Groaning noise when going slow - ideas?
 

Hi, I'm looking for some advise regarding my new 2012 speed3. It sometimes groans quite loudly when I'm going slowly - pulling into a parking stall, going through a drive through line, pulling into my garage, stop and go traffic. All I can tell is it comes from the front of the car and when it comes on it can be quite loud (it happened with a passenger in the car while pulling into a parking stall and they thought I'd scrapped up against the car next to us). It sounds like metal on metal, like something is turning but sure doesn't want to! I've tried to capture it on video but it's completely random. In gear, out of gear, cluth in, clutch out, on the brakes, off the brakes, turning, going straight...I never know when it's goint to appear but it's usually a couple times every trip. I will be coasting up to a stop sign and grroooaaann. Then I'll get to the next 10 stop signs/red lights and nothing. I went for a ride with my dealer's shop foreman to try and have him hear it but of course it wouldn't make the sound with him in the car and without hearing it he wasn't sure where to start looking and has asked me to give it a another 1000kms or so and see what happens. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

This might sound elementary, but have you checked to make sure your lug nuts are tight?

Open hood and make sure all the heat shields are tight....jack car up and make sure every thing you can get your hands on is tight.

The car is groaning at you because it wants to go moar fast

Maybe the plastic of the inner wheel well was knocked loose.

..

Hub bearing maybe?

Is the car stock? Have you done any work to it yourself?

Thanks for the replies. I will tighten what I can get my hands on. I've been trying to record the noise on video for weeks without success. The car will do it's groan thing and if it's possible I whip out my phone and try and replicate exactly what I just did, but the groan will be gone! I'm also going to try bedding in the brakes (I hope that's the right term, read about it in a brake issue thread) as the car only has 1100 kms on it. Although the car will make the noise when I'm not even using the brakes I guess it can't hurt.

Can I ask another favor forum members? If the car continues to make this noise I am going to ask the dealership to take a look at it when I bring it in for the first oil change which I plan to do early anyway. But I know nothing about cars (literally, nothing). What is a reasonable level of inspection for me to ask of the dealer given I can't replicate the noise for them? Can I say, 'Can you see if everything is ok with the brakes?' or 'Can you take a look at the wheel bearings?'. I've read the LSD can get noisy but what would the dealership do to inspect it?

What would you guys ask them to do? Where would you start?

My dealership seems pretty willing to help. As I said the foreman was more than willing to take a ride with me but I couldn't replicate the sound in 30 minutes of driving with him (figures, right?!). I'd just like to sound a little educated befor I bring it in!

I had the same experience and it turned out to be front wheel bearings.

front brakes? if you touch the pedal harder does it quit?

could be brake dust causing the groan

mine does it too. 2012 with 6k on the clock. think it is narrowed to brakes

Mine does the same thing. I've narrowed it down to brakes more or less. My 2012 currently has 13k on it (bought it last Oct), and when you give it gas and let your foot off of the accelerator, it constantly squeaks when the clutch is engaged and the engine shifts back and forth. I took it to the dealer and guess what they said....unable to duplicate issue. Imagine that. I'm not even going to bother taking my car to the dealer. Not worth my time.

i think i know exactly what your talking about. its almost like a metal dragging sound? this happened to me a few times when i first bought the car, then went away and i forgot about it. it just happened at the track in front of an official the other day and they thought my car was broken. i stopped and inched forward and the noise was gone.

i was told its probably a little pebble getting stuck and said fuck it. i havent crashed yet

I was going to start a thread on this today, but I searched and found this. Within the past few days my 2012 is making the same noise. It's coming from the front drivers side wheel and only happens intermittently. It's fairly loud and sounds like two empty coffee cans clanging together. It's driving me absolutely fucking nuts. It does sound like a loose heat shield, but I've checked everything I can get my hands on and can't find anything loose. Someone make it go away please.

I can't help with the problem, I just wanted to say you're doing it right.



tapatatapa... DROID 2 Global... etc etc

^^ this. I had a couple incidents where it sounded like metal on metal for a couple miles but went away and has not returned. When the car was pretty new. I'm almost sure it was the brake compound not playing nicely in that particular weather combination.

