Various Issues w/ my 2010 Mazda 3 GX

[MarkWB]

Hi all;

So for my first post here, I decided I'd be detailed. I've read through the forums already a few times, and noticed some different answers to "similar" issues to the ones I have...but none of them seem to be spot on. Now none of these problems are what I'd call a huge deal, or something I'd hold up outside a dealership chained to my car with a sign for, but I wonder if I can fix them. Here's a little info on my car:

Mazda 3 2010 GX (4DR/Sedan)
59 000 kms (purchased used at 44 000 kms this past winter)
Auto-Manual Trans
Clean car proof, sold certified and e-tested
Had to get it safety tested transferring it into my name in January, the dealership (not the one I bought it from in Toronto, but Maple Mazda) gave everything green lights
The car is run on regular (Shell) gas mostly, however I do sometimes fill up on premium or super depending on the tears in my wallet to clean things out (advised to do this by a friend)

NOW on to the problems...

1) Brakes make a loud squealing sound in reverse, sometimes in drive, and the wheels even make a squealing/chirping sound at times. I brought my 3 to Maple Mazda to have them check this out (at the time there was also a scraping sound coming from the rear driver wheel), and they performed the 46000 ~ km maintenance due at the time anyway. This includes brake pad cleaning, adjusting of caliper pressure, inspection of various parts, etc... They also greased the braking system. They said everything on the brake system is good to go, and that it had actually just been replaced before being sold to me (judging by wear). However, they also said that the brakes are aftermarket and due to their size (and given expansion from cold to hot) some noises may occur.Do you think this is the issue? I've noticed while driving if the sound happens, if I apply the brakes at a certain amount, or pull the handbrake up one click, the sound stops.

2) Egg smell. Now I know, I KNOW, theres a search feature, theres other threads on this. I don't feel they pertain to/cover this issue entirely. I notice an egg smell coming from the exhaust but as far as I've been able to tell, this only happens when the A/C is running. I've noticed it recently when the A/C was running and I downshifted (auto-manual) before pulling into my driveway. Sometimes you can smell it in the car, sometimes you can't. I'm going to try running premium through it next fill up to see if this changes anything, maybe buy from a different gas station (I usually go to Shell near Dupont and Lansdowne in west Toronto). Any other suggestions? Any general agreement on this issues cause and fix? I don't want to pay for an inspection for no reason, and I'm not sure if this inspection/type of repair still covered under warranty at my kms (does anyone, I'd read my warranty but I'm not in my car, and the warranty is).

3) Gurgling sound at start up. This happens very rarely, and I noticed it for the first time today in at least a few weeks. It happened maybe 3-4 times overall, 3 of which were in the Jan-March stretch. When turning the car on after leaving it for a bit, the cars startup seems boggy/shotty/thready and makes a gurgling-ish noise. It's not a horrible sound, it doesn't sound like the car is going to totally fail at turning over, but it's definitely noticeable.

Any suggestions and/or help would be greatly appreciated!

[MarkWB]

Also to be noted;

1) The sound sort of stopped/became a lot less frequent after the maintenance/brake cleaning and greasing, and is even now something I notice daily, but not constantly.

2) Maple Mazda said around 60 k I'd need to have my air intake system cleaned, could this be related to the smell (as I'm almost at 60), and could this be a possible fix?

Thanks everyone!

[Booter22]

so for the brakes, i have also noticed the squealing noise when in reverse and when in drive but its move so after the vehicle has sat over night and then in the morning, but i have not had a squealing / chirping noise. but if it is an aftermarket pad then i would suspect the pad is shifting slightly in the caliper which is giving you some noise as some aftermarket pads do not fit as well as the OEM.

for the egg smell there is some info on mazdas system about it:

2010 - Mazda3 - Engine
NO.26 EXHAUST SULPHUR SMELL [LF, L5]



26
EXHAUST SULPHUR SMELL

DESCRIPTION
•Rotten egg smell (sulphur) from exhaust.

