I’ve tried searching but I’m sure what to call them.
I think I dropped a tool down one of them.
I’m missing a 7mm wrench and I hear something rattling around against metal when I drive the car but I can’t find it. I’m thinking maybe it fell down one of those vents? Not sure where else the rattle could be coming from.

 

Did you take the cowl off? It houses the wiper transmission. There are also ducts that supply fresh air.

 

I will try and take that off tonight and see what I see.

it sounds like what ever is rattling around is down inside the passenger side fender. But I can’t imagine that all being open or it would fill up with water.

 

Well I think if found the rattle. Bushings in the idler arm are gone…

 

Well I think if found the rattle. Bushings in the idler arm are gone…

 

Those bushings are still available from Mazda, part 1524-32-329B

 

I rebuilt/refurbed a 1979 this past spring and when I inspected the steering those bushing where completely gone from the arm. Not a bit could be found. Only took 10 minutes to replace. Make sure to put a liberal amount of bearing grease inside.

 

yeah its super easy. get as many extensions as you have, open hood, loosen nut. push down, install bushings, tighten nut, close hood
if you wanted to clean and paint obviously its harder cause you need to pull it all off

 

Thanks all. Bushing kit ordered. Already removed and cleaned. Arm seems in good shape.