This is a sort of rant. Many of you may know i don't get mad and i always just say things happen ect ect.. BUT i am in awe at what appears to be a lack of cold weather testing done on the MS3 by Mazda. I am not kidding, every fucking time the temperature dips bellow 30 degrees my car's shocks are fucking worthless. They make the most awful noises. It sounds like there is no oil in them, as if its just metal on metal sliding over one another. I plan on recording the noise so i can show Mazda because frankly that is fucking rediculous. Now like i said, sometimes on occasion things don't work properly in extreme coditions (like temp), but my old 3 NEVER, ever made a sound when it was cold. I had my old 3 through the winter of '06/'07 and had driven it many, many times in temps bellow 30 degrees, even bellow -1 and not once did it make the same terrible squeeking like sounds.

Even through the winter of last year, my speed never once made such awful sounds. Drove it many many times in temps under 30 degrees, and often in the mountains at even lower temps and not once did it make a noise. And fucking now every fucking imprefection in the road makes it sound like the car is going to fall apart. And holy shit, if i drive over a speed bump, or a little dip in the road, it makes a FUCKING noise like you have never heard before! All 4 courners sound as if they bottom out and the internals of the shock are being mashed up and then shot out the top....

And don't get me started about the worthless fucking transmision that Mazda felt would suit such and otherwise awesome car! Its a massive hunk of worthless shit. I don't think i have ever once driven my speed without cursing the trany to hell!

I love love love my speed but fuck do i hate my trany and the suspension in cold weather.

Thanks for listening, i needed to get it off my chest. Thoughts?

ps. to anyone who feels like replying for me to sell my car if i don't like it, go.... you know. I never once said i dislike my car, i absolutly love my car, just dislike those two things. (Sorry if that was mean, i just want to make sure everything is clear) Ty

/end rant.

damn dude thats rough. Our B6 Passat is the same way. When the temps dip, creaks and what not start popping up.

Sure it's the struts and not bushings making the noise?

My Mazdaspeed suspension has been noisy lately too. I'm thinking it's either my rear sway bar bushings or my rear struts.

I will start by saying I LOVE MY CAR too! Mine is the exact same way. My suspension is very noisey when it's cold out. My tranny, well I've had issues with it. When it's cold, can't shift into 1st gear without pushing hard on the shifter. Then on warm days the tranny pops out of second...Just a few minor things I suppose, but annoying as ever.

Hope it gets better Andrew

I was also gonna suggest greasing the sway bar bushings.

Definitely check the bushings- there is a TSB on the 5 for cold related noises (same suspension family). Drove the 5 today in the 0 degree temps and is was way squeaky again... d'oh!

For the tranny- switch to synthetic fluid. Redline MT-90 is excellent for better shift feel, esp in cold temps.

Don't worry- it'll be warm again soon!

cprtrainer wrote:
For the tranny- switch to synthetic fluid. Redline MT-90 is excellent for better shift feel, esp in cold temps.

Don't worry- it'll be warm again soon!

+1 on the Redline, I put it in this summer and have had no problems thus far in the cold weather. Good luck Andrew

MazdaTom wrote:Sure it's the struts and not bushings making the noise?

My Mazdaspeed suspension has been noisy lately too. I'm thinking it's either my rear sway bar bushings or my rear struts.

I was quick to jump to the shocks as the problem as it only occurs over bumps, uneven surfaces, and imperfections in the road/packed snow. However i am certainly not ruling out the sways, or bushings. We shall see what BS Mazda feeds me.

Storm wrote:I will start by saying I LOVE MY CAR too! Mine is the exact same way. My suspension is very noisey when it's cold out. My tranny, well I've had issues with it. When it's cold, can't shift into 1st gear without pushing hard on the shifter. Then on warm days the tranny pops out of second...Just a few minor things I suppose, but annoying as ever.

