2007 Mazda 3 weird harmonic noise

[Greggy_D]

Had this problem start up earlier in the year and I can't figure it out.

Starting at about 20mph, I hear a harmonic, rhythmic sound emanating from the front of the car. It increases in frequency the faster the car goes. At first I thought the tires were out of balance. Nope, sound remained after balance. The tires were also rotated. The sound did not follow the tires from the front to back after rotation.

Then I thought the alignment might have been off. Nope. Had all four wheels checked and they were in spec. All suspension items were checked and were fine. Front wheel bearings were fine also.

Any ideas?

 

[Eddie]

What type of noise? Is the noise synced with anything?

 

[Greggy_D]

It sounds like a tire is out of balance or weird tire road noise. Like a low rhythmic growling/whirring. It starts at 20mph and is present up to 80mph.

I'll have to see if my voice recorder will pick it up.

 

[mechtech2]

Drive belts or exhaust can do this.

 

[bulwnkl]

OK, old thread, but this is a tire noise. Many Mazdas suffer from it. Combination of the Toyo tires and the alignment. Mazda runs both negative camber and significant toe-in at the rear on some models, and that seems to perturb the tires. Some people buy new tires and don't report that the sound returns even after a long time. Others buy tires and change the alignment and don't report that the sound returns.

Our 5 has had this problem for quite a while, as has every other 5 owner I've read/heard from.

Try new tires.

 

[nicholas]

Hi

I had this humming/winning noise that would increase and decrease with the speed of the engine - it turned out to be the timing belt tensioner, dealer replaced it.

pop you hood , have someone rev the engine and see if you can hear the noise , it would go up and down with the throttle.

anyway - just a FYI . - could be your tensioner - many on the forum boards have experienced this as well.