when the car rolls forward or backwards, it seems to me like it's that initial lurch forward, when the gas it pressed and the car's weight is transferred to the back, that's causing the noise.

 

[kms1990]

I can vaguely hear some creaking from the outside when I rock the car but I wouldn't put any money on it being the same noise. It's very quiet and it's hard to tell where it's coming from. I used Monroe quickstruts, so the spring and mount came with it, all pre assembled and ready for install. I'll probably take a torque wrench to everything in the FR area when I have time and hopefully I'll find something loose or over-tight.

One thing I noticed is that if I'm stopped on a hill and let the car roll forward with the clutch in, interestingly enough, there is no noise, even when I give it gas after I've rolled forward a bit. I only hear it when I give it some gas when the car is stopped. Because there's no noise when the car rolls forward or backwards, it seems to me like it's that initial lurch forward, when the gas it pressed and the car's weight is transferred to the back, that's causing the noise.

very odd, it really does sound like something is either loose or over tight. in the suspension. in my protege the rear swaybar always creaked even when i replaced the bushings and put new links on and tightened to specs, never could figure it out. i just ignored it as it caused no issues. at the mileage you have it could be just about anything, a good shop ought to check the tightness specs and grease your suspension for a decent price. its possible something needs a good greasing as well. did you get grease-able ball joints and tie rods? if so i would ensure they are greased. sorry its difficult to say for sure without physically seeing the car.

 

[Gavin_Clark55]

my 08 2.3 hatch makes a creak every now and again from the dash with 85k on it. i just figure its something in the glove box or the fuse panel thats right up in that area moving slightly. as i have removed it several times to get at the cabin filter and the change 2 fuses i blew so it cant be factory tight. i do notice mine most right after take off as you do but i also notice it on bumps like speed bumps (no matter how slow i go) more than acceleration. but its not every time in fact its only very rarely and it sounds like something plastic slightly loose or rubbing in the cabin and i have random crap in my glovebox so i chalk it up to that.

I have a 2.3l 04 hatch and my electronics plastic cover, a clip was broken so it rattled so i took it off and fixed it, could help with your issue