Hope it gets better Andrew

Same thing for me. Trying to get into 1st when its cold is like trying to get in bed with a Victoria Secret model, its possible, but very very hard

I have never had 2nd gear pop out on me though, so i suppose that's one thing i can be happy about....

cprtrainer wrote:Definitely check the bushings- there is a TSB on the 5 for cold related noises (same suspension family). Drove the 5 today in the 0 degree temps and is was way squeaky again... d'oh!

For the tranny- switch to synthetic fluid. Redline MT-90 is excellent for better shift feel, esp in cold temps.

Don't worry- it'll be warm again soon!

Thanks for the heads up on the TSB for the 5, i will bring that up with Mazda when i go see them. And the Redline, i will look into that.

Gmoney wrote:+1 on the Redline, I put it in this summer and have had no problems thus far in the cold weather. Good luck Andrew

Thanks for the Redline props, glad to see someone else in the area has good things to say about it!

06SpiceRed wrote:damn dude thats rough. Our B6 Passat is the same way. When the temps dip, creaks and what not start popping up.

It sucks. It just pisses me off. The noise makes me sick, its just a horrible sound.

dommo_g wrote:I was also gonna suggest greasing the sway bar bushings.

Will be looking into it. Or should i say Mazda.
------------------------------

Oh and i know Mazda is not going to do a damn thing for me unless they can "replicate" the problem, i just need to get to the dealer when its pretty cold out. Let them enjoy the beautiful symphony of screeching noises...

Colombia28 wrote:I was quick to jump to the shocks as the problem as it only occurs over bumps, uneven surfaces, and imperfections in the road/packed snow. However i am certainly not ruling out the sways, or bushings. We shall see what BS Mazda feeds me.

The sway bar will rotate and flex with any suspension movement. The only way to 100% rule out sway bar bushings is to disconnect the sway bar at both ends (or remove it completely) and then secure it so it doesn't bang.

Seeing how's it seems to be temperature related, I'm going to put my money on bushings. But don't come looking to collect if it's not!

And Red Line is some quality stuff. I have Red Line fluids in my engine and transmission- and radiator if you count the Water Wetter. Good stuff. I also have Red Line in the transmission of my manual transmission VUE. That fluid change made cold shifting MUCH easier.

Good to know about the redline. We've been wanting to change out the tranny fluid and just haven't gotten it done. Need to get it done soon though. As for today - I HATE the cold. My poor car, I tried to shift (the shifter moves) but the tranny won't shift. Guess these -18 temps suck!

I'm with you Andrew, my car was squeaking and groaning like a mofo yesterday and EVERY bump felt like there was absolutely NO suspension travel. Let me know what Mazda says, I'd like to know as well!
-G-

damn andrew, i haven't seen you this pissed since that time you walked in on me and your mom.

its the bushings...had this problem in other cars in the past that have poly bushings vs rubber...or performance rubber that is harder. It would be nice to get a fix but I just ignore it for now. But I agree, mazda never had this puppy out in the cold. Its a car-cicle on days like today...clutch is gummy, shifter is gummy, engine barely starts (mine actually died after running for 4 seconds), bushings scream on bumps and the traction control engages too late for snow (and pavement IMO, its more like burnout control...since you can still spin them). Least it handles good in the snow with snow tires

What others have said...use redline fluid for the tranny, should help a lot. It's not just the MS3 or Mazdas in general that have this problem...many transmissions are not really designed to be downshifted into 1st, no matter the speed. Now if you can't get it in first from a stop, that's another story. And I too think it's more likely to be bushings making the creaking noise than the dampers themselves. Do you experience any bump steer? (Does the steering wheel move when you're going over bumps or is it just noise?) Also, how many miles are on your car? Sport dampers like the ones on the MS3 typically wear out within 20-30k miles, especially being driven on Denver roads. Also, to Mazda's credit I would say that MS3s are not really the type of car designed to be driven in below freezing weather

I've got Redline MT-90 in my tranny. It's definitely still gummy until it warms up a little. I don't expect warm-temp like shifting performance in the below zero temps. As far as suspension creaks, noises etc, I can say my car is devoid of those.