[jmwan]

Hi,

I just got my MS6 about a week ago and am in the process of "experiencing" it. I haven't had the chance to drive it too much but I must have put around 300kms (about 200miles) on it by now. I had a question about something I experienced today and I was wondering if it was part of what is considered normal or not with an MS6. Please keep in mind that I have been driving a "gentle" 4cyl honda accord for the past 7 years. Hence the reason why I need to hear about other MS6 owners' experience.

I was on the highway at about 110km/hr (68miles/hr) in 6th gear. The highway was generally flat and I was gently increasing my speed. I noticed that there was some slight vibration as I was gently pushing on the gas pedal. The vibration seemed to be throughout the car. I did the same but in 5th gear but there was much less vibration (it felt normal to me). Would anybody know if this is normal for an MS6?

The vibration is not outrageous as in "I am turning into a milk shake" but rather something that I am personally not used to.

Is it due to the 6th gear being more sluggish than the 5th gear?

Things to consider is that the car currently has winter tires on and they are 225/50/17 as opposed to the regular 215/45/18. Not sure if that makes a difference but I thought I'd mentioned it.

Or maybe it is the wheels being unbalanced? (although if they are unbalanced, the slight vibration should be the same in 5th and 6th, right?)

Thanks!!

 

[Dephect]

The slight vibration you feel is boosting before the powerband. High load, low RPM. Read the sticky for "noobs". Car does not like to be boosted below 3k rpm. This car will hit full boost at about 2500rpm. I don't suggest any acceleration in 6th gear, rather downshift. For spirited highway driving, take it down to 4th. I personally don't use 6th gear till 70+mph and never use it to accelerate. Once again, the stickies are your friend as there is a few things that this car is very particular about.

 

[bmorrisj]

make sure your tires arent too worn... crappy factory alignment + worn tires = all bad

 

[IHeartGroceries]

Agreed that it sounds like the shudder/vibration experienced when hitting the trottle in high gear/low RPM.

 

[jeb8699]

before i got on this forum and started doing research i didnt know about boosting under 3 grand but i never felt anything out of the ordinary with it when doing so

 

[RayDog26]

they are right tho if you plan to accelerate quick you want to be around 3k rpm for the most response and less strain on engine. i learned that quick when i first got my car. it will eventually move if you try it the other way but its sluggish and prolly not good for motor. a proper wheel alignment is also key for less vibration. i just had mine done with my older tires that came with car because previous owner hit a pot hole and destroyed a tire and killed my alignment. tires are still out of balance between 80-90 mph tho. i need 4 new ones.

 

[jmwan]

Thanks for the answers everybody!

What i am experiencing happens during gentle accelerations (not boosting) or while keeping the speed constant at about 65miles/hr.

The wheels where properly (within specs) aligned a few days ago. I don't have a copy of the alignment results but will get one and post it here.

Maybe the wheels are not properly balanced? I'll ask the dealership to check that next week. I want to do some more driving with it.

Or maybe it's just me not being used to a car like the MS6, coming from an Accord.

I will keep "discovering" the car. So far I like it. Lots of power, stability and good traction with the AWD (it's snowing quite a bit at the moment).

 

[RayDog26]

so if i am understanding correctly your talking about the sluggish feeling and vibration you get when gently pushing down on the gas in 5th or 6th gear while cruising around 65mph. if that is the case then it sounds like your accelerating at too low of an rpm. i have done that before especially when i first got the car. if i doesn't vibrate any other time except that then that would be your issue.

 

[Speed135]

I know what guys are talking about as far as slow increase of speed under 3K RPM. I have felt it and didn't consider it a vibration, more like engine stumble/shudder, one time three violent jerks with loud noise each time at about 65 doing slow speed increase to pass on interstate. Vibration talked about sounds like back tires out of balance because of whole car vibration. Dump the clutch at 70 and see if vibration is still there.

 

[RayDog26]

regardless if it was front or back tire being out of balance or what not wouldn't you still feel it in the steering wheel ? i never had issues with any of my tires **knock on wood**

 

[jmwan]

I think i understand what you guys mean by the sluggish feeling and vibration you get when gently pushing down on the gas in 5th or 6th gear (accelerating at too low rpm). I have to say, I am honestly not sure if that is what I am feeling.

Without having driven the cars for a long time, it does feel like a vibration on 6th gear (not so much 5th gear). Maybe I am just using the wrong words to describe what I am feeling.

I'll try playing with the cluth at 70 miles/hr to see what happens, as speeed135 suggested.

Bmorrisj, I've checked my tires and they look in pretty good shape. I haven't checked the tire pressure though and I am not sure if it would be on the high or low side.

I guess one of the better ways to tell is to find somebody in town who also owns a MS6 and have that person drive mine to see if everything feels normal. Any responsible MS6 owner in Calgary willing to take a test drive? . I am open to discussion.

Also, I'll try to post a video on youtube so you guys can tell me if everything sounds normal. If there is something I should be concerned about, I'd rather have it dealt with now (since I just bought the car) by the dealership instead of waiting months.

 

[Dephect]

If it's under cruising as well as acceleration, then either your tires are out of balance (most likely) or you have a bad bearing (not as likely, but then again both my fronts had to be replaced at 30k). Does it make any noise? like a humming that changes pitch? Like a wobble sound? If the tires have been rotated or changed recently, they could have made a booboo while putting them back on. Check your lugs.


