chirping sound when idling

yamag7d8 · Dec 12, 2010

hello everyone!

i have an issue with my mazda b3000 3.0 automatic with approx 84000 miles. i hear this chirping sound when the truck is in idle. i got the belt replaced last year. i looked at the pulley and it seemed fine. do you guys have any ideas?

thanks

JP02XLT · Dec 12, 2010

Possibly the Cam Synchronizer & CMP Sensor assembly, many issues with these units on the 3.0, Listen to see if the chirp is coming from the left rear of the engine, (If your facing it), if so this needs to be replaced very soon as it also drives the oil pump for the engine, many cases of the synchro teeth breaking & then there is nothing to drive the oil pump and the engine looses oil pressure & locks up.

There is a ton of info on this problem

JP02XLT

yamag7d8 · Dec 12, 2010

by left rear you mean driverside rear? it sounds like its coming somewhere around the drivers side near the wheel well.

JP02XLT · Dec 12, 2010

Passenger side, Rear of the engine. I would remove the belt, start the truck if you still have the chirp go straight to the CMP synchro. It will avoid you a big headache later.

JP02XLT

stmitch · Dec 12, 2010

Passenger side, at the back of the lower intake manifold near the firewall.

yamag7d8 · Dec 12, 2010

sounds expensive.... what should i expect for the fix cost? :annoyed:

fourwheelford · Dec 13, 2010

Get it from the dealer, like 150 bucks or something like that. I did mine with the help of my step dad, just do your research its important to get it right for the injector timing and what not and you can do it yourself if your slightly mechanically inclined.

stmitch · Dec 13, 2010

There are two parts involved. The synchro itself is around $90-100 from Ford. Stick with a motorcraft part, as the aftermarket stuff is junk that will go out MUCH sooner than the factory part. The second part is a sensor, which I got from the dealer for around $20. If you're mechanically inclined, you can probably do it yourself and save some money, but if you're not, I'd take it to the dealer and bite the bullet. If you don't get it installed with your engine at top dead center, it will mess up the timing quite a bit, and your truck will run like poo.

Earl43P · Dec 13, 2010

Do remove the serpentine belt and start it before you get too worried about the Cam Synchro. That Synchro has killed a lot of Vulcans though.
Don't run it long without the serp belt on, no water is pumping.....

My bet is on idler and / or tensioner pulley bearings. The grease gets waxy in the cold.
3.0's do well with Gatorback serp belts. Pricey, but worth it.

I clean and re-grease pulley bearings every year or so. The rubber dust seals pry right off with a jeweler's screwdriver. Pulleys run about $18 each if you don't feel like messing around and have cash. Good 6203 bearings run about the same price as a new pulley. New pulleys generally have the cheaper 6203 bearings installed. NAPA sells good bearings for about $16 each. These are common bearings, used on mower decks, etc. so there is a wide variety of good vs. cheapos.

Looks like this one, only smaller....and you don't really have to remove them from the pulley to clean and regrease if you don't want to.

Hope you don't need the info in this link, synchro replacement:
http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41475&highlight=replace+cam+synchro

McCormack · Dec 14, 2010

If the squeak is coming form the serpentine system then it's more than likely that the tensioner pulley is out alignment. Put a straight edge on the pulley with the belt on and compare it with the crank pulley... if it's out of alignment then you've found your problem, and you'll either have to shim the tensioner into alignment, or else get a new tensioner and hope that it's straight (it's not uncommon for new tensioners not to be in alignment), and you'll have to shim the new tensioner into alignment.

yamag7d8 · Dec 17, 2010

i went to the dealer to get it looked at. of course mazda has never heard of the synchronizer problems happening to their trucks (sine they dont sell trucks as much as well as a 3.0L ford engines). its funny that when i start the engine, it chirps but not when they start it. the head mechanic heard it when i was about to leave and he said it sound like the chirp is coming from the lower part of the engine... so he thinks it might be a torque converter or some part of the exhaust system. hmm....

so i looked for the camshaft sensor part of the engine... where exactly is this thing? i looked toward the passenger back of the engine...?

fourwheelford · Dec 18, 2010

my guess is that he is more or less a moron, no offense to him but dealer mechanics usually arent that good. Trust everyone on here, most of us have dealt with the same things, there are only so many things that will chirp on these trucks and one will kill it for sure. Take the belt off like someone else said and if it still chirps its the syncro. Mazda uses the same motor as the ford ranger I think. The syncro is behind the lower intake manifold on the passanger side of the motor agaisnt the firewall, get up on the motor and look around back there the sensor is black with two little bolts on top of it and a plug coming out. Once you find it put your finger on it while the truck runs it may feel like its moving rough or get a stethoscope and put it on there you will hear it. If your over 100000 change that thing asap, the whole thing not just the sensor there is a sticky on the top of the 3.0 forum that talks about it so browse that.

yamag7d8 · Dec 18, 2010

yeah, the noise is coming form the rear. i have a dual sport so i need to get a chair to feel that sensor. i dont want to do it myself since i dont want to mess anything up and if the dealer does, shame on them! they dont want to get into conclusion bc they dont want me spending money on thats already good. ugh.

fourwheelford · Dec 18, 2010

Most regular shops have the ability to do it also, if its not under warranty your looking to spend around 95 bucks an hour in labor plus all the other crap they tack on if you take it to a dealer. Look for a good shop that the BBB says is good and get a quote. For a veteran who knows what he is doing your looking at an hour and a half from start to finish if they don't mess it up the first time. Take him for a test drive before and after if you can to make sure its not messed up.

yamag7d8 · Dec 18, 2010

i dont know if i want to take it to the mazda dealer if they have never heard of the "synchronizer" problem... :icon_confused:

chirping sound when idling

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