Compare Mazda ticking or rattling noise repair quotes from specialist garages

Mazda is named after Ahura Mazda, the Iranian-Zoroastrian God of intelligence, wisdom and harmony. Since the company was founded in 1920, it has built a reputation for creating efficient, sporty vehicles that are fun to drive. It's also famous for creating the rotary engine, which uses fewer moving parts than a traditional piston-based engine and features in several Mazda models, including the 1969 Luce R130 coupe.

The Mazda MX-5 Roadster has been listed as the best-selling two-seater car in the Guinness Book of World Records several times. It was also used to make history in 2022, breaking the record for the largest parade of Mazda cars with 707 MX-5s.

Ticking and rattling are two closely related noises you might hear from your car. If you listen closely to where the sound is coming from and when it happens (while accelerating, for instance), you might be able to work out the cause.

The first thing to check is whether the engine oil is low, requiring a top-up - this is the best-case scenario. If your car is rattling and the sound is coming from the engine, it could be caused by a loose serpentine belt or timing chain. From the car's rear, it might be a loose exhaust or a broken catalytic converter, and the other possibility is worn suspension, which can cause rattling from the front or rear of the vehicle.

Possible explanations for ticking include worn spark plugs, knocking engine rods, dirty valve lifters and misaligned valves. You can learn more about these issues here.

Ticking and rattling noises should be taken seriously as they sometimes indicate a problem with the engine that could cause further damage if ignored.