EDIT: bent rim is another possiblity. I hit a brick like a month after I bought the car and it bent my rim. It now hums/wobbles. I've been driving like that for about 6 months, but I'm having it repaired within the week. Better than dishing out for a dealership replacement ~$600 or trying my luck at finding someone to part with 1 stocker. Jack the car up and take off the rear wheels and lay them flat. flip it over and do the same but be gentle. If they are even slightly bent, you'll get nasty vibration and a lulling humming sound.

 

[cat3600]

Thanks for the answers everybody!

What i am experiencing happens during gentle accelerations (not boosting) or while keeping the speed constant at about 65miles/hr.

The wheels where properly (within specs) aligned a few days ago. I don't have a copy of the alignment results but will get one and post it here.

Maybe the wheels are not properly balanced? I'll ask the dealership to check that next week. I want to do some more driving with it.

Or maybe it's just me not being used to a car like the MS6, coming from an Accord.

I will keep "discovering" the car. So far I like it. Lots of power, stability and good traction with the AWD (it's snowing quite a bit at the moment).

I have a feeling this has nothing to do with the wheels or the kind of acceleration in boost etc. in my opinion some the answers just dont add up!!

OP while my car has the differential/transfer case hum, I have driven speed 6 with the vibration you are talking about. Its there sometimes at certain speeds & frequencies.

This other persons car I had for a couple of days, had this vibration a certain speeds & also at a constant cruise at around 120 km/hr. However it could be anything your drive shaft or more likely differential, I have had mostly rear wheel driven cars & the driveshaft or the differential would have this kind of vibration once in a while. Your options if its under warranty (still) go to a good dealer & see if the differential can be replaced under warranty, I think there was a TSB for this quite a while back. The other thing is you could change your drive shaft or have it re-balanced. A lot of times if one part is changed the resonant frequency is most likely changes & the vibration will most likely go away.

I will come right away & say that I have a lot of hum from even my gearbox at in the lower gears & all the other ones from transfer case / differential not that much of a vibration. However i do get a vibration when I am slowing down say at 120km to 80 km while taking the exit from the highway.

I have used synthetic from day one & I bought the car new. This car was not built too well by Mazda, & its a hit or miss in almost all things including all the mounts in the car. I have had 3 mazdas & love the company but I really have to say that on this car the hit & miss are just too much.

Now most likely nothing will ever break but insist to the dealer to change out the differential under warranty & see, that is if you still are under or have an extended warranty.

 

[AZSpeed6]

I have a feeling this has nothing to do with the wheels or the kind of acceleration in boost etc. in my opinion some the answers just dont add up!!

OP while my car has the differential/transfer case hum, I have driven speed 6 with the vibration you are talking about. Its there sometimes at certain speeds & frequencies.

This other persons car I had for a couple of days, had this vibration a certain speeds & also at a constant cruise at around 120 km/hr. However it could be anything your drive shaft or more likely differential, I have had mostly rear wheel driven cars & the driveshaft or the differential would have this kind of vibration once in a while. Your options if its under warranty (still) go to a good dealer & see if the differential can be replaced under warranty, I think there was a TSB for this quite a while back. The other thing is you could change your drive shaft or have it re-balanced. A lot of times if one part is changed the resonant frequency is most likely changes & the vibration will most likely go away.

I will come right away & say that I have a lot of hum from even my gearbox at in the lower gears & all the other ones from transfer case / differential not that much of a vibration. However i do get a vibration when I am slowing down say at 120km to 80 km while taking the exit from the highway.

I have used synthetic from day one & I bought the car new. This car was not built too well by Mazda, & its a hit or miss in almost all things including all the mounts in the car. I have had 3 mazdas & love the company but I really have to say that on this car the hit & miss are just too much.

Now most likely nothing will ever break but insist to the dealer to change out the differential under warranty & see, that is if you still are under or have an extended warranty.

I second what you are saying regarding the rear diff. I had a constant droaning and vibration at 65-70mph and had thought it was my tires...changed them out to new and it was still there. Brought it to the dealer and they had found it was the rear diff (thank God I had an extended warranty because it's not cheap!). Next time you are out, drive down the freeway at 65mph and pull the parking brake up one click to disengage the AWD...if it stops vibrating, it's the rear diff....if it doesn't, at least you can cross that possibility off your list!:lol:

 

[jmwan]

Thanks for your input everybody. Much appreciated.

cat3600, you are right, the slight vibration is sometimes there and sometimes not. I haven't figured out when exactly it happens though. I guess I need more driving.

I haven't heard about pulling the handbrake one click while driving to disengagne the AWD. Is there no risk of damaging anything when doing that?

I do have 3 years warranty left powertrain and electrical/steering/suspension, etc. (10 months from Mazda and extended for the rest).

Dephect, I didn't pay particular attention to any noise but I don't recall of anything in particular. I will make sure to listen carefully next time I am out, which is in 15mins!!

Would anybody have seen the TSB about the rear differential by any chance? I can't seem to be able to find it.

 

[Dephect]

Engaging the handbrake will not harm anything at all. 1 click disengages power to the rear, making it essentially a FWD. Lots of people here have driven hundreds of miles until they could afford to repair/replace their rear diff.