Low rumble from interior fan

[rob]

Hey guys, been a while since I've come here!

Just noticed yesterday while driving, I turned on the AC/fan and I heard a very distincy low frequency rumble coming from the center console. Today I took out the cabin air filters and they were full. Cleaned em out a bit and replaced, but the sound still persists. Imagine the sound of a compressor being on in the distance, it's a very distinct sound and is only really heard on 3 and 4. I hope I'm not going crazy, and this hasn't been a sound from when I bought the car. I have a 2010 GS Hatch that I bought in 2009 and this is the first time I think I've heard it. I happens when the fan is on, doesn't matter if it's with AC, hot or cold.

Any ideas? Thanks

[sarujo]

Did you replace the old/dirty cabin filters with new ones or just "clean off" the old ones?

[rob]

Did you replace the old/dirty cabin filters with new ones or just "clean off" the old ones?

I just cleaned them out with some compressed air as there was quite a bit of crud. Bad idea?

[sarujo]

According to Mazda you are supposed to change the filters every approx 40,000km or so. If you have never changed them, do yourself a favor and grab a new set (try an affiliate dealer for TM3 discount) and replace. Be sure to vacuum out any crap left in the chambers where the filters slide in.

Check out my cabin air filter change thread and you'll see how dirty mine were and I was following the mileage change recommendations. Definitely something I plan to stay on top of especially with the Gen 2's being much easier to get at!

[rob]

According to Mazda you are supposed to change the filters every approx 40,000km or so. If you have never changed them, do yourself a favor and grab a new set (try an affiliate dealer for TM3 discount) and replace. Be sure to vacuum out any crap left in the chambers where the filters slide in.

Check out my cabin air filter change thread and you'll see how dirty mine were and I was following the mileage change recommendations. Definitely something I plan to stay on top of especially with the Gen 2's being much easier to get at!

hmm Interesting, my car just reached 40k about a few weeks ago. I usually drive with my windows down and radio up so I may not have heard the sound before the weekend. I really hope it isn't an issue with the motor.

[r4BBiT]

This happened couple of time to me now, basically small leaf gets inside and rubs on fan blades making the noise. Like it was said before vacuum inside the chamber and replace the filters. Be careful inside though as I remember correctly there is a heater core (radiator like part in there with the fins, which you probably don't want to mangle too much).

Also you might want to check from the other side under the windshield cowls, but I couldn't get to mine :D

The second time this happened to me once the leaf dried up, the fan blades chopped to pieces and the sound went away :)