Loose lug nuts will sound like a helicopter at high speeds and possibly a clunk at low speeds. If its metal on metal sounding then I second (or third or fourth) the brakes and its ok. If it doesn't go away after oh say 10 miles of driving then I would get it looked at.

What about the power steering pump? My 2007 Sierra used to wine at low speeds especially on cold mornings until I flushed and replaced the power steering fluid.

gen ones have a pretty well documented case of rattle coming from the tensioner pulley (located on the passenger side of the engine)

look it up

rattle should increase slightly with rpms or blipping the throttle, try it out in the garage for the easiest way to hear it

I have this same EXACT issue. It's just as you describe it, doesn't happen all the time, but when it does it sounds terrible. I first suspected it to be a wheel bearing, but I need new brakes and rotors so now Im just hoping its that. I am gonna change those next week. Please someone update this thread if you figure it out.

I think it's the heat shield behind the rotor. I pushed in on mine and it made the same sound I've been hearing when I went over bumps (sometimes) It made a little click when I pushed on it some more, like it went into place or something. No more sound and it's not loose at all. Maybe something (like a pebble mentioned above) got caught up in there. Who knows.

THIS. A got a rock between the shield and rotor when the car had 200 miles on it -- I almost shit my fucking pants. Sounded just like what OP's describing. I pulled over and beat on the shield with the back of a screwdriver and a rock fell out and the sound has never happened again.

Bearings
 

Not sure the noise you are referring to is during low speed when turning left/right or reversing with the wheel turned left/right. I had this noise for a while.took it in today. Mazda dealer of course could not replicate the noise..so one day i drove it for an hour and when the noise was apparent had the technician drive in with me..he had no idea about the noise. So when you do get the noise take it in and have them hear it.
it only is apparent (when after driving for like 1/2 hr). today the delaler did that and replicated the noise. they called Mazda and apparently this is a known issue is is a wheel bearing issue. This is covered by the powertrain warranty. New parts to be installed.

The genpu has a very noise power steering pump could me that.

Had groaning on my new 12 pu, it was around 15-25 mph, a slight pull left or right on the wheel would increase it sometimes, application of brakes would stop it, turned out to be a rock (small) stuck in the left front caliper, when the rotor got hot it would rub... as it was one day new I took it to the dealership, they also were a bit astonished at the noise (raced many, never heard this before) but happy/pleased when they found the rock..

odds are funny but I had another noise come from my better halves audi, it was a rock between dust shield and rotor....

Colorado winter driving I suppose.

Well sometimes, I have to slow down and I happen to make a groaning noise or I may last all of 5min.

Does this help?

Sweet Jesus, I was getting ready to post something about this. I just recently replaced my front swaybar bushing and one of my strut bearings do to other noises. This one has eluded me as well.

i didnt expect to get any results for 'low speed groan.' search function FTMFW!

mine began recently after suspension install, so i figured it had something to do with that. i know i tweaked one of the brake heat shields doing the jack method. due for brakes anyway, so hopefully i'll see something obvious when i go back in there.

Add me to the list....symptoms are pretty much exactly as Op described. Groaning noise at low speeds with wheels turned hard right or left. Does this with clutch in our out.

So was this a bearing issue? Anyone know?

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Its me and your mom in the trunk. :moon:

Thanks dood

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lol... I was talking about the OP. I didn't read anything but the title of the thread. But yeah, me and your mom are in your trunk too.

All that so called "ectoplasm" you had been finding in your car? Yeah, not from ghosts.

I know... That's the slug trail your mom left in the hatch from me and her foolin around in my car.

Hahaha hahaha. That is the just the cleverest thing I've heard all month. I mean, who would have thought you can make a joke put of a groaning noises thread! Damn it, that is some funny shit right there. Keep up the awesome work man, I mean I just can't get enough of your helpful and constructive comments.

I'm gonna give you one WHOLE dollar for making my month.

You sir, win the Internet award of the Day!

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Maybe the groaning noise was from you being so butthurt. You don't sound cutout for this forum. lol

Uhh

Jim, I'd settle for banging your wife.

http://i.imgur.com/jb1QR49.jpg

[QUOTE=SofaKingAwesome;2098938]Jim, I'd settle for banging your wife.

This is not called for ever. Please leave the photo stalking out of this.

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yeah, you definitely dont know how this forum works dude...