Warm Engine/suspension Rattle
 

Annoying thing started to happen after our trip to Duluth. After the car's been running for a bit (expecially after I've driven it hard) Upon coming to a stop, a rattle/bumping noise comes from what appears to be the driver's side of the undercaraige/motor area. WOndering what it could be. Also at times I have noticed a sound eerily similar to a loose cat cover. Could the cat cover be making the bumping noise when coming to a stop? Anyone else have an issue with the cat cover coming loose this short into the life span of the car? The last car I had this happen to was a 87 tempo with 130k on it. I think that the mazda had a bit of a qc problem wiht this model. As quite a few of us are having issues with rattles on rather new cars, it's rather disturbing.

Heat shields suck!
 

I have been putting up with a buzz/vibration from an exhaust heat shield and I plan to remove all the heat shields in the car except the one along the centre hump tomorrow. I've had 3 different heat shield rattles, one from the 90-deg. bend after the cat, one from a loose heat shield clamp (sorta like a hose clamp) and the main exhaust manifold shield. They are all going and being replaced with heat wrap/header wrap!

As far as the bumpping...see if a mechanic can look at it if you can't diagnos it...I'd have to hear it to figure it out.