weird cold weather issue

[chufa]

Today it is super cold here. it is close to zero Fahrenheit with 35-50 mph winds and wind chills of -30. My car ('08 Mazdaspeed 3) is making weird bottoming out noises, like if I was dragging a branch or something from underneath. I pulled over 3 times, and inspected the bottom, but there is nothing! The noises seem to come from the front end, over bumpy surfaces, and diminish when the car warms up. I also checked for ice but could not see any. Has anyone else expecienced this?

[sparkplug]

Yes my car does the same. I am in northern Ontario Canada and I even get the squeaks from the suspension like if something needs oil. But once the weather warms up to -4 it goes away but once things are bellow -10 to -15 the car gets really ugly with noise from the suspension. There was a discussion on this a while back. Do a search on it and you will see there are quite a few people in the cold climats that have this issue.

Once the weather is warmer the car runs perfect so it does not seem to harm things but it sure is anoying since my nice new car sounds like a jaloppy in the cold.

[chufa]

Thanks. I assume your temps are Celsius?

[#sand]

Mine does the same thing below ~20F. My 04 3GT (sold) and my Mazda 5 do the same thing. There's a TSB on the 5 regarding sway bar bushings and lower control arms. My 5 has been to the dealer and parts are on order. My MS3 hasn't gotten too bad so far but I anticipate it may next year. In the TSB, the dealer is not only supposed to replace the sway bar bushings but also to put some lithium soap grease on them. Haven't seen a TSB on the MS3 for this but if it gets worse, I may grease the bushings myself....once the weather warms up.

[HiggyGT]

Mine is the same way. Right around the -10C the suspension gets all the same noises. The first time I got the "crunch" from the front suspension I thought I ran something over. Once the car warms up and the suspension moves around a bit it goes away.

[MidwestSpeed3]

Same thing happened to me for the first time a few weeks ago. Scared the crap out of me at first. Seems to happen if the car sits in <20F for a bit. goes away after a few minutes of driving though.

[Dream]

Same here, 08 MS3 GT. The car is at the dealer right now and they say they are replacing the front and rear sway bar bushings.

[Craighjr]

I got the same thing I figured my FMIC pipe was bumping around. I will add that to my dealer bitch list.

[evo2ms3]

Yeah...it happened to me once. On the first real cold morning of the year. Drove about 100 feet getting in and out of my car to find nothing. Just as I was about to call a tow truck, it just went away. Wierd.

[uncletime]

mine does the same thing.... its annoying but i just turn the music up until it goes away.

[subparpunk03]

People were not meant to live in such absurdly, ridiculously cold temperatures. Move farther south you lunatics!

[WildChild]

Common problem, my car also does this.

[MX6toMS3]

Good thing I live in Houston then.

[astraelraen]

My CX7 does the same thing and its only got 4000 miles on it, its been squeaking all winter since temps got below 30/40F. It goes away if it warms up >40F usually, so the dealer says its normal. Its just the suspension components Mazda uses I guess.

My wife's new 2008 Legacy doesn't squeak at all :(

[Moonpie.Express]

People were not meant to live in such absurdly, ridiculously cold temperatures. Move farther south you lunatics!

HAHA (nuts)

[wolverine_man]

When I start my car up in the morning (its pretty cold here in MI), I put it into reverse or drive and there is this irritating crunching like noise. It feels just like as if you had snow or ice caked up in your wheel well and your front tires are scraping. But I always clear that out, sot that can't be the culprit. It does this even after I drive for short while and get to the first stop light.

It does go away eventually though, even when it is really cold out. I notice it most when downshifting to first gear or going from a stop to first gear. It is the most irritating sound to me. Like packed snow crunching under your boots. Ugghh.

[jay579]

I have the same problem. I noticed the sound the other day when my car sat outside at for an extended period of time when it was around ~5 degrees( I usually garage mine). I called the dealer today and I am taking it in tomorrow. It's not as cold in detroit right now, so I hope the dealer doesn't pull the usual "cannot recreate the problem" line.

[jbiird317]

anyone get answers from the dealer on this yet? I get this on really cold days when i back out of the driveway. Sounds almost like I'm grinding gears but I am fully in gear and not running over anything...

[jay579]

I'll post when I get an answer from the dealer.

[henderan]

Wow, same symptoms for my car... at least Mazda is consistent

[henderan]

Just called Morries Mazda out of Minnetonka, MN and they indicate this is the bushings of the sway bars. Only on the Speed3 have they seen this, haven't heard from the "regular 3". There have no recalls on this and do not believe it to be a problem, just annoyance.

[wolverine_man]

Mine is a "regular" 3.

[jay579]

Just got my car my car back from the dealer and nothing much was done. It's been in the 40's and the car needs temps in the 0-15 range to make the noise. The dealer pulled the usual "cannot replicate the problem..." line. I asked the dealer to grease the sway bar bushings, which is the most likely culprit and they didn't. I'm a bit annoyed; the service advisor really blew me off.

At this point I am going to take care of the bushings myself. No big deal, not a difficult procedure. But I do want opinions, whats better; white lithium grease or wrapping the sways with Teflon tape right where the bushing meets the metal of the sway?

Thanks all!

[silvershark]

jay579, what dealership do you go through? I got my 08 MS3 GT from Suburban in Farmington Hills. They're pretty nice there but I haven't brought this problem up to them....yet.

[Dream]

The dealer put new sway bar bushing on my car and it has seemed to cure the problem. It was -10 here in the twin cities this morning and no noises.

[jay579]

jay579, what dealership do you go through? I got my 08 MS3 GT from Suburban in Farmington Hills. They're pretty nice there but I haven't brought this problem up to them....yet.

I went to Ralph Thayer in Livonia. Both the service adviser and tech thought I was crazy for even implying the problem could be with the sway bushings.