Hi there,

Just became a mazda 323F owner and have a little few queries, hopefully some experienced owners can help. My car is a 95 1.5GLX model:

I have a ticking noise coming off the engine, when the revs climb the noise gets louder. Is this serious?? Valves??or what??

How can I reduce wind noise from windows, new seals???

Does the A/C button do anything. When turned on the revs don't climb. My friend is wondering the same about his V6 one!!!

The gear stick gets stiffer as the amo8nt of time spent in car increases during a trip. Does the underside linkage need greasing or what??Is this a gearbox problem???

Lastly, there is a real annoying knocking noise or bang at the back of the car somewhere. What the bloody hell is it?????

I hope someone can help me.
Thanks
D

There's another post about ticking noises somewhere, but that was about the V6. Does it continue all the time, or go away? One suggestion was an oil change if I remember correctly.

Wind noise at high speed IS quite high, and I'm not sure seals would do anything. Is the noise coming from a particular seal? If not, then you're probably just hearing the normal background.

A load of 323s around P/R reg came out with the A/C button and light, but no actual aircon. The harness is there, but not the unit. You might find someone who could fit one, but a Mazda dealer won't. And it would be pricey. If your car is later than R reg then check there really isn't a unit and the gas has gone.

Not sure about the gear lever. Mine is stiff into 1st at all times, and stick when cold.

Is the knock regular or intermittant? Is it triggered by bumps? I'd check the exhaust moutings first and make sure one hasn't broken, come off, or never actually been fitted.


M

MY GEAR LEVER GETS STICKY TOO AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE, BUT NOT SURE WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT. IF ANYONE CAN HELP THEM IM ALL EARS!!!

RACEBOY400 IF U GET ANY ADVICE ABOUT THE STICKY GEARS THEN LET ME KNOW PLEASE, CHEERS.

For the engine ticking as said before change your oil, for the noise at the back of the car is prob the heat shield on the exhaust, no problems are caused by this but it is annoying.

i have '94 (m) 323f (ba same as yours). it has the ac button but no ac - the light comes on but that's all there is - you'll probably find the same.

i also have knocking from the rear, it's not the exhaust - that a different noise! it's more likely to be a suspension bush or something - it's worse over bumpyness!


mark (tannerma2002)

The knocking might be the rear CV joint. It could also be worn suspension arms (the bit inside the springs). Or it could be the rear strut bar linkage is broken.

As for the ticking, it is the tappets rattling because there is not enough oil getting around the engine. this could be due to the wrong oil being used, but more likly to be old oil or lack of oil. Change it! Same thing for the gearbox.

A/C button is there but doesn't work on some models because, as mentioned previous, there isn't a air con unit although the button works!

Stealth

323`s have no rear cv joint as they are front wheel drive, sounds like a suspension bush to me.

suspension arms (the bit inside the springs). thats called a strut or shock absorber.