Vibration question

[Speed_Demon]

Hi guys,

I'm not the most technical person out there when it comes to cars.

I have a 2007 MS3. I have a couple questions.

I notice when I put it in 3rd and give it gas (not quite WOT but pretty close) it feels almost like it chugs a little, almost like a little sputtering. I don't know how else to describe it. It's not major but enough to bug me, is this normal? Does anyone else feel this in their vehicle? (I have no mods yet). I'm reading this stuff on the Turbo problems and I'm getting a little paro.

Also, once I get up to 100km/hr on the HWY the steering wheel starts to shake and I can feel vibration, I can't tell if any of the vibration is coming from the engine or if I just may need an allignment?

Any insight to these questions would be wonderful. This is my first Turbo car and I just started noticing these things over the last couple/few months. I never noticed them prior, I used to be amazed that I could hit 160km/hr - 190km/hr without any steering wheel vibration (yes I shouldn't go that fast but I had to see what the car could do =\)

I'd like some feedback before needlessly going to the dealer.

[mazda_gurl]

Alignment - maybe a warped rim, wheel bearing.....theres several reasons why the steering wheel shakes any.....

Since its hitting at about 100km, my money is on an alignment.......

[Donutz]

How many rpm are you at when you give it gas in 3rd?

Shaking steering wheel could be any of the above, but I would suggest getting your wheels balanced.

[JSI]

Steering wheel shake is most likely wheels our of balance or maybe warped rotors.

Jeremy

[Fuman]

Steering wheel shake is most likely wheels our of balance or maybe warped rotors.

Jeremy

warped rotors is usually only felt under braking.
likely wheels need balancing.

[JSI]

Yeah sorry I meant to say that, under braking from 100+ you would get really bad shaking if the rotors are warped.

[Speed_Demon]

re: How many rpm are you at when you give it gas in 3rd?

I would say around 3500 - 4k.

[Speed_Demon]

Yeah sorry I meant to say that, under braking from 100+ you would get really bad shaking if the rotors are warped.

Yeah, not while braking, although, the edges of the rotor? (disk) are a bit sharp and not flat, I had a guy who changes my winters (to my summers) say I should have it looked at, but I don't know, he was pretty shady... Mazda had to refinish my stock rims (they were bubling and flaking off) and they covered them under warrenty. I had them powder coat them black =)

[Fuman]

is the vibration constant above 100 km/h or only when accelerating?

[Speed_Demon]

When I brought my vehicle to Mazda to have them refinish the rims, they had to break my wheel locks because the moron that put them on used the air gun and did them so tight.

I knew I should have not skipped all my auto mechanic classes back in high school.....

[Speed_Demon]

is the vibration constant above 100 km/h or only when accelerating?

Umm, both I guess. Once I hit over 100km/hr I start feeling the vibration. I usually drive around 120 and put the cruise control on, and I still feel it.

[mazda_gurl]

When did mazda redo your rims?

They probably didnt balance them when they put them back on.

[Fuman]

Umm, both I guess. Once I hit over 100km/hr I start feeling the vibration. I usually drive around 120 and put the cruise control on, and I still feel it.

wheels likely out of balance. I recommend you to go to street performance.
Most of us go there for our mechanical needs

[Speed_Demon]

When did mazda redo your rims?

They probably didnt balance them when they put them back on.

Well, now that you mention it and I actually think about it. I did notice it a short while after that (I don't go on the highway much) so I guess I never put 2 and 2 together. They refinished the rims in May.... And I watched the service guy put them back on the car.... He didn't balance them... I guess I figured the refinishing shop (Carcones I think it was) would have done that... I probably should not assume anything. I need to get my vehicle detailed, I will have Mazda balance them then and see it that solves my problem prior to paying for an allignment or looking further into this.

I appreciate the responses everyone, thank you.

[Speed_Demon]

wheels likely out of balance. I recommend you to go to street performance.
Most of us go there for our mechanical needs

Where are they located? I'm in Markham.

[JashiK]

i'd take it to a recommended mazda dealer if you're still in warranty in case something else is up.
you should call up your dealer to see if they re-balanced your wheels after refinishing them because it could very well be that they weren't re-balanced.

[Fuman]

Where are they located? I'm in Markham.

14th and woodbine i'll PM you his cell phone #

If it is just the wheel that need balancing, dealer won't cover it.

[Speed_Demon]

14th and woodbine i'll PM you his cell phone #

If it is just the wheel that need balancing, dealer won't cover it.

Thx! Yeah, they already covered the refinishing, I doubt they would also cover the balancing and I doubt they did rebalance them. I will call Markham Mazda and see if they kept that info in the system.

[Fobio]

From what I've read:

1. Vibrating at a certain speed, is indicative of unbalanced wheels.
2. Over-torqued (over-tightened) wheels/rotors could contribute to warpped rotors.

Just get them rebalanced and perhaps an alignment as well. If you're not shaking under braking then your rotors should be fine. Good luck.

[Speed_Demon]

From what I've read:

1. Vibrating at a certain speed, is indicative of unbalanced wheels.
2. Over-torqued (over-tightened) wheels/rotors could contribute to warpped rotors.

Just get them rebalanced and perhaps an alignment as well. If you're not shaking under braking then your rotors should be fine. Good luck.

Thanks. =]

[Speed_Demon]

I did call Mazda and they said Carcones wouldn't have balanced them and I know for a fact (as I watched them unpack the rims/tires and put them on my car) that Mazda did not either... You would think that would be standard practice, to balance them... The service person was nice on the phone but said they don't know if Mazda would cover the balancing 4 months after the fact (again I don't drive on the hwy often so I never noticed for a while) but I will go in and speak with the service manager who has been nice to me in the past and see if they will do it or give some form of discount (they want $70 to balance all 4).

I did call Jimmy and he was super nice and gave me a better quote. If Mazda won't help/give a better price (or do it for free as I feel they should have balanced them after refinishing the rims), I'll take it to Jimmy.

Thanks again all!

[cy88]

I notice when I put it in 3rd and give it gas (not quite WOT but pretty close) it feels almost like it chugs a little, almost like a little sputtering. I don't know how else to describe it. It's not major but enough to bug me, is this normal? Does anyone else feel this in their vehicle? (I have no mods yet). I'm reading this stuff on the Turbo problems and I'm getting a little paro.

Looks like this question got left out lol.

I experienced that too and I was being told that it's hesitation.

[Fobio]

Looks like this question got left out lol.

I experienced that too and I was being told that it's hesitation.

Untuned MS3's (stock) have pretty peaky trq delivery thru-out the rev range. The hesitations you guys experience are from changes in timing and fuel delivery (amongst other things, including gear-specific "commanded load") through out the rev range. Throttle position/curve is also not as linear as you may think...

Let's just say all of these issues are being addressed by the AP. Guys have even taken to adjusting the throttle to 1:1...meaning you step 25% in, you get 25% thorttle...this, surprisingly (or not) is not how the car is setup stock. A novel idea is that you can tune strictly for driveability...

[Speed_Demon]

Thank you for that explaination.

[cy88]

Untuned MS3's (stock) have pretty peaky trq delivery thru-out the rev range. The hesitations you guys experience are from changes in timing and fuel delivery (amongst other things, including gear-specific "commanded load") through out the rev range. Throttle position/curve is also not as linear as you may think...

Let's just say all of these issues are being addressed by the AP. Guys have even taken to adjusting the throttle to 1:1...meaning you step 25% in, you get 25% thorttle...this, surprisingly (or not) is not how the car is setup stock. A novel idea is that you can tune strictly for driveability...

Thanks for the explaination Fobio