04 Mazda3 GT Vibration/Rattle only while stopped

[Seanhfx]

2004 Mazda3 GT original owner with 95,000kms.

Back in early October had the car in for regular maintenance (48month/96,000kms) service. Complained of clunk sound while backing slightly uphill and light gas while going slight up hill. Transmission mount on back order.

Immediately notice rattle coming from passenger side engine bay. Called dealer, will check when mount arrives.

The rattle only occurred while stopped with brake fully pressed in "Drive". The rattle sounds like a flapping sound like thick paper in the wind, or plastic flapping and seems to come from passenger size engine bay.

2 weeks later, transmission mount replaced - didn't fix the clunk by the way. Right away the car is not working well at all, while coming to a stop, RPMs bouncing all over the place, no CEL...almost stalling but didn't. Many days at the dealer....reflashed ECU (yippy no more shift 1-2 shift shock) and MAF sensor was eventually replaced. RPM bouncing problem resolved.

OK, so now in addition to the rattle, the car vibrates, not the entire car, but it seems to be coming from the passenger size engine bay. If I open glove box, the papers are moving (vibrating) and the rattle seems to come from the other side of the firewall.

The vibration/rattle only occurs:

Stopped with brake fully pressed while in "Drive".

If I lift off the brake and move, the rattle/vibration stops.
If I shift to "N", the rattle/vibration stops.
If I shift to "P or R, the rattle/vibration stops.
While in Drive with brake fully pressed, I put on the emerency brake and lift off the brake, the rattle/vibration stops.

I'm not very mechanically inclined but the car has been in for service for like 9 days since early October at the dealer and another new garage today. No one has diagnosed the problem and resolved it yet.

Looking for suggestions, it seems as though it could be passenger side engine mount, or tensioner? (from using the search option here) Should I just replace the belts and tensioner/pully and engine mount? Any guidance is appreciated.

About $250 for each replaced at the dealer?

Sean

[FLIPDADY]

Sound like the infamous #3 engine mount. Located on the right hand side of the car where the drive belts are located.

[Seanhfx]

Sound like the infamous #3 engine mount. Located on the right hand side of the car where the drive belts are located.

Thanks...Ordering one today. $103.43 + tax from dealer.

[VaderX]

Where is mount #3 located?

[Seanhfx]

Where is mount #3 located?

Passenger side top of engine...kinda between the coolant and the belt.

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

Passenger Side Engine Mount. Part is a little over $100.00 from the dealer with TM3 diso**** and it takes about 10-15 minutes max. to replace with a mechanic who knows what he is doing. i.e. Jimmy at Street Performance.

[Takumi616]

yea just had mines replace as well by Jimmy.... problem fixed.......

[sauga_kid]

Same here, just had mine replaced by Jimmy as well...problems all gone!

[JayJay18]

Seems alot of people are having this problem.
I have the same vibration in my car.
Seanhfk did the new engine mount fix the issue?

[Thrizzl3]

Passenger Side Engine Mount. Part is a little over $100.00 from the dealer with TM3 diso**** and it takes about 10-15 minutes max. to replace with a mechanic who knows what he is doing. i.e. Jimmy at Street Performance.

tim can't spell discount? lmao

[Seanhfx]

Ordered the engine mount yesterday, it's on back order.

Hope to have it installed Monday or Tuesday.

Will update then....

Thanks

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

tim can't spell discount? lmao

Don't make me go all "angry mod" on your ass. Or you will be VIOLATED! :No Homo Smiley

[hfdayc]

my car recentrly got same problem.

almost stall, so if i changed the engine mounts it will fixed? buz u said RPM bouncing problem resloved by reflashed the ECU and changed MAF sensor, should i do the samething or just changed the mounts?


is scared me everytime when im on highway

[Seanhfx]

UPDATE:

Problem solved with replacing the #3 engine mount as suggested.

Thanks!

[DumpInfo]

UPDATE:

Problem solved with replacing the #3 engine mount as suggested.

Thanks!

Mine was replaced today :thumbsup

[coriolis]

Mines needs to be replaced too, looking to get it done at Jimmy's once I get a day off, gotta get my winters put on too, lol, I shouldn't keep stalling!

