So I was driving down to my grandparents house to go to a passover seder when I noticed a very unsettling noise coming from my engine as I was about to get off at Colorado Blvd. Definitely not anything I've heard before (I have only been driving for like 9 months) and I have no idea what it is. I can't really describe it very well, but I tried to get a video with the noise while I was driving home in my neighborhood (pulled over, set up my cell to start recording and stuck it on the dash, no phone use while driving occurred ). What I can say about it is this:
It doesn't really start up until right about 3k, doesn't really go away until I'm back under 3k rpms.
Happens mostly when I have my foot on the gas at all. More gas yields a louder noise.
Popped the hood at my grandpa's house when I got there and had my dad give it a bit of gas to keep it around 3k rpm, and it definitely sounded like it was coming from the engine block and there was nothing visibly unsettling that I could see happening.

I honestly have no idea what it could be so I'm not going to speculate. Any ideas anyone? The noise starts at about 9 seconds in the video and keeps going on and off throughout the video as I drive through my neighborhood when I give it gas and let off and what not.

http://learjet45.us/learjet45/VIDEO0153.mp4

Video is about 31mb, a little under 4 minutes.

To download: Right click, Save Link As or Save Linked Content As or whatever your browser says (some browsers might open the video in the browser, I know that Opera will so if you wanna download and left clicking doesn't work, try that).

sounds like a motor mount to me then again id have to actually hear it since a noise like that could be anything to me.

I'll be heading over to ecam's house Saturday morning to drain my oil and look for metal shavings as suggested by a member over on 6crew. So either show up to hear it then if it's okay with ecam, or come over to Cherry Creek HS one day this week a few minutes before 2:50 and find my 6 if you want lol. Otherwise, I can't show you

does it tick or make that sound when the car is idle? I mean, when your under the hood can you hear it at all or does the car have to be in gear and moving when it makes that sound??

Does it sound like its right up near the fire wall or just some where in the engine bay?

from that lil clip it sounds like a thin piece of metal is banging up again something.. Does it sound like maybe right under your car where your catalitic converter is? Have you hit any bumps hard lately where something could have jolted loose??

I can't hear the noise when it's idle in the car. If I pop the hood and have the car idle I do hear something a bit off. Not sure if it's a knock or what but I can't hear it in the car when idle, only if the hood is popped.

Not sure where in the engine bay it's coming from.

I haven't hit any particularly bad bumps lately, but I do go over some decent sized speed bumps at school every day. Haven't hit them too hard lately (didn't notice one and I spaced about it and went over one kinda fast in like January when it was snowy but nothing bad seemed to come from that). My struts are pretty much shot though...

Doesn't matter if the car is in gear or not. Park, neutral, and drive, I can hear the noise. Obviously I haven't tested reverse.

If the car lives another four days, we'll figure it out. Inspiring, I know!

I thought when you said Unpleasant sound of death you were talking about tut.

Really I wouldn't be able to tell you without seeing it.

Someone on mazda6club thinks it might be the catalytic converter heat shield. Suggested tapping the exhaust under the car near the converter with a rubber mallet to see what it sounds like, so we'll see if I can find my rubber mallet.

ecam8000 wrote:If the car lives another four days, we'll figure it out. Inspiring, I know!

Haha, I really hope it lives another 4 days! I love my 6 <3 But if it dies, we'll have to even see if I can even get another car. Maybe if I'm lucky (well unlucky) and it does die, I can get my dad, his brothers, and his dad to help chip in to buy another car. I might actually try to go for a 3.2 CL (or 3.2 CL-S). I've had a thing for them since my dad had a regular 3.2 CL for a few years around 02 or 03 to 05. I would love another Mazda, but I'm not a huge fan of the regular 3 sedan (prefer the hatch), and won't be getting a 7, 8, or Miata any time soon. My only real option would be a 3 or 6, and I can actually get a 3.2 CL or CL-S for about as much if not a little less than another 6 or 3. But let's hope my car doesn't die!

I was having that problem with my car

I think your engine is trying to grow a turbo... lol. J/K.

I agree, it does sound like a heat shield is loose or something.

Learjet45 wrote:Someone on mazda6club thinks it might be the catalytic converter heat shield.!

That actually may be it.. I had issues with mine also being loose, another reason why I asked you if you hit any bumps lately..

Hopefully ecam and I can figure this out on Saturday!

If it is the catalytic converter heat shield, what does that mean in terms of repairs/costs?

No cost, just don't kick me when I'm under your car...

And bring Ice Cream, my girls tell me I'll work for I/C!

Haha, I'll bring some if I can! No kicking either I promise

if it is loose, most likely it is a missing or broken bolt.