2002 Highlander occasional violent shaking at ~35-45 mph

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

ansonhatch@sbcglobal.net - 04 Dec 2007 07:23 GMT

Over the last few years our Highlander has had very infrequent but
alarming problem of shaking violently at speeds of about 35-45 mph.
This vehicle only has 47k miles and has been well-maintained. The
shaking can last for up to a couple of minutes. If we decelerate the
shaking stops and doesn't happen again usually for weeks or even
months at a time. People at the service department just give a blank
look when I tell them about the problem and that I'm worried something
is wrong with the transmission. They tell me they can't do anything
without being able to drive it and reproduce the shaking. It happens
so infrequently I'm not sure how to trouble-shoot it or ask for
help.

Has anyone else had this happen? Any ideas what it is? I don't want
to ignore an issue that needs to be fixed and I don't want to be
stranded going over donner pass later this month. It happened just
the other day where it was shaking violently at about 40mph and then
continued to shake as I slowed almost to a stop. It was the first
time it persisted as I slowed down so I checked to make sure I didn't
have a flat. The tires were all fine and when I started up again the
ride was smooth. This is much different than the air pressure waves
you can get inside the vehicle when the windows are down. It is
something mechanical. I don't really feel the steering wheel shaking
and is not associated with braking. Any help?

Reply to this Message

Ph@Boy - 04 Dec 2007 13:36 GMT

> Over the last few years our Highlander has had very infrequent but
> alarming problem of shaking violently at speeds of about 35-45 mph.
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> something mechanical. I don't really feel the steering wheel shaking
> and is not associated with braking. Any help?

This is a tough one on a NG so this is just a guess.

Check closely for a broken rear spring coil and that both shocks are
dampening. Check both struts and their springs for weakness, dampening,
or damage. Put the vehicle on a lift to do this inspection so you unload
the suspension.

The drive train might be getting into just the right harmonic to cause a
shake because of a weak or broken suspension component(s).

Reply to this Message

Danny G. - 05 Dec 2007 22:29 GMT

Wow, is the shaking effected by the load on the power train? I would
imagine applying more power to a power train problem would make
the shaking much worse.

Is the shaking effected buy the road conditions? Something like a wheel
with a totally blown shock can let the tire get bouncing clear off the ground
at highway speeds.

Regardless I would be worried about the car not being safe to drive on the
road.

GL
Dan

Reply to this Message

ansonhatch@sbcglobal.net - 06 Dec 2007 05:47 GMT

> <ansonha...@sbcglobal.net> wrote in messagenews:d60e4433-dee5-4166-82e5-fb91f529d6f7@s19g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
> > Over the last few years our Highlander has had very infrequent but
[quoted text clipped - 36 lines]
>
> - Show quoted text -

I couldn't answer either the load or road conditions. It's usually
routine in-town driving and my reaction is to slow down when it
happens. It has never happened on the freeway yet but that is a
worry. I'll definitely look into the shocks and spring coil. Like Ph
said above that could explain the intermittent shaking based on the
right conditions for harmonic feedback.

Thanks for the comments and I'll let you know what I find out. Any
other ideas please let me know :)

Reply to this Message

Danny G. - 07 Dec 2007 17:48 GMT

> On Dec 5, 2:29 pm, "Danny G."
> <dan...@pacbell.net> wrote:
[quoted text clipped - 91 lines]
> you know what I find out. Any
> other ideas please let me know :)

Ya, Take it to the service department
and tell them something is wrong
with it that could cause a accident.
I'm sure they will take a very close
look at it before giving a car with a
safety issue the OK written on their
work order.

Reply to this Message

Ray O - 11 Dec 2007 06:23 GMT

>> <ansonha...@sbcglobal.net> wrote in
>> messagenews:d60e4433-dee5-4166-82e5-fb91f529d6f7@s19g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
[quoted text clipped - 49 lines]
> Thanks for the comments and I'll let you know what I find out. Any
> other ideas please let me know :)

Start by checking that the wheels are properly mounted and the lug nuts are
properly tightened.

Signature

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

Reply to this Message