Engine vibration?

Hi all,
When accelerating, I get quite a bad vibration through the vehicle at about 50 mph in 4th or 60 mph in 5th gear, once I get past 60mph it smooths out.
Does anyone else have this problem with a Vw 2.4 diesel ??
I have owned this vehicle for 20 months and the problem has not got any better or worse in 4000 miles of use.

Hi Vedubfan,
Are you sure it is not the front wheels out of balance, this would cause these sort of symptoms.

Brian2

Hi vdubfan.

I agree with Brian. That is a classic symptom of wheels out of balance.

Whisky.

Front wheels out of balance would relate just to road speed and not change in different gears. Same would apply to Universal Joints or wheel bearings.

Could it be worn engine mounts, that 'resonate' at a particular frequency, or gearbox problems?

Its unlikey to be a 'flat spot' in the power delivery as the speeds mentioned are right where you would expect the engine to be doing most of its work, so the designer will have ensured the smoothest possible arrangement of balancing, carburation etc.

murph wrote:Hi Vedubfan,
Are you sure it is not the front wheels out of balance, this would cause these sort of symptoms.

Brian2

Thanks for that, I will get them checked out asap and report back.

Hi Vdubfan,
Wheel balance is the easiest item to check, but if simptoms persist you now have a few other is suggestions, any good tyre fitter will have a wheel balancing machine.


Brian2

Easiest check is to lift the bonnet and get sombody to run the engine up to the rpm where there is an issue. If it goes all demented and looks as though its trying to escape the engine bay you have the answer.

Still think unlikey to be wheel balance if it smooths out when you go faster. Usually it keeps getting worse as you speed up, till you can't hold the steering wheel and all your fillings fall out.

If the same happens at the same speed in 4th gear then the problem could be driveline (wheel/driveshaft etc. imbalance) If it happens at a lower speed in 4th then the problem is engine related.

Hi again vdudfan.

Being a bit of a vehicle nut, buying lots and lots of cars vans and the like at auction. The vibration that occurs when the front wheels are out of balance tends to start between 40 and 50 MPH but nearly always smooths out at 60 MPH. Its as if you can drive through the vibration stage. Having had this on numerous vehicles a wheel balance cured it every time.

Good Luck. Whisky.

[quote="matchlessman"]Easiest check is to lift the bonnet and get sombody to run the engine up to the rpm where there is an issue. If it goes all demented and looks as though its trying to escape the engine bay you have the answer.

Still think unlikey to be wheel balance if it smooths out when you go faster. Usually it keeps getting worse as you speed up, till you can't hold the steering wheel and all your fillings fall out.[/quote

Have run engine and no noticable vibration while stationary.

whisky wrote:Hi again vdudfan.

Being a bit of a vehicle nut, buying lots and lots of cars vans and the like at auction. The vibration that occurs when the front wheels are out of balance tends to start between 40 and 50 MPH but nearly always smooths out at 60 MPH. Its as if you can drive through the vibration stage. Having had this on numerous vehicles a wheel balance cured it every time.

Good Luck. Whisky.

Cheers,mines a Jameson please. Do you have a favourite? ( whisky)

vdubfan wrote:
Cheers,mines a Jameson please. Do you have a favourite? ( whisky)

Yes! Critical requirements are 1) Distilled and bottled in Scotland. 2) 40% by volume alcohol. 3) Cheapest available!

So far the record this year has been a delightful palate tickler by local Supermercado at €3.70 a bottle.

Tastes like diesel but after the first three I can't even hear the engine never mind feel any vibration!

Best regards,

vdubfan wrote:

whisky wrote:Hi again vdudfan.

Being a bit of a vehicle nut, buying lots and lots of cars vans and the like at auction. The vibration that occurs when the front wheels are out of balance tends to start between 40 and 50 MPH but nearly always smooths out at 60 MPH. Its as if you can drive through the vibration stage. Having had this on numerous vehicles a wheel balance cured it every time.

Good Luck. Whisky.

Cheers,mines a Jameson please. Do you have a favourite? ( whisky)

I think you'll find a Jamesons is a whiskey

dandywarhol wrote:
I think you'll find a Jamesons is a whiskey

I realised they couldn't play rugby a couple of weeks ago but it never dawned on me that they couldn't even spell!!

Must be all that vibration!

Best regards,

Hmm.

Actually the nickname I have had for most of my life has nothing to do with the drink.

And if I have a short or two it's a Brandy. (drink to many of them really)

Cheers. Whisky.