[colinchrisc]

The vibration/rattle only occurs:

Stopped with brake fully pressed while in "Drive".
If I lift off the brake and move, the rattle/vibration stops.
If I shift to "N", the rattle/vibration stops.
If I shift to "P or R, the rattle/vibration stops.
While in Drive with brake fully pressed, I put on the emerency brake and lift off the brake, the rattle/vibration stops.

Sean

Wow I'm experiencing the EXACT same symptoms but I took it into my mechanic and he said he couldn't notice anything wrong with my motor mount. Is it possible only mazda dealership mechanics would know about this issue or is it something all mechanics should spot? I don't mind spending the $150 it costs to get it replaced and installed but I don't want to find out that it doesn't fix my problem.

Again, when my car is stopped and in Drive, there's something heavily vibrating near the motor on the passenger side and the pulses happen maybe every 2 seconds...

Also, when I order the engine mount part from Mazda, what do I call it? Engine Mount #3?

[shu5892001]

Mazda 3 has 3 engine mounts, they are rear motor mount, passenger side motor mount and transmission mount


Wow I'm experiencing the EXACT same symptoms but I took it into my mechanic and he said he couldn't notice anything wrong with my motor mount. Is it possible only mazda dealership mechanics would know about this issue or is it something all mechanics should spot? I don't mind spending the $150 it costs to get it replaced and installed but I don't want to find out that it doesn't fix my problem.

Again, when my car is stopped and in Drive, there's something heavily vibrating near the motor on the passenger side and the pulses happen maybe every 2 seconds...

Also, when I order the engine mount part from Mazda, what do I call it? Engine Mount #3?

[coriolis]

I bought the mount at MoT with club discount, was about 90 bucks, got it done by Jimmy in about two hours (had winter tires put on as well), costed me less than a bill. 150 seems fair at a dealer.

[colinchrisc]

I bought the mount at MoT with club discount, was about 90 bucks, got it done by Jimmy in about two hours (had winter tires put on as well), costed me less than a bill. 150 seems fair at a dealer.

What do I have to say to get a MoT club discount?

[colinchrisc]

Mazda 3 has 3 engine mounts, they are rear motor mount, passenger side motor mount and transmission mount

Which one would be the "infamous #3 engine mount. Located on the right hand side of the car where the drive belts are located" ?

[shu5892001]

Which one would be the "infamous #3 engine mount. Located on the right hand side of the car where the drive belts are located" ?

I think that is passenger side mount

[shu5892001]

What do I have to say to get a MoT club discount?

Just mention TM3, or just ask for Joe (FLIPDADDY), the parts mangers.

[colinchrisc]

Sound like the infamous #3 engine mount. Located on the right hand side of the car where the drive belts are located.

Hey Joe, do you think I should go ahead and order the Passenger Motor mount to fix my problem or should I have you guys check it out first? I heard it would cost me $49.99 for service to have a look at it.

[colinchrisc]

Is there any way I can test the passenger engine mount myself to see if it's damaged?

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

Is there any way I can test the passenger engine mount myself to see if it's damaged?

A visual inspection is the easiest. If it is damaged, you should see oil/fluid leaking from the torn mount as they are fluid filled. Jimmy could tell you in 5 min. if your mount is torn, but with a flashlight, you can probably see it yourself.

Buy the part from Joe with the TM3 discount and then take it to Jimmy to have a look. If it is damaged, he'll replace it in less than 15 min. If not, just take the part back to Mazda for a refund. You'll save money in either case over having a Mazda dealer do this for you.

[Seanhfx]

Just to let some of you know that when the mechanic showed me the mount after repalcing it...the rubber was broken in the middle for about 1.5"...He said that it was hidden by visual check (especially from the top of the engine)...because of other items in the way.

I suggest that if you have these identical problems that I had, you did what I did and take a chance and replace the #3 (passenger side) engine mount. For the 180 or so including tax, it was a no brainer as I was paying hour service x 2 previously for "we can't find a problem" :flaming

Great community here sharing these specific problems and identifying them as one of few common problems.

Sean

[Default User]

im glad it all worked out for you. And thanks for confirming the problem

Most people will post the problem, but not come back to confirm the solution, which kinda sucks because you gotta wait for a reply