Heavy Vibration at low RPM

[caseyatbat]

Hello,I have an '03 Vibe, 185K km that has over the last month developed a heavy vibration.The vibration only occurs when the RPM is below 1000 and the vehicle is in Drive. Once you exceed 1000 RPM the car drives perfectly. This is both when the car is moving and standing still.The garage has checked the engine and there are no compression, miss-fire or codes that are out of whack. The engine is actually in great shape.They have replaced the front and back engine mount as the rubber was completely gone, they also tried replacing the right hand one as well with no affect. The checked the exhaust to see if any contact was happening there.There is no extra noise caused by the vibration, just the car shakes.Anyone else seen this before......Any help is appreciated.ThanksCary

[jkm311]

Is it the whole car that shakes, just the steering wheel, etc?Belt routed incorrectly (not likely to even run well, if so)? Loose exhaust system (might explain why you feel the vibration at only certain RPMs)? I would hope a mechanic would check that if they were going through the trouble of getting under the car and checking the mounts, but you never know. They may have noticed the rubber missing and just narrowed their focus on that.

[keithvibe]

They already checked the exahust. Sounds like a vacuum leak IMO

[jkm311]

Quote, originally posted by caseyatbat »The checked the exhaust to see if any contact was happening thereQuote, originally posted by jkm311 »Loose exhaust system (might explain why you feel the vibration at only certain RPMs)?

[keithvibe]

It happens to the best of us... no worriesbesides the vacuum leak i would look over the grounds, for rust.

[jasonvibe]

Mine started doing exactly the same this winter (70k miles). I changed the intake gasket to the latest "orange" type. Along with the throttle body gasket. Helped but did not cure the issue.The bad "vibes" only happen when temps are below 40F. But I feel something is not good even at warmer temps. I am now thinking it's a fueling issue on mine. The trouble shooting charts all point to this for me. After fully warmed up(15 minutes running)...it's hardly noticeable with mine. But there are older posts regarding the Idle air control(idle speed control),I believe. But anything that controls the idle on a throttle body engine is only wiorking during COLD temps. And once fully warm...the problem should disappear till next fully cold start.

[jasonvibe]

Posting to get email replies

[06pvibe]

'Could also be a bad motor mount?Jason, you can subscribe to a thread w/o posting. There's a link near the top of the page on the right-hand side called (ironically,) Subscribe.

[keithvibe]

Quote, originally posted by jasonvibe »Posting to get email replieswow two forum fails in one thread... Shrug who would have guess that one

[jasonvibe]

motor mount.... I thought of that. But witnessed no unusual shaking visually under the hood when in gear w/P-brajke on. But it transmits right to the drivers seat. And a bad mount should not be an issue more cold 32F vs. 50F and warmer...Plus a code pops(133) up sometimes when the cold temps and rain happens. Then it disappears. Also after filling the tank..It is sometimes better.I did have a vacuum leak. NOW that leak is fixed. I am going to check fuel pressure TODAY. Which the service manual describes as something to check when this poor low idle hppens happens. It's perfectly fine otherwise.

[jasonvibe]

49PSI. now waiting on a new OEM fuel hose. Should have it tomorrow. Now I am down to possible injecter or not so good motor mount. But motor mounts don't give you CELs. I am temped to change the O2 sensor. But most say that never fixes codes unless the code states O2 has failed. But it might give me better MPGs. But that is doubtful too. My AWD has always gotten the same 23 in town 31 hiway. Unless someone can confirm what the Big auto parts stores are pushing. "Change your O2 sensor after 70k saves you fuel".... My spark plugs came out super clean , white like new.....no blisters or other "too lean" or hot colors.

[jasonvibe]

I just looked at the rear motor mount. There is no rubber on it on the upper half. Just smooth metal. I have never seen a mount that was not completely rubber all around the center bolt. Is this normal on an AWD???

[daniel4888]

mine does this sometimes but everything is in good shape i think its just a name they came up with when they called it vibe vibrator lol it does hurt anything i keep driving mine mines got 138,000 miles