Engine Rattle - Memo from Mazda Canada
 

Customer may experience an engine rattle under light to moderate acceleratoin with engine coolant temps below 41.5 deg C and engine rpm's between 1500 to 2500.

Comfirm noise only occurs within VTCS( Variable Tumble Control system) operation "value closed" period (when ECT is below 41.5 deg C)


The noise is a result of the intentional swirl that is generated when the VTCS plates are closed. This swirl accelerates the burning speed of the air/fuel mixture of efficient combustion and enhanced engine performance during cold engine coolant temperatures and low engine RPM operation periods.

Although the noise does not have a negative affect on the engine and disappears once the engine coolant reaches 41.5 deg C, Mazda realizes that is it an annoyance to some customers, therefore mazda is investigating new tuning standards in an effort to address customer dissatisfaction.

Until the new standard is available no repair attempts should be made.

That's good to get a response from Mazda finally. Before everyone starts flaming Mazda and calling them and the Pros pieces of crap, I wonder if the mods can make this post a sticky so others can find it easily?

Dale.

This is very similar to a technical bulletin Mazda put out back in September of LAST YEAR, and someone posted it here. I wonder how hard they're actually trying to correct the problem.

Go down to the 7th post
http://www.protegeclub.com/forum/sho...highlight=VTCS

Yes, they've been saying this for a while. My dealer printed out the exact same bulletin for me when I asked about the noise at my last service in June. Either it isn't easy to fix or it ain't worth dedicating much effort to fixing.

my dealer says "it's supposed to be noisy. All 4 cylenders are noisy"

Morons

It's All B.S.
 

The claim that Mazda is pursuing avenues of resolution to the engine rattle problem is total and complete bullshit. We've all known about this issue for over a year, and Mazda, as noted by others, has said something about it in an old service bulletin. It's been the same old story over the course of that year: "Yeah, we're looking into a fix!". Right.

Given that this doesn't present a safety issue and doesn't appear to effect engine longevity or reliability, this is purely an issue of customer annoyance, and Mazda doesn't care about that; nor will they opt to ever do ANYTHING about it. They know this engine is to be phased out anyway-- Besides that, they likely can't afford a full scale repair campaign--

The bottom line is Mazda screwed up. To their credit, this is a very reliable engine, but that's where its merits end. Beyond that, the FS-DE is noisy, inefficient (compared to engines from Honda, Nissan, and Toyota), weak, and based on antiquated, old-ass engine technology.

I'm really dying to see how the new MZR engines stack up. For all of Mazdas claims to the contrary about how quiet their new engine is, I'm still hearing in reviews of the Mazda6 that engine noise is still an issue. I guess Mazda has a different definition of what "quiet" is compared to the rest of the auto industry...

Ok ok.....

i'm new and not familiar with all those tech vocabulary.

Does it happens to automatic transmission?

I got a new 2003 p5 1 week ago....and it's automatic.

Thanks!

Yes it will still happen to yoo.

It doesn't seem to happen to everyone though. If you read around previous threads on this subject, you'll see some people with the 2.0L's say they aren't affected. In any case, it's just an annoyance and doesn't pose any threat.

thanks noodles,

Finally, I just got my pro a month ago and everytime I start it up in the morning, I'm afraid to drive it because it sounds so awful. I always let it warm up for a few minutes before I go but I guess now I don't need to. :rolleyes: thanks for the info.

When I went in for a oil change I was talking to the service tech about this and he said that there is a noise and Mazda knows about it. he was saying that alot of the protege's around here have been having the same problem, but its not damaging the engine so don't worry about it. He said that there is something(possible fix) that will be coming down in November dealing with this.

EXCELLENT! Thanks for the update. If they might have a fix by next month, I wonder if they've fixed the problem on 2003 models. Anyone with a 2003 have the problem?

Sure glad Mazda is aware!!!
 

It is pretty freaking annoying, but as long as Mazda knows about it, hopefully they will do something about it. Meanwhile, lets wait......

I too took my P5 into the dealer for its 15,000 Mile tune-up. I told them about the rattle at low rpm's and they didn't seem to know anything about it. Then I told them to look around on their forums for the post and they came back with a pretty similar print out. The only difference wuz they used 149 degrees F instead of 41.5 C.

Go figure. I'm just glad they are aware of it and are trying to fix this!

SHOULD ALSO MENTION THAT MP3 does not have it because it does not have VTCS
 

SHOULD ALSO MENTION THAT MP3 does not have it because it does not have VTCS.

That's why not everybody has the problem.

If it gets to annoying I just disconnect the vaccuum hose to it and plug the hose.