Mystifying Vibration
stuart83
07-27-2012, 10:50 PM
Hi all,
I am having a strange problem with a '96 Camry. I would be very appreciative of any help -- thank you for reading!
So I got this car last August with 119k miles, in very good condition. I did not notice a vibration when I test drove it, but I did when I drove it home a few days later. The vibration is extremely noticeable -- you might say violent -- and happens between about 50 and 55 miles an hour, though sometimes you might get it at 60, too.
Here are some basic symptoms of the vibration:
* If you push it up to where the car changes gears, the vibration stops thereafter, regardless of speed.
* Even if you just accelerate hard, it often stops.
* If you take your foot off the accelerator, it immediately stops. Indeed, if you take the car to 70 mph, and then coast down to 40 mph, at no point will the car vibrate. However, if you're increasing speed, it will pretty well always vibrate on the way up past 50-55.
* If you have the tires rotated, it seems to get at least much milder for awhile; but this never lasts long.
So, pretty soon after buying the car, I had it looked at, and the mechanic said a bearing in the transmission where it connects to the axle was bad, and was causing the problem. I took it to a tranny place but they were closed, and I got busy and didn't get around to it again for a few months.
When I did get around to it again -- now in a different city far away -- I took it to a garage, and this time they said it needed a new engine mount. I paid for this, and it didn't help a whit. (That said, I don't disbelieve that the engine mount was problematic -- there had been some weirdness with engine mounts shortly after I got the car, which I won't go into as it seems irrelevant).
I showed it to another mechanic, and he said it was probably a bad tire, as he could find nothing wrong at all -- but he suggested another mechanic to show it to. Again I got busy and didn't get around to this for a few months. (I can't be without a car all the time!)
I finally took it to the people he recommended, this past Tuesday, and they said it was the final drive coming out of the transmission (that is, right where the axle - or whatever it is called -- comes out of the tranmission). (They also mentioned a bearing). They showed me the bottom of the car while it was raised, and that the axle was too loose. I don't know what normal is, but I would estimate this axle moved maybe 1-2" a distance of 10" out of the transmission. They said the tranny would have to be rebuilt, and quoted $2800. They also said that otherwise, it was likely or certain to break at some point and leave me stranded, and might or might not destroy the transmission case at that time.
This was obviously depressing news, though I believed it, since (a) it was what the first guy had said, and (b) it seemed to match some of the symptoms, above (though my knowledge is limited). Nonetheless, I took it to a transmission shop I trust for a second opinion / quote (these people did a good job rebuilding a transmission for me on another car a while back). They said they couldn't tell if that was the problem and would have to service the transmission. I said go ahead.
They serviced the transmission and final drive, changed the fluid, etc. They said the fluid was dark, but there was no metal in it, and no sound from the transmission, and they couldn't believe the problem was related to the transmission. I mentioned the loose axle connection the other garage had pointed out, and they said, "Yeah, it's a little loose, but I don't think that's it." They suggested I go get the tires changed, since it seemed to get better when they rotated them.
So I had the tires changed. It hasn't helped at all, apart from the usual 30 minute slight improvement which is now gone.
I'm really confused now. I would believe the second-last shop that it was the tranny, but it seems very odd to me that a transmission shop that kept it for 2 days and serviced it would pass up the chance of my almost asking them to rebuild it if that was really the problem. I would really appreciate any pointers or advice.
Thank you very much!
I am having a strange problem with a '96 Camry. I would be very appreciative of any help -- thank you for reading!
So I got this car last August with 119k miles, in very good condition. I did not notice a vibration when I test drove it, but I did when I drove it home a few days later. The vibration is extremely noticeable -- you might say violent -- and happens between about 50 and 55 miles an hour, though sometimes you might get it at 60, too.
Here are some basic symptoms of the vibration:
* If you push it up to where the car changes gears, the vibration stops thereafter, regardless of speed.
* Even if you just accelerate hard, it often stops.
* If you take your foot off the accelerator, it immediately stops. Indeed, if you take the car to 70 mph, and then coast down to 40 mph, at no point will the car vibrate. However, if you're increasing speed, it will pretty well always vibrate on the way up past 50-55.
