[chr3742]

I was so bummed when I found out my literally brand new 2019 Mazda 3 HB has wind noise coming from the passenger side B pillar.

However, today I noticed another kind of noise coming from nowhere. It’s a scratchy, intermittent, electrical noise. It’s there only when the engine is on. I turned off everything including the AC and it’s still there. The noise sounds like underneath the dashboard. It drives me crazy..

I don’t know what to do now but I surely will take it back to the dealer. I have to say. I bought my Camry for three years and not once I need to repair anything. And it’s just the third days I got my new Mazda 3 there are two issues. COME ON MAZDA!!!

 

[Chris Brady]

New-gen woes. These types of things always happen with the first model year in a new generation.

 

[chanhuk]

Random question

Do you have a Japanese or Mexican 3?

 

[Matagonka]

Have you taken it in to the dealer yet?

 

[curvyroads28]

A product of the times. These days nobody expects anything to just work properly. It has become acceptable / common to have glitches with new products, companies have calculated that small fixes cost less to remedy later on than diligent testing to assure a 100% functioning product upon release, i.e. exploding cell phones. More lucrative to push an 80% product out to market and make immediate sales driven by hype than to release it later and lose out on sales against the competition who was willing to push their 80% product sooner.

Take a recording of the noise (if it is audible enough to pick up with your phone) so we can help you diagnose. If not, your best bet is to just take it to the dealer and hope that the noise can be replicated so the tech can hear the problem. My first inkling is that you are hearing some sort of electrical interference through the speakers. Are there any speakers in the dash from which the noise might be emanating? This could be due to a faulty ground or other bad wiring / cable routing. Although this type of issue tends to create a noise more akin to a whine that changes pitch in relation to engine speed.

Another thought, where is your cell phone located in relation to your radio and/or speakers? Cell signal is a common cause of scratchy speaker noises when it receives data (like texts, push emails, or app notifications) / calls. If you think that might be a possibility, try driving around with your phone turned off (or out of the car altogether) and see if the noise occurs.

Again, without actual audio, these are purely guesses. Just something to consider.

 

[chr3742]

New-gen woes. These types of things always happen with the first model year in a new generation.

Yeah sadly it’s true

 

[chr3742]

Random question

Do you have a Japanese or Mexican 3?

Made and assembled in Japan. Seems like Japanese products don’t ensure quality

 

[chr3742]

A product of the times. These days nobody expects anything to just work properly. It has become acceptable / common to have glitches with new products, companies have calculated that small fixes cost less to remedy later on than diligent testing to assure a 100% functioning product upon release, i.e. exploding cell phones. More lucrative to push an 80% product out to market and make immediate sales driven by hype than to release it later and lose out on sales against the competition who was willing to push their 80% product sooner.

Take a recording of the noise (if it is audible enough to pick up with your phone) so we can help you diagnose. If not, your best bet is to just take it to the dealer and hope that the noise can be replicated so the tech can hear the problem. My first inkling is that you are hearing some sort of electrical interference through the speakers. Are there any speakers in the dash from which the noise might be emanating? This could be due to a faulty ground or other bad wiring / cable routing. Although this type of issue tends to create a noise more akin to a whine that changes pitch in relation to engine speed.

Another thought, where is your cell phone located in relation to your radio and/or speakers? Cell signal is a common cause of scratchy speaker noises when it receives data (like texts, push emails, or app notifications) / calls. If you think that might be a possibility, try driving around with your phone turned off (or out of the car altogether) and see if the noise occurs.

Again, without actual audio, these are purely guesses. Just something to consider.

Thank you so much for your detailed reply! I totally agree with you. I saw another post on Reddit talking about the same noise so I guess it’s not just me then. I heard it too. I spent the last two days trying to pinpoint the source of noise. I closed my phone the noise is there. It seems not from the speaker. Now my best guess is the control of AC. Here’s what I did:

I started only ACC, not the engine. The noise is still there. So the engine is ruled out.

And I tried to turn the knob of the AC. I noticed that if I put temperature on “LO”, the noise is gone. Otherwise, it appears again. So I have to suspect it has something to do with the mechanic control or electric panel behind the AC.

 

[chr3742]

A product of the times. These days nobody expects anything to just work properly. It has become acceptable / common to have glitches with new products, companies have calculated that small fixes cost less to remedy later on than diligent testing to assure a 100% functioning product upon release, i.e. exploding cell phones. More lucrative to push an 80% product out to market and make immediate sales driven by hype than to release it later and lose out on sales against the competition who was willing to push their 80% product sooner.

Take a recording of the noise (if it is audible enough to pick up with your phone) so we can help you diagnose. If not, your best bet is to just take it to the dealer and hope that the noise can be replicated so the tech can hear the problem. My first inkling is that you are hearing some sort of electrical interference through the speakers. Are there any speakers in the dash from which the noise might be emanating? This could be due to a faulty ground or other bad wiring / cable routing. Although this type of issue tends to create a noise more akin to a whine that changes pitch in relation to engine speed.

Another thought, where is your cell phone located in relation to your radio and/or speakers? Cell signal is a common cause of scratchy speaker noises when it receives data (like texts, push emails, or app notifications) / calls. If you think that might be a possibility, try driving around with your phone turned off (or out of the car altogether) and see if the noise occurs.

Again, without actual audio, these are purely guesses. Just something to consider.

I’ll try my best to pick up the noise in recording but probably it’s too weak. The best description is it’s like camera shuttering.