POSSIBLE CAUSE
•Electrical connector disconnection

•Poor fuel quality

•Vacuum leakage

•PCM DTC is stored

•Improper fuel pressure

•Charcoal canister malfunction

DESCRIPTION
On some vehicles, a sulfur smell or 'rotten egg' odor may be noticed coming from the exhaust system. The odor is usually noticed after a cold start, fast idle, extended periods of idling and full throttle acceleration. Sulfur smell is not an indication of an engine concern and will not cause reduced driveability or durability of the engine or any of its emission components.

The sulfur smell or 'rotten egg' odor is caused by high amounts of sulfur in the gasoline being used in the vehicle. Sulfur is normally eliminated during the refining process, but the regulation of sulfur in gasoline differs from province to province. Vehicles using fuel containing high amounts of sulfur will most likely emit sulfur smell from the exhaust system.

When high sulfur fuel is burned, there is a chemical reaction in the catalytic converter causing the sulfur to oxidize. As the vehicle is driven, the oxidizing reaction odor in the converter will decrease with mileage and age.

RECOMMENDATIONS
CAUTION: Replacing the catalytic converter will not eliminate sulfur smell and replacement will just extend the period of time needed for the converter to 'age' allowing it to reduce sulfur smell to an acceptable level.

1. Switch to a different brand of fuel and drive the vehicle for at least 160 kms. Monitor the decrease or increase in sulfur smell.
2. Do not add any type of 'fuel additive' as this could add sulfur to the fuel and cause/increase the odor.
3. Try to avoid extended periods of short trip driving or aggressive acceleration.
4. Request information from your local fuel dealers on the amounts of sulfur in their gasoline. Try to use fuel containing the lowest amounts of sulfur.

it of course would be best to be inspected by your dealer and see if there may be a repair.

i dont have a suggestion for the gurgling, it would need to be more so replicated to be looked at i havent had that as a problem before.

[MarkWB]

Thanks Booter...I think I'll try another Shell and fill it with 91, then use the same station for regular the following time, and see if anything changes in regards to the smell. As for the brakes, yeah, I figured this was a result of the aftermarket pads and that I'd just let them wear out and replace them sometime later this year.

[MarkWB]

Thanks Booter...I think I'll try another Shell and fill it with 91, then use the same station for regular the following time, and see if anything changes.

So I did this, and noticed the smell disappeared, but I noticed now that after I filled up from Petro (I was on empty) the smell came back about a quarter-way-in to the tank when I downshift in manual mode, or gas it up too much on first gear. I'm guessing this is just unspent fuel being spat out into the cat and exhaust system, and probably isn't worth fixing right now.

[highlineMotors]

Hi all;

1) Brakes make a loud squealing sound in reverse, sometimes in drive, and the wheels even make a squealing/chirping sound at times. I brought my 3 to Maple Mazda to have them check this out (at the time there was also a scraping sound coming from the rear driver wheel), and they performed the 46000 ~ km maintenance due at the time anyway. This includes brake pad cleaning, adjusting of caliper pressure, inspection of various parts, etc... They also greased the braking system. They said everything on the brake system is good to go, and that it had actually just been replaced before being sold to me (judging by wear). However, they also said that the brakes are aftermarket and due to their size (and given expansion from cold to hot) some noises may occur.Do you think this is the issue? I've noticed while driving if the sound happens, if I apply the brakes at a certain amount, or pull the handbrake up one click, the sound stops.

Any suggestions and/or help would be greatly appreciated!

In regards to the braking noise while going into reverse, you may have an issue with the cailper or the spring on the caliper. Does it happen while driving slow or at a certain speed?

[Prima Tech Aaron]

brake noise I would atribute to aftermarket pads. Most mazda 3 will have noise as the clear surface rust after sitting overnight. should check rotors to make sure they don't have and pitting/rust or rust lip on the inner or outer edges (could cause noise).

sulfur smell I'd switch gas stations. not just for one tank, and doesn't need to be premium.

gurlgle sound is most likely air bubbles traped in the coolant lines or heater core. no big deal, may resolve itself over time or with a coolant flush with a tool that places the system in a vacuum.