* If you have the tires rotated, it seems to get at least much milder for awhile; but this never lasts long.
So, pretty soon after buying the car, I had it looked at, and the mechanic said a bearing in the transmission where it connects to the axle was bad, and was causing the problem. I took it to a tranny place but they were closed, and I got busy and didn't get around to it again for a few months.
When I did get around to it again -- now in a different city far away -- I took it to a garage, and this time they said it needed a new engine mount. I paid for this, and it didn't help a whit. (That said, I don't disbelieve that the engine mount was problematic -- there had been some weirdness with engine mounts shortly after I got the car, which I won't go into as it seems irrelevant).
I showed it to another mechanic, and he said it was probably a bad tire, as he could find nothing wrong at all -- but he suggested another mechanic to show it to. Again I got busy and didn't get around to this for a few months. (I can't be without a car all the time!)
I finally took it to the people he recommended, this past Tuesday, and they said it was the final drive coming out of the transmission (that is, right where the axle - or whatever it is called -- comes out of the tranmission). (They also mentioned a bearing). They showed me the bottom of the car while it was raised, and that the axle was too loose. I don't know what normal is, but I would estimate this axle moved maybe 1-2" a distance of 10" out of the transmission. They said the tranny would have to be rebuilt, and quoted $2800. They also said that otherwise, it was likely or certain to break at some point and leave me stranded, and might or might not destroy the transmission case at that time.
This was obviously depressing news, though I believed it, since (a) it was what the first guy had said, and (b) it seemed to match some of the symptoms, above (though my knowledge is limited). Nonetheless, I took it to a transmission shop I trust for a second opinion / quote (these people did a good job rebuilding a transmission for me on another car a while back). They said they couldn't tell if that was the problem and would have to service the transmission. I said go ahead.
They serviced the transmission and final drive, changed the fluid, etc. They said the fluid was dark, but there was no metal in it, and no sound from the transmission, and they couldn't believe the problem was related to the transmission. I mentioned the loose axle connection the other garage had pointed out, and they said, "Yeah, it's a little loose, but I don't think that's it." They suggested I go get the tires changed, since it seemed to get better when they rotated them.
So I had the tires changed. It hasn't helped at all, apart from the usual 30 minute slight improvement which is now gone.
I'm really confused now. I would believe the second-last shop that it was the tranny, but it seems very odd to me that a transmission shop that kept it for 2 days and serviced it would pass up the chance of my almost asking them to rebuild it if that was really the problem. I would really appreciate any pointers or advice.
Thank you very much!
Joe W
07-31-2012, 11:38 PM
I am not sure it is a tranny issue. Have you ever had a 4 wheel alignment done by a reputable shop?
Brian R.
08-01-2012, 09:31 AM
Jack up the front of the car and try a move the wheels from top to bottom and side to side. If they move, replace the wheel bearings. (not a easy job unless you have access to a machine shop).
stuart83
08-01-2012, 09:38 PM
Joe, I have.
Brian, I don't really have access, but thanks -- I'll ask a mechanic I trust to check that, anyway. Someone in the chat also suggested checking the front end (tie rods, cv axles, etc.), which I'll also try.
Brian, I don't really have access, but thanks -- I'll ask a mechanic I trust to check that, anyway. Someone in the chat also suggested checking the front end (tie rods, cv axles, etc.), which I'll also try.
Joe W
08-01-2012, 10:38 PM
If you have not has a full (4 wheel) alignment yet it certainly won't hurt to have one done now. During this process the suspension and related items are checked in any reputable shop. If there are any suspension issues the alignment will not be able to be completed until said issues are resolved.
stuart83
08-02-2012, 02:38 PM
Joe, as already mentioned, I have had a full alignment.
Thank you,
stuart
If you have not has a full (4 wheel) alignment yet it certainly won't hurt to have one done now. During this process the suspension and related items are checked in any reputable shop. If there are any suspension issues the alignment will not be able to be completed until said issues are resolved.
Thank you,
stuart
If you have not has a full (4 wheel) alignment yet it certainly won't hurt to have one done now. During this process the suspension and related items are checked in any reputable shop. If there are any suspension issues the alignment will not be able to be completed until said issues are resolved.
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