 

[curvyroads28]

Made and assembled in Japan. Seems like Japanese products don’t ensure quality

Some parts, yes. Some parts, no. While it may have been assembled in Japan, there are still other foreign manufacturers making the bits and bobs that are bolted to the car. Another post on this board mentioned improperly torqued mounts and axle nuts. THAT is a direct issue with the assembly of the car, which would be the fault of the factory in which it was built. If your noise is coming from an assembly on the car, then it isn't necessarily an issue with the assembly line that built the car, but the manufacturer of that component. In my experience with my 2016 sGT, Japan built, I have seen MANY components made in China. So far >knock on wood< nothing, Japan made or otherwise, has been an issue on my car.

Describing the sound like a camera shutter helps, but can you tell if it sounds like something might be loose, or like something mechanical is trying to move but failing to do so? Also try altering A/C fan speed low, to med, to high. See if you get any change in characteristics there. I don't have much experience with A/C units. The last one I touched was only because I was ripping it out of the car for weight reduction, so I didn't really take the time to study it

 

[chr3742]

Made and assembled in Japan. Seems like Japanese products don’t ensure quality

Some parts, yes. Some parts, no. While it may have been assembled in Japan, there are still other foreign manufacturers making the bits and bobs that are bolted to the car. Another post on this board mentioned improperly torqued mounts and axle nuts. THAT is a direct issue with the assembly of the car, which would be the fault of the factory in which it was built. If your noise is coming from an assembly on the car, then it isn't necessarily an issue with the assembly line that built the car, but the manufacturer of that component. In my experience with my 2016 sGT, Japan built, I have seen MANY components made in China. So far >knock on wood< nothing, Japan made or otherwise, has been an issue on my car.

Describing the sound like a camera shutter helps, but can you tell if it sounds like something might be loose, or like something mechanical is trying to move but failing to do so? Also try altering A/C fan speed low, to med, to high. See if you get any change in characteristics there. I don't have much experience with A/C units. The last one I touched was only because I was ripping it out of the car for weight reduction, so I didn't really take the time to study it

Thank you so much! I tried a million times and finally I was able to record the noise. It sounds more like something mechanical trying to move but failing. The noise appears right after I adjusted the temperature and then keep going on, but altering AC fan didn’t affect the noise. Is it possible because of something like temp adjustment panel? Thanks again!

 

[moniasonic]

I’ll try my best to pick up the noise in recording but probably it’s too weak. The best description is it’s like camera shuttering.

I also have noise problems. and I'm no idea how to fix it.
I recorded the noise video below.

This is a rhythm... zuzu ... zuzuzu .... noise...
My car is a mazda3 hatchback Asian edition, also made in Japan.

 

[rr33]

Same "camera shutter" noise related to the A/C in my 2019 FWD HB as well.

 

[paulff3]

Could be a servo used to move an HVAC mixer door.

Watch this...

 

[EVOII]

What if you turn the acc completely off?

 

[rr33]

What if you turn the acc completely off?

Constant shutter sound goes away when the ACC system is off. The sound can be made manually by turning the temp knob as well.

 

[paulff3]

What if you turn the acc completely off?

Constant shutter sound goes away when the ACC system is off. The sound can be made manually by turning the temp knob as well.

Temp mixer door servo....

 

[UltimateMazdaGuy99]

Describing the sound like a camera shutter helps, but can you tell if it sounds like something might be loose, or like something mechanical is trying to move but failing to do so? Also try altering A/C fan speed low, to med, to high. See if you get any change in characteristics there. I don't have much experience with A/C units. The last one I touched was only because I was ripping it out of the car for weight reduction, so I didn't really take the time to study it

I heard that shutter sound too in the loaner. I thought it was from the radio/speakers. Weird if it's coming from the AC.

 

[UltimateMazdaGuy99]

I hear that always go for japan built mazdas, but I've had many mazdas both built in japan and mexico, and honestly, I can't feel a difference. I've had issues in both Japan built and Mexico built ones so, as far as I'm concerned it doesn't matter. When I need new mazda parts I always order mexico built ones because they're cheaper and haven't had any issues with the quality.

 

[chr3742]

I'm back. I went to the dealer twice.

1. Squeaky wind noise on the passenger side when speed is above 50.
I'd like to make a correction. The noise does not come from the seat belt area of passenger, but rear passenger side window. If I lower a smidge of the window the leaking noise would be gone. They said there is nothing wrong and didn't fix it.

2. Intermittent noise from A/C.
They didn't fix it either. A tech from the dealer said it is the A/C releasing the pressure. I think it's BS. I have to keep the A/C to LO to avoid the noise.

3. Doors automatically lock again when they are already locked and the car is idling.
Never happened again.

4. Jerkiness between low gears during acceleration.
Still there even the wheel nuts and rocker arm recalls are done. It's definitely noticeable. The dealer said it's how this transmission works and other Mazda cars drive the same way. BS again. The loaner CX-5 didn't feel jerky. Maybe a little bit, but definitely not this way.

5. Vibration after releasing the brake from a stop.
I'd say it's gone after the repair of wheel nuts recall.

6. Popping noise from the engine when the car stops and adaptive cruise control is on.
Never happened again.

7. The keyless entry sensor doesn't work from time to time. I have to put the key fob very close to the door handle to make it work.
Turns out it's because my wife put hands in the handle at the same time which disable the keyless entry. Just make sure no one is trying to open the passenger side's door while the driver is entering the car. Never failed again.

8. Creaking noise from the steering wheel.
Yes, there is creaking noise when I turn the steering wheel clockwise. The dealer lubed the wheel and it's gone.

9. Rattles from passenger-side airbag area
It's the most frustrating and annoying issue. But the dealer said there's nothing loose. They couldn't replicate the issue. I've given my hope to new recall or new service bulletin.

I'm moving to another city (much bigger than the city I live right now). So hopefully the dealer over there would have the second opinion on some remaining issues.