for those who dont know
i have an 09 mazda 3 touring sedan
i find that when i drive my car
im constantly hearing what sounds like tiny stones and pebbles bouncing up and down against the underside (belly) of the car.
do you guys get that a lot?
i mean i understand there is dirt and pebbles and sand and stuff on streets, but i never have heard all that bounce up and down against the underbelly of any other car ive ever owned so vividly and clearly as i do with this mazda. Its very offsetting and strange.
Just thought id share.

Thanks

 

Could it be that one of the plastic splashshields is loose, like somebody forgot to tie/screw them together?
The only time I had a noise similar towhat you describe iswas when I left off the central splash shield after an oil change and the sides (vertical pieces)were flopping around in the wind as I drove.
Whatever it is, it"s not normal. If you can't find it yourself, I"d take it back to the dealer and have them find it.

 

The road crews use sand instead of salt for many of our secondary and residential roads, and I hear the sand and small pebbles plinking off the undercarriage of the car all of the time. I haven't really thought too much about the noise as it sounds pretty much the same as what I hear when I drive the Corolla owned by my mother-in-law. Could it be that you are just hearingthe extra stuff that New York has put down the clear the recent snow and ice?

 

hmmmmmmmmmmm i guess so i dont know
but i hear it everywhere that i go
i never heard those sounds with my corolla i just thought it was something to maybe be aware or have checked out

 

ive had this same thing. its just dirt and sand and salt bouncing around. where im from i hear it frequently *due to all the salt bahh*

 

The 3 does seem to be quite a bit noisier than most vehicles I've driven, in the whole dirt and rock aspect. I just thought it was from the lowered stance of it compared to what I'm used to.