Mechanical questions

Andy Wana · Postby **Andy Wana** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 1:33 am

Hopefully this is the right thread for my questions
A few things I notice on my MX5 in the past 2 weeks:

1. Noises (sounds like the belt) when I start the engine in the morning, eventually goes away after the car's warmed up
2. Clunk noises when I do a low speed sharp turning manouver (i.e. parking) - I read something about worn CV (Constant Velocity) joints
3. Sharp metal noise when I turned on the AC

My major-ish 140,000km service is coming up, might as well fix those things up

Fatty · Postby **Fatty** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:13 am

my mazda 323 had that clunk noise, yep i think it was a cv joint.

it also has a squeely belt noise which goes away once the car warms up. for the belt noise, have a look at the belt for the aircon , you can tighten it and loosen it using the bolt at the top of the bracket that holds the wheel on that the belt wraps around. hopefully you'll understand what i mean. loosen it a tiny bit and see if the noise goes away.

can't help with the other one tho.

fattima · Postby **fattima** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 10:36 am

The noise is most likely your belt my car was just doing this recently, I replaced the belt as it had some cracking.
Where is the clunking coming from? If it is from the front check your ball joints and suspension bushes. I have had worn bushes cause noises in the past. CV joint noise is more apparent on front wheel drive cars, they can make a racket.
I had a Commodore that made a metal noise when the AC was turned on it was caused by the clutch for the AC, not sure how the MX5 system works.

Hope this is some help

jules · Postby **jules** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 12:58 pm

MX-5 = no CV joints.
Perhaps check swaybar end bushes.

Jules

fattima · Postby **fattima** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 1:05 pm

There are CV joints in the rear, doubt they would make noise on turning though, so yeah check bushes and ball joints.

stevesports · Postby **stevesports** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 7:19 pm

hmm..it does sound like CV joints. Happened to my parents car, but it seems the 5 doesn't have CV joints at the front. Check the driveshafts.

Alfadog · Postby **Alfadog** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 7:35 pm

Andy Wana wrote:2. Clunk noises when I do a low speed sharp turning manouver (i.e. parking) - I read something about worn CV (Constant Velocity) joints

My car does the same thing! If you fix it let me know what it was won't you

Andy Wana · Postby **Andy Wana** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 4:52 pm

Thanks for the suggestions and help guys.
Belt noise at engine startup has disappeared since I used that belt grip stuff that was suggested at another thread.

I suspect the clunk noise might be my shagged OE suspension bushes (it has done 138,000Ks)
Still no idea about the metal noise when I turn on the AC. Might get a second opinion from the mechanic when the major service is due.

Will report back on my findings on these 2 issues.