So, I was topping off my coolant one day and i accidentally spilled a little over the edge of the filler neck. I just rinsed it off with some water and closed the hood. Then as i was driving i noticed a strange noise coming from the engine bay, it sounds like a belt slipping from inside the car. I took a video of the pulley i think the noise is coming from.. or at least the general direction its coming from. It sounds much different with the hood open than in the car. Here is the vid.

<embed width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://i15.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid15.photobucket.com/albums/a385/morket/car010.flv">

Yea.. it doesn't sound good to me. Does anyone have an idea of what the problem could be??

There is no difference in performance with the car whatsoever that i have noticed. btw.

 

well that didnt work. Here is a link.

http://s15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...ent=car010.flv

 

Sounds like the air pump is taking a poop. Pretty common that they start howling/whining etc... Replace or remove.. Where are you at in NC?

Dave

 

Franklin, NC. It's about an hour west of asheville, and it borders georgia.

Remove the air pump??

 

Well it is not "that" simple. You'll have to get a shorter belt since it won't go around the air pump anymore. Search for the size, I can't remember. BUT, Just simply removing the air pump will CAUSE you to run really rich, stumble, not idle well etc.. More of a pain in my opinion. Unless you have a PFC on the car (engine management) If you do have a PFC you can remove the pump and install the shorter belt around the main pulley-water pump-alternator.

Call Ray Crowe @ Malloy Mazda 1-888-533-3400. He will hook you up on the best price around for new Mazda parts

If i remember correctly, you can unplug the electrical connector that comes from the airpump and see if the noise stops. I believe the "clutch" part of the air pump is going bad.

I have a place in Saluda NC

 

What kind of cat are you using? the stock cat, and some aftermarket cats require the air pump in order to function properly. If you're running a midpipe, then I'd suggest deleting the air pump. If not, replace it.

If you decide to replace your air pump, you can buy mine. I don't know if it works or not, as I've never run the car with it, but if you want it you can have it for the cost of shipping.

 

Im running the stock cat. And i dont have a PFC.

So you think the clutch part of the air pump might be going bad. What exactly does that part do? and what does it do if I unplug that connector?

 

The clutch part engages the air pump to the spinning pulley when it needs to be run if i am remembering rite. been a while since i have seen a air pump in front of me.

The electrical plug will just keep the ECU from emgaging the air pump. The clutch may be stuck ON meaning spinning all the time at speed and destroying the bearing or whatnot. Somehow you just need to take the air pump out of the eqution to see if it is the issue.

 

if anything get a midpipe + pfc + greddy pulley kit, theres never enough time and money to put into an fd

Mine was doing the same thing, then one day about 3 minutes from my house it starting seizing luckilym right as I pulled up to my house all hell broke lose it seized the snapped the belt

 

whats seizing?

and i dont have the money right now to get the things you just listed.

I was gonna go for a ride on the dragon tommorow with one of my buddies, if its unsafe to drive someone please let me know.





Ok, I unplugged the electric switch that controls the clutch piece. That made the triangle piece on the front of the pulley stop spinning with the air pump. That also made the noise go away. I tried calling Ray at mazda but i suppose their closed on the weekends.

So, now that we know that, that piece is the problem, what can i do to fix it? do i have to get a whole new air pump? just the new triangle piece? do you think i would need to go to a mazda dealer or just a local shop?? andd is it safe to drive until i fix it?

 

Glad that worked for you. I do not know if the clutch assembly is avaiable seperatly. Probably not. Malloy is usually open on Sat till 4 i think. But given that it is easter weekend??? I would say just leave it unplugged and go for your drive. Just watch temps and check on the belts just to be safe. But, I think you will be OK. But use your best judgement,..after all it is your car

PS:with your mods you need to get a boost gauge if you don't already have one and make sure you are not going more than 10 psi.Boost and water temp gauges are the first 2 things you need for a FD!

 

I do have a boost gauge, and a water temp gauge. I have heard all the warnings lol.

So without that switch plugged in, could that cause any damage? if its fine to drive without it then whats better about driving with it turned on?

 

Like stated earlier, it may idle rough and rich. When the electrical is Dis-connected it will not engage the air pump to the pulley if my thought process is correct. Plug it back in and your air pump makes noise, unplug it, it doesn't

 

Hey you looking for a airpump? I have one laying around. Has about 50k on it, if you want it PM me.