Issue with the wife's car...

Newest issue in the saga of our fleet and I’m not really sure what it is. Also, I understand attempting to describe a noise via the internet is like trying to describe sexual pleasure to a nun, but here goes.

My wife has a 2008 Mazda 3 wagon, 5 speed, 95k miles. When shifting and letting off the clutch there is an intermittent squeal which sounds like metal on metal. Very short chirp sort of noise. My first thoughts were that it was the throwout bearing or maybe the clutch disc is worn and in need of replacement. If I address one I’ll address the other and knock them both out. This has been going on for the past month or so, it comes and goes, and may be there one day and then not happen again for two weeks. I’ve never really been able to pin down exactly what was going on. I’m also not sure how or even if it is related to issue number two.

This weekend we went on a short road trip to Chattanooga. On Thursday, prior to the trip, my wife says her car is squeeking again as she shifts from 2-3 and 4-5. I drive the car and can’t get it to recreate the noise. On the way home from our trip, driving down the interstate about 80mph, when I would let off the gas and drop to about 75-70 due to traffic or whatever and coast for a second, not change gears at all, and then step on the gas again to accelerate there was a noticeable squeal. I was able to replicate the noise a few times with the same dropping from 80 and then applying the gas. After maybe 4 times it would not squeal anymore.

With either issues there was never a loss of power, no shuddering or jumping, nothing to really notice there was an issue, just the squeals at shifting and letting off the gas. So let the questions begin:

Are the noises related?

Am I right to think it is the throwout bearing, clutch disc, or both?

Is there anything else I should be concerned with?

Anything transmission related?

Sounds like a bad motor mount to me.

Does it squeal when revving it up in neutral?

914Driver I haven't tried revving in neutral. When I get in touch with her I will have her try that a report back.

No chance it's a belt?

cwaters--Serpentine belt looks good and the a/c belt was just replaced because I had to put a new condensor in it.

914driver--no noise when revving in neutral.

It's tough to tell from the description, but no chance your pedal is making noise? The brake pedal in my wife's van chirps at me if my foot is off-center!

The other point on the belt, my 2003 Mazda P5 was very picky about the serpentine belt. I forget which brand was good, but there was a very definite preference (internet lore claimed that brand A was "american cut" grooves, and you needed brand B's "japanese grooves"). I'm not sure if there's truly a difference, but you could check to see if there is a belt manufacturer preference... [I don't want to bad-mouth, but I'm pretty sure I couldn't get rid of the squeal with a Gates belt]

My other thought my be your A/C clutch is having issues, and when you floor it the A/C cuts off, then tries to come back on? That, combined with working the new A/C belt is making the squeal?

My 2002 WRX started making noise last year and I couldn't figure it out for a while.

Check the idler pulleys. Turned out to be my AC idler. I pulled it off for the winter. Time to fix it.

How is shifter feel during all of this? I have personally replaced many mazda motor mounts to many positive results.

there was a thread some time back about clutches making a chirping sound (as opposed to a squeal) ... but that particular thread was about Honda and Acura clutches .... maybe the same problem with a Mazda ? ... and no I don't remember the thread title

davidjs said: My other thought my be your A/C clutch is having issues, and when you floor it the A/C cuts off, then tries to come back on? That, combined with working the new A/C belt is making the squeal?

Follow up. I was unable to get to the car last night. However, my wife while driving this morning noted there was no squeak or chirp until she turned the a/c on. (I mentioned that I recently replaced the a/c compressor on the car last month. Just of note I used a factory Mazda compressor and the a/c has been used maybe 10 times since being replaced.) So while driving today, she said once she had turned the a/c on and went to shift gears it chirped. In addition, she said once she left off the gas and got right back on it squeaked. I had her turn the a/c back off and do all the same things shift, on/off gas and there was no noises.

So...I'm now guessing that the squeak is related to the new a/c. Belt, clutch, pulley all will be checked tonight and I will report back. Anything else I should check while I'm at it?

probably the belt.

I dont have a mazda, but mine never made noise till I replaced it on my hyundai. it chirps occasionally, and only when the the AC is on. I have berkeleyed with the tension several times and it still chirps...less than before but it still chirps sometimes.

I rarely use the AC so the noise will probably be ignored until its time to do belts again.

Belt slippage when the a/c clutch is engaged?

Easier than a motor mount.

Does it have the stretch to fit belt? No tensioner just the crank pulley and the ac one. Is the ac compressor under the oil pan? Sounds like the belt is too long.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hbzb_37QUTo