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Car Forum / Toyota / Toyota Cars / February 2009

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low speed vibration

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badgolferman - 26 Feb 2009 13:25 GMT
My 97 Camry has developed a vibration at low speeds.  It seems to be
coming from the right front area and isn't apparent anymore after
getting above 45 MPH.  I suppose it could be a tire but am suspicious
of the motor mounts and/or front axle.  Any hints on how to determine
the cause before taking it in?
Conscience - 26 Feb 2009 13:37 GMT
> My 97 Camry has developed a vibration at low speeds.  It seems to be
> coming from the right front area and isn't apparent anymore after
> getting above 45 MPH.  I suppose it could be a tire but am suspicious
> of the motor mounts and/or front axle.  Any hints on how to determine
> the cause before taking it in?

Rotate the tires first.  If that's not the cause, open the hood and
watch the engine while someone else starts the car.  If it wobbles a
lot, that might indicate a bad motor mount.  Another possibility is a
bad strut.

Good luck.  I'm outta here until next week.  Got a plane to catch.
Reasoned Insanity - 26 Feb 2009 13:47 GMT
>> My 97 Camry has developed a vibration at low speeds.  It seems to be
>> coming from the right front area and isn't apparent anymore after
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Good luck.  I'm outta here until next week.  Got a plane to catch.

What really scary is having a motor mount bolt come out and to have the
engine resting on a fender. That happened in my first car.
ransley - 26 Feb 2009 14:47 GMT
> > My 97 Camry has developed a vibration at low speeds.  It seems to be
> > coming from the right front area and isn't apparent anymore after
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> Good luck.  I'm outta here until next week.  Got a plane to catch.

Agree, but maybe its the CV joint, mine was a tire with a broken belt
nobody could see even with the tire off the rim,
C. E. White - 26 Feb 2009 13:47 GMT
> My 97 Camry has developed a vibration at low speeds.  It seems to be
> coming from the right front area and isn't apparent anymore after
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> determine
> the cause before taking it in?

My first step would be to rotate the tires front to rear and see if
that changes the vibration.

Any change in the vibration when turing, accelerating, or applying the
brakes? What happens if you use a lower gear (assuming this is an
automatic). Where do you feel the vibration (steering wheel, body
shake, etc).

Have you checked the boots on the front axle? How many miles on the
car? If the boots ae good, and you have less than 100k miles I would
be surprised if it was the axle. If you have a lot of miles, have you
considered it might be the ball joints or tie rod ends?

Ed
badgolferman - 26 Feb 2009 14:29 GMT
>>My 97 Camry has developed a vibration at low speeds.  It seems to be
>>coming from the right front area and isn't apparent anymore after
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>My first step would be to rotate the tires front to rear and see if
>that changes the vibration.

Mine too.

>Any change in the vibration when turing, accelerating, or applying
>the brakes? What happens if you use a lower gear (assuming this is an
>automatic). Where do you feel the vibration (steering wheel, body
>shake, etc).

Don't remember if there is a change.  I feel the vibration in the
steering wheel and the body.  The steering wheel wiggles a bit left to
right and the vibration can be felt down by my feet.

>Have you checked the boots on the front axle? How many miles on the
>car? If the boots ae good, and you have less than 100k miles I would
>be surprised if it was the axle. If you have a lot of miles, have you
>considered it might be the ball joints or tie rod ends?

I checked the boots last time I changed the oil and they seemed fine.
The car has 160K miles.  I am worried of the mechanical components you
mentioned also.
C. E. White - 26 Feb 2009 14:39 GMT
>>>My 97 Camry has developed a vibration at low speeds.  It seems to
>>>be
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
> you
> mentioned also.

Well with that sort of mileage, it could be almost anything, but I'd
still think the tires are the most likely culprit.

Years ago I had a Fiesta with high mileage that developed a front end
vibration. Like you, I suspected the front axles. Even though the
boots were good, I decided to clean and regrease the CV joints. And
this eliminated the vibration. My theory was that the grease in the
joints had gotten old and the joints were binding slightly, casuing
the vibration. I guess I was right since repacking the joints fixed
the problem.

Ed
Ray O - 26 Feb 2009 21:06 GMT
>>>My 97 Camry has developed a vibration at low speeds.  It seems to be
>>>coming from the right front area and isn't apparent anymore after
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
> The car has 160K miles.  I am worried of the mechanical components you
> mentioned also.

Besides rotating the tire, check tire pressure.  A tire that is very low on
pressure can cause a wobbling sensation.  Look for mud caked on the wheels.
Jack up the front of the car, support it properly on jack stands, and check
to see if there is any play in the front wheels, which could indicate a worn
ball joint or rack end.  Make sure the top of the strut is still connected
to the strut mount on top of the wheel well in the engine compartment.

Bad motor mounts generally cause vibrations or noises at idle or when the
weight of the car shifts under acceleration or braking.
Signature


Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

badgolferman - 27 Feb 2009 12:31 GMT
>>>>My 97 Camry has developed a vibration at low speeds.  It seems
>>>>to be coming from the right front area and isn't apparent
[quoted text clipped - 36 lines]
>Bad motor mounts generally cause vibrations or noises at idle or when
>the weight of the car shifts under acceleration or braking.

All my tires were 7-8 psi below where I normally keep them.  I pumped
them up this morning and it seems to be riding better but my commute
was short so I'll check again later.  Thanks for the tip, hopefully
that was the culprit.

P.S.  The check engine light has not returned in two weeks.  Maybe the
shift solenoid has healed itself (keeping fingers crossed).
ransley - 27 Feb 2009 15:02 GMT
On Feb 27, 6:31 am, "badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolfer...@gmail.com>
wrote:

> >>>>My 97 Camry has developed a vibration at low speeds.  It seems
> >>>>to be coming from the right front area and isn't apparent
[quoted text clipped - 46 lines]
>
> - Show quoted text -

If you fill up gas with the motor running sometimes the check engine
light will come on and stay on for many cycles
badgolferman - 27 Feb 2009 15:51 GMT
>On Feb 27, 6:31 am, "badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolfer...@gmail.com>
>wrote:
[quoted text clipped - 55 lines]
>If you fill up gas with the motor running sometimes the check engine
>light will come on and stay on for many cycles

I was referring to this prior conversation regarding the Check Engine
light.

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.autos.toyota/browse_frm/thread/888d6b8f1bd238
4f/4b9cf27957143599?hl=en&lnk=gst&q=shift+solenoid+e#4b9cf27957143599

Ray O - 27 Feb 2009 17:48 GMT
>>>>>My 97 Camry has developed a vibration at low speeds.  It seems
>>>>>to be coming from the right front area and isn't apparent
[quoted text clipped - 44 lines]
> P.S.  The check engine light has not returned in two weeks.  Maybe the
> shift solenoid has healed itself (keeping fingers crossed).

thanks for the update!
Signature


Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

 
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