Famous 1500-2000 RPM Gurgling Noise

[staax]

I know this topic has been beat to death already but this morning when I went to start my car I could hear what sounded like a broken bearing tick.

If you're not aware of this issue, basically it sounds like your car has a gurgling sound between 1500-2000 RPM regardless of speed. Sounds very similar to an exhaust leak and it is quite a common problem.

Well I've had enough and will be scheduled an appointment with my dealer because I beleive it is the tensioner like many other people have mentioned and my guess is that the bearing is shot.

Just wondering if anyone else has noticed a tick on startups near the belt area too. The noise has been hugging me for a while but the tick was the icing on the cake to get my car into the dealer.

[PatrickRodriguz]

Make sure you're covered under warranty. It does seem like this problem is related to the tensioner assembly/pully however I had Mazda replace the entire tensioner assembly under warranty and the sound is still there. Really has me scratching my head now since replacing the tensioner assembly fixed it for almost everyone!

Hope this helps at the dealership.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tY_upT5zpXs&list=WL&index=1 *Not my audio recording. Just accurate.

[416GXM3]

2011 GX Sport and i have the same problem dont know how to fix it and i passed the warranty

[staax]

2011 GX Sport and i have the same problem dont know how to fix it and i passed the warranty
416GXM3.

Likely your belt tensioner pulley - heres a quick vid I made a lil while ago. Pop your belt off and spin the pulley and see if it makes the same noise as mine:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NggWXxTpe_E&feature=gp-n-y&google_comment_id=z12huhbyplzwfh2ng231shxrxyqcwdqg b04

[Captain Mazda]

I sometimes get a loud grind/gurgle noise a few seconds after ignition, usually when the car has been parked overnight. I remember making a thread about it but I could never hear it when I had my phone ready to record, go figure.

Someone else posted a video though: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPNIt0I5Nzg

[416GXM3]

I sometimes get a loud grind/gurgle noise a few seconds after ignition, usually when the car has been parked overnight. I remember making a thread about it but I could never hear it when I had my phone ready to record, go figure.

Someone else posted a video though: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPNIt0I5Nzg


LOL! happens to my car too! we are doomed.. seriously no one has fixed this problem?

staax i am no mechanic so I am not even going to attempt of popping the belt just to check.. but captainmazda just showed on the video happens to my car as well and of course the gurgling noise


Whats so BS about this issue is that the powertrain warranty would not even cover it.

[staax]

Captain Mazda 416GXM3

I believe thats your AC clutch, as mine does it too.

You'll only notice it if you leave the AC on, or have your defrost on (with the fan at least set to 1).

Really worries me as I know the AC clutch/compressor was such a problematic part on the Gen 1's... And my warranty expired in Feb... Kinda wish I bought an extra 2 years of extended warranty.

[416GXM3]

Captain Mazda 416GXM3

I believe thats your AC clutch, as mine does it too.

You'll only notice it if you leave the AC on, or have your defrost on (with the fan at least set to 1).

Really worries me as I know the AC clutch/compressor was such a problematic part on the Gen 1's... And my warranty expired in Feb... Kinda wish I bought an extra 2 years of extended warranty.

staax what are the repercussion if none of this things are not fixed.. does it affect anything?

[416GXM3]

some people were saying it could be as easy as refilling your frion to fix the AC/clutch compressor and or the pulley.. LOL! i dont know how good of a theory that is aha

[Captain Mazda]

staax I just tested your theory and you are 100% correct. I had left the fan on 1 overnight and finally replicated it on camera

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qB1E5JUcuc-PE5f9y67pJelKoafunfeSjg/view?usp=sharing

[Dreamliner]

I have the same noise here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSWfalgopM8
Whether the A/C is on or not doesn't make a difference.

[Captain Mazda]

I couldn't hear anything similar in your video 0_o

[staax]

staax what are the repercussion if none of this things are not fixed.. does it affect anything?

Well eventually your AC clutch may seize destroying the belt so simply put you wont have AC anymore.

You should notice it getting worse and worse... replace just the clutch and not the whole compressor as I dont believe you need to.

[Captain Mazda]

Anyone know if Mazda covers the AC under the powertrain warranty? I may need to talk to Budds about this if it's going to have serious repercussions down the road :/

[416GXM3]

have to agree with captainmazda I tested the theory today and sure enough after turning the car on and putting the fan to number one.. i hear that cranking noise .. and the usual at 1500-2000 RPM the famous gurgling sound emerges

[416GXM3]

staax I just tested your theory and you are 100% correct. I had left the fan on 1 overnight and finally replicated it on camera

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qB1E5JUcuc-PE5f9y67pJelKoafunfeSjg/view?usp=sharing

sounds exactly like my car when i start it

[staax]

Anyone know if Mazda covers the AC under the powertrain warranty? I may need to talk to Budds about this if it's going to have serious repercussions down the road :/

They don't. Called Mazda myself last summer and when I was having my car in for an alignment a month ago I asked about it and they said it wasn't covered under the power train. Its an accessory unfortunately.

