VVT actuator issues on my 2013

[Jinba Ittai]

Has anyone had the VVT actuator issue with the gen pu, my 2013 MS3 has a slight growl at start up and it's not coming from the butt end – is that a sound you hear too at start up. No need to make a video cause it would never come across enough for people to comment. I had this issue with my 07' and replaced it 2 times, the second time I just rebuilt the motor for the track. I've read every post in this forum about this btw.

[dale_gribble]

take it to dealer under warranty? It's one thing when you're out of warranty, but shit, if its rattling, let the dealer mess with it.

My car is pretty noisy at startup. Fuel pump is noisy for sure. Is it a ticking or a grinding/dragging sound?

[eliwwjd]

Mine sometimes does a ticking noise but not always.
I did a video in youtube. I'll try posting it!

[MA_MS3]

My car always has a ticking noise coming from the engine. Ive assumed its just normal but im not sure.

[darthxar]

Yeah this motor is pretty noisy. My 2013 had had a slight ticking sound since day one. Everything works fine though so I just take it as normal.

Double tappin' the Moto

[eliwwjd]

Here is the video I promised I would post. If you listened to the video, there is a ticking noise. This noise sometimes it does it but sometimes it don't. Guess what , I took it to the dealership which is a 2 hour drive from my house and it didn't do it at the dealership so I said the heck with it! They had the car for 2 days and nothing. When I got my car back after a couple of days, guess what! there it was the ticking noise again. I decided to learn to live with it, when it does it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s6u44l6xzw

[Polish_Eagle]

I'm curious if that's the release bearing. Next time if you hear the noise blip the throttle so the RPM hit 2000 and see if it goes away. My release bearing in my 2011 sometimes makes noise similar to that and when I blip the throttle to 2000 RPM it stops.

[Jinba Ittai]

The release bearing, is that supposed to make a noise like that, is that a normal noise at start-up? This 2013 is very different from the 2007, I like the rawness of my 2007, its so much more a drivers car. I will say my triple black Pu tho, looks off the charts when it shines.

[Jinba Ittai]

I know the the VVT noise, its not a ticking, it's a rattle. At first it's a slight rattle that last only a second, but as the the chain gets looser it gets much worse as the timing chain start to hit the valve cover. I haven't taken it to the stealership because they hold the whole "if we find nothing wrong you're going to pay for an hour on service" over your head. So I thought I throw it out there to see what the new motor sounds like when it starts up.This 2013 is a lot more refined than my 2007, in the 2007, you can take the oil fill cap off and the timing chain is right there to play with the tightness, the newer motor has a shield over it. This car is very much the same but Mazda made little changes over the years to refine the car.

[Boostin'likeAboss]

I think you are sweating over nothing but that's just me. it's a 13', not an 06'-7' with 100k miles

[JgamB]

The ticking noise the rest of you hear is the cam follower getting smacked by the cam lobe to drive your HPFP piston. It's normal, desirable even. We don't have cam follower issues due to their hardness, unlike VW's that eat theirs with regularity.

[darthxar]

Originally Posted by JgamB The ticking noise the rest of you hear is the cam follower getting smacked by the cam lobe to drive your HPFP piston. It's normal, desirable even. We don't have cam follower issues due to their hardness, unlike VW's that eat theirs with regularity.

yeah the box for the AutoTech internals has a big warning about the VW's on it. I actually like the little rattle they give you at throttle tip in. Reminds me they're in there and that I don't have to worry about pressure at WOT.

[mize13]

I'll add to this. I've had this noise coming from the engine from day 1 with the car. Only happens at start-up when I haven't driven the car in a while, like 14 + hours. Seems to do it more when it's cold. Sometimes it won't do it. Sometimes it will. It lasts for probably less than a second, but is quite loud and sounds harsh and occurs about 5 to 10 seconds after cranking the engine. I'll try and get a video with my GoPro tomorrow morning at start-up.

[eliwwjd]

Ok guys 2 days ago when my mazda certified tech friend and I were doing internals, tmic and rmm upgrade at my home I went ahead and talked to him about this noise and went he verified he told me that when actuator is faulty it tends to rattle not tick noise. He kept checking until he noticed the noise came from the chain tensioner and bearing. It had some slight akward movement which was not normal, that it could get worse with time. I guess I'll have to take it in again. The problem is that its a 2 hour drive. No dealership near home.