Mazda 6 rattling at rear--help?

[docRFD]

Hoping for any input, or any shared experiences.

My 5 month old Mazda 6, with 2400kms only on it, has a rattling/squeaking sound concentrated over the rear flushboard, or where the rear windshield meets the interior of the car. It manifests only when the car is cold or newly used in the morning, as I drive through concrete roads (asphalt is smoother). Once the car has been parked in the sun for hours, the rattling disappears (expansion of joints? expansion of plastics/wood?). I've taken it to Mazda QA & after two whole days of diagnosis, all they did was tighten the body bolts, which did not solve the problem. The rattling started as a light tapping as if heavy raindrops would fall on the rear windshield, but lately, it has increased in intensity & strung together, making it more of a squeaking, "langitngit" sound.

Would really appreciate any help!! Mazda QA claims they submitted a "product concern report" & I will have to wait for a reply!! The car is just 5 months old!!!

[kyle618]

sir,

is this the new mazda 6? or the old body? we have the old body 2.3L mazda 6 and i was getting the rattling sound when we first got the car... at first it wasnt that strong but it stronger as time went by. rattling sound siya sa rear right happens on uneven surfaces. however it went away when i went to the SCTEX fun run last week. so far it has been quiet... dont know what happened but its gone

id suggest look at the seatbelt thingies at the back of headrests of the rear seats... maluwag siya dati sa akin and i had them fixed at mazda gh. ginawa naman nila. hope this helps.

sa totoo, ive been hearing some more small rattling and the mazda 6 is not as sturdy sounding as my friend's civic. i guess mazda quality is upto par with honda yet. but it's still atleast 5x times more fun to drive than my friend's civic. hehe

[docRFD]

Thank you so much Kyle for that quick reply. We have the same Mazda6 old body. I actually had my brother drive my car, while I sat in the backseat, pinapalo ko yung flushboard, trying to find the source, to no avail. Yung sinasabi mong seatbelt thingie, yun ba yung metal harness behind the rear headrests? I've tried tightening that, but will check again. It's just so frustrating kasi nga, wala pang 6mos ang kotse, me ganito na; tapos mukang hirap din ang casa to find the source. The fact na nawawala ang tunog pag nainitan ang kotse points to some expansion of parts which tightens up whatever's loose. Hay. Honestly, tama ka, parang build quality isn't up to par with Toyota's and HOnda's. Ironically, our Mazda 6 is the CBU unit from Japan, unlike the Mazda 3's.

It isn't coming from the trunk either; I've removed all tools, spare tire, even spare tire cover and the langitngit persists...

[kyle618]

hi sir,

i did that too... sobrang inis ko sa rattling i took out everything in the trunk and drove around but the sound was still there. i even asked our boy to sit in the rear ryt while i drove around and he said it was coming from the rear right nga. i really don't know what made it stopped. ive had that rattling sound ever since around august last yr till a few weeks ago b4 the sctex run. it probably fixed itself while i was going at 215kph+. oo nakakainis to think its CBU from japan and ganito un quality. although to be fair the mazda 3 doesnt sound as solid as my friend's civic din BUT there is no rattling at the rear like what we've experienced. i suggest approaching mazda gh. ok service nila. di ko lang nadadala sa mazda gh kasi busy ako these days.

the seatbelt thingies un may plastic cover over the metal things. check mo kung maluwag siya kasi when u go over humps tumatalon un ... pero its unlikely na yan un problem mo. i hope u find a solution for it. try Mazda GH or makati if QA can't fix it.

[docRFD]

dear kyle,

thanks again for the response. You're right, I tried spraying the plastic covers for the metal harness behind the rear headrests with WD40, hoping that this was the source, pero this morning, as I drove to work, the rattling sound persisted. Truly frustrating.

I do want to try out Mazda GH, pero my worry is as I said, kapag nainitan na ang kotse, nawawala ang rattling; so by the time I reach Mazda GH, most likely, wala na ako mapaparinig sa kanila.

My hope is to wait for the Mazda QA guys to have a response to their "product concern report", which they supposedly sent to some Mazda network. Until then, nilalakasan ko nalang radyo. Pathetic!!!