[Reddie1337]

I have the same noise here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSWfalgopM8
Whether the A/C is on or not doesn't make a difference.

That just sounds like a Skyactiv cold start. I didn't hear anything wrong with that.

Also, if the AC compressor stays on with a 2.0L engine, it's only bad if your compressor seizes, not if the clutch just stays engaged.

Compressor seizes, belt gets chewed.

Compressor holding the clutch on, just continues to work the compressor needlessly. Not saying it couldn't lead to a compressor failure later.

[416GXM3]

That just sounds like a Skyactiv cold start. I didn't hear anything wrong with that.

Also, if the AC compressor stays on with a 2.0L engine, it's only bad if your compressor seizes, not if the clutch just stays engaged.

Compressor seizes, belt gets chewed.

Compressor holding the clutch on, just continues to work the compressor needlessly. Not saying it couldn't lead to a compressor failure later.

Reddie1337 do you know anything about the gurgling noise any fix or recommendations on that

[Reddie1337]

The gurgling noise is normally the tensioner pulley. Could also be the actual tensioner. 416GXM3

Or were you taking about an AC gurgle?

[Captain Mazda]

That just sounds like a Skyactiv cold start. I didn't hear anything wrong with that.

Also, if the AC compressor stays on with a 2.0L engine, it's only bad if your compressor seizes, not if the clutch just stays engaged.

Compressor seizes, belt gets chewed.

Compressor holding the clutch on, just continues to work the compressor needlessly. Not saying it couldn't lead to a compressor failure later.

Would it make a difference if I turn the vent fan off before parking?

[insomniak]

I've had the tensioner gurgle in my '10 GX for years. Other than the annoying noise I don't find any reason to fix it? Or am I just riding in a ticking time bomb :(

[416GXM3]

The gurgling noise is normally the tensioner pulley. Could also be the actual tensioner. 416GXM3

Or were you taking about an AC gurgle?

the gurgle is not from the AC but where the belts are in the engine on the left hand side. usually gurgles at 1500-2000 rpm

[Reddie1337]

the gurgle is not from the AC but where the belts are in the engine on the left hand side. usually gurgles at 1500-2000 rpm

Then I would most likely say the pulley is the culprit.

[Captain Mazda]

I haven't heard it once since I started making sure the fan dial was at 0 before parking the car for the night.

[Reddie1337]

I haven't heard it once since I started making sure the fan dial was at 0 before parking the car for the night.

That's probably because it would be the AC making it happen. If the heater controls aren't on, then the compressor will not kick in.

[Captain Mazda]

Aye, thanks to staax for narrowing it down for me. Does that mean my AC won't die on me? ^_^

[staax]

Captain Mazda

AC won't die on you out of the blue... you should hear that grinding noise getting louder and louder.

AFAIK, the AC CLUTCH (which I believe to be the source of the problem) is engaged when

1) You have the AC turned on and the fan on
2) You have the the front defrost and fan on

Test the above by setting the controls to blow at your feet/face and see if it makes the noise... it shouldn't.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong here, but the AC clutch is engaged when the defrost is on to keep it actively used in the cooler months, to help prevent it from seizing.

This is how it operates on many cars that use a single belt to drive all accessories... this Mazda is my first vehicle that uses a separate belt to drive the AC compressor directly off the crank so I cannot confirm my above statement. All my other vehicles (02 Dakota, 02 Corolla, 04 Grand Prix) all used a single belt & clutch engaged with defrost on.

In summary, the gurgling/rattling noise between 1500-2000 RPM I believe is the tensioner pulley (see my video).

The grinding noise that occurs after start up (if AC/defrost is on) is your AC compressor.

[sarujo]

staax Have you changed both the tensioner pulley and your belts yet? The Gates all metal pulley only costs about $20 from NAPA

[staax]

I've only replaced the belt so far, but I should replace the pulley too.

[sarujo]

I've only replaced the belt so far, but I should replace the pulley too.

Weather is good now..no more excuses... ;)

[staax]

Weather is good now..no more excuses... ;)

I know, I know... bought the Mazda because something new was breaking on my truck every 2 weeks (13 year old truck though).

Now, I've swapped the tires on about 4 different vehicles and I'm not done yet, mother's vehicle needs brakes, and now I gotta swap the pulley (should only take 5 mins though).