Whirling sound at around 2K
 

Hi guys, I hope someone has the same problem. I posted a comment on this other forum, but I don't see much activity.

My car has a whirling noise when the engine is in gear (auto) and the rpm's are around 2K. I can reproduce it by holding the brake and revving the engine. It's a bit high pitched and I can hear it more inside than out (maybe because of all of the other engine noise going on). It happens also while cruising, so I can deduce it happens in every gear. It doesn't happen in park.

I'd see if you can have your head under the hood to see where it's originating... could be a sharp edge in the air intake, or an exhaust heat shield vibration- narrow down the location and write back.

I posted this awhile back...sound familiar??

Hi everyone, I was wondering if anyone has had this problem/ or has a suggestion for me.
The car does this in both warm and cold temps, but it's more noticeable while cold. I notice a noise, which sounds like it's coming from the engine compartment, that sounds like a squeal or even a gurgle. I hear this in addition to the normal engine noise, it's almost in the background. It typically happens when the engine is between 1500 and 2000 rpms, only when accelerating. Once I get above 2000 rpms, the noise vanishes. The vehicle only makes the noise while in gear and driving, if I rev it in the driveway, I don't hear it. I took the car to the dealer last week, and after an hour of driving and inspecting it, they claimed they couldn't reproduce the noise.

I've been told it's the TENSIONER PULLEY. Replacement is relatively inexpensive. Just haven't tried it yet....

Not sure what year your mazda is, but there was a recall on some tensioner pulleys that would crack apart... it should be noticable visually if you just move it by hand. And yes, it's an easy repair as well.
Same advice as I gave the post above, reproduce the noise and put your head under the hood to see if you can tell where it's coming from. They have stethoscopes for cars too - or just use a rubber hose to your ear.

thanks guys,
Do you think this one will be a good replacement?

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par...ntifier=634079

or this one:

thats an idler pully, the above posted that it could be the tensioner pully. it could be either and personally if your going to replace the tensioner i would go ahead and do the idler aswel while the belts off. try using the stethascope or long screwdriver(dont do the screwdriver unless you know what your doing) and check all the pullys. or try the wd40 trick by LIGHYLY spraying each pully with wd40 (with the direction straw). if it is a pully and you hit it with a lil wd it will quiet up quick.

Hello everyone, I've been considering a P5 on and off for a few years and now just may get one! I have one question though: does anyone make a reasonably-quiet aluminum exhaust for this car? I live in NY and we salt the roads like the fields of Carthage and having an exhaust that wouldn't corrode through every few years would be nice!

Aaron - first - this isn't the proper location for your question... and I know i've seen a couple other posts about an alumnum exhaust - so do a search. BTW, go stainless or titanium, aluminum will corrode quicker in the salt in most cases, and can't handle the heat towards the front of the car either.
Good luck

The problem with trying to listen to the noise under the hood is quite simple....You must be driving (accelerating) with the RMB's low, to reproduce said sound.

Looking for the part number for you.

I'll look for the part number tomorrow. Mazda will charge about $300 for the tensioner pulley (including labour)...to order yourself would be about $30 (for part), then u can take it to any mechanic to have it installed...to save money.