[v6dreamer]

Can you check the exhaust system all the way to tail pipe. Check any loose bolts, the heat shield, clamp, brackets and rubber brackets.

Rattling sometimes its hard to point where it came from, cause it creep to the whole car. Anyway, check that area but do not fix it yourself since your car still in warranty and you dont want to mess w/ it.

[ragsak]

I think I have the same problem with my Mazda 3. I have been bringing the car to Mazda QA but up to now, the problem persists and is now out of warranty. I suggest bring the car to other casa if you want this problem solved. Mazda QA is not client friendly even if I know the service manager personally.

The last diagnosis is to change the shock absorbers but they will not guarantee that the rattle will disappear.

[nightshifter]

I have a 2004 Mazda 3 and I also observe a rattling sound on the rear right side (i think).

I have already removed things from my compartment but it persisted.

In my case however, hot or cold, the rattles are there.

I also suspect that it could be the shock absorber since it seemed busted (namamasa na) although the there's no noticable change or problem in the handling. I am also suspecting the o-rings or the holder of the muffler.

Since my car is already out of warrantee, i'll have my suking mekaniko check it out soon.

I'll let you guys know once we find and fix it (hopefully).

Meanwhile please keep your inputs coming. As the TS stated, although it has no negative effect on the cars efficiency and safety, it's irritating and frustrating.

thanks!

[kyle618]

even if the rattling went away. i brought the car to mazda gh kanina. i hope they can identify the problem so that hindi na bumalik un rattling sound at the rear right.

[1D4LV]

how bout the shock mounts? or your coil springs? baka busted na yung rubber insulator ng springs.

[docRFD]

To everyone who chipped in with their own opinions & advice.

Mazda QA solved the problems, after a week of persistent searching and patient examination (and a tank of gas' worth of roadtesting!), the rattling at the rear was traced to a clip attached to the rear windshield, which was tapping against the metal body of the M6. The loud dribbling kalampag up front, on the right side, was finally eliminated by replacing the right front shock absorber. Many many many thanks to the guys at Mazda QA, Jun, Dani, Marvin, Leo, Sherwin, Bryan who patiently withstood my queries and occasional outbursts in frustration. Buti nalang naka warranty pa lahat! Special thanks too to Juggy who kept his finger on the button the whole time.

And now, I can finally enjoy the beauty, speed, handling and overall ownership of my Mazda 6.

Hay salamat!!!

[docRFD]

To everyone who chipped in with their own opinion & advice.

Mazda QA solved the problems, after a week of persistent searching and patient examination (and a tank of gas' worth of roadtesting!), the rattling at the rear was traced to a clip attached to the rear windshield, which was tapping against the metal body of the M6. The loud dribbling kalampag up front, on the right side, was finally eliminated by replacing the right front shock absorber. Many many many thanks to the guys at Mazda QA, Jun, Dani, Marvin, Leo, Sherwin, Bryan who patiently withstood my queries and occasional outbursts in frustration. Buti nalang naka warranty pa lahat! Special thanks too to Juggy who kept his finger on the button the whole time.

And now, I can finally enjoy the beauty, speed, handling and overall ownership of my Mazda 6.

Hay salamat!!!

[kyle618]

wow congrats doc!, i know how it feels to drive while there is rattling behind... its super annoying. nakakahiya pa for your passengers since it's still a new car. now you can drive peacefully . i had mine checked the other day, hopefully hindi na bumalik un rattling sound. halos 6 months ko rin tiniis un haha.

sir, if u have the time sali ka sa clubmazda3.org ... para may kasama akong mazda 6 dun haha.

[NickOZ]

Hello docRFD I was wondering if you could please help me. I have a 2007 Mazda 6 in Australia which I think has the same rattle as you had in yours. I have been to Mazda and they could not find it so reading your post about the clip rattling near the rear windshield sounds exactly where mine is coming from. Can you please tell me where to find this clip so I can tell Mazda here when it goes for service next week. I would really appreciate your help. Thanks again