Frontside Shaking *911?*

[djramey]

Just curious if anyone is familiar with the following problem and the solutions they made.

As I was rounding a corner today quickly, I started to notice an extreme shake throughout the care coming from the front probably under the hood. The shake came when idling slowly or sitting. Kept the car running at home and opened the hood to see the engine shaking .5 - 1 inch in each direction.

That's the extent of my mechanical knowledge however. I looked at the fan which seemed to be a bit out of line but I wonder if that had anything to do with it. I was low on fuel and filled up thinking that might have something to do with the problem. No avail.

Plugs have been changed in the last 5 months as well. My question is if this is a common problem. When I accelerate the shake disappears only to reappear when under 10mph.

Later in my drive after I left home I noticed the shake became a little more mild or very faint only to become extreme again. I've noticed this shake in an Infiniti that my mother owns before but that seemed more like the car was going to die (aka spark plugs wet or something). This is more of a constant and uniform shake.

That's the best I can do. Anything else you guys can let me know would be greatly appriciated.

[Kevin325i]

Where's your car idling at? If the idle is dropping really really low the flywheel won't have enough momentum to carry the crankshaft around. I think you should be idling around 900 rpms.

Also it might be engine mounts, anyone else got a second opinion?

Kevin

[djramey]

Sorry, also must add the car is an automatic. I'll check the RPMs tomorrow at idle but like I said I think, the car doesnt sound as if it is going to die or anything, just that the engine is physically shaking quit quickly sometimes.

[bitcore]

Have you changed oil\filters recently?

[djramey]

I'm about due but do you think that could cause it?

maybe getting a little sticky in the tubes huh?

[Autotechnica]

I got confused by your post when I saw "911". I thought you were trying to say that you drove a Porsche 911, but then I saw that you said the engine was in the front.

Anyways, a rough shaky engine is usually caused by worn engine mounts. Get a mechanic to check these out for you. The engine makes the whole car vibrate more at idle when the mounts are worn. It would be most noticeable at high RPM's.

Bry

[skawful]

also check the tranny mounts, that can be a B*tch

[Andrewsd1985]

Sounds like mounts to me.

[VarakaCreamCraka]

Originally posted by Andrewsd1985@Apr 30 2004, 09:47 AM
Sounds like mounts to me.

yep sounds like engine mounts, i had 1 (felt like it exploded) when i was on the motorway doing about 80 mph thought i was gonna spin out and die, cost me about £600 for lots of new bits on the car to sort it out.

[djramey]

Its sitting at the shop for a diagnostic right now. Won't get through til Monday.

Was leaking like a faucet today of what I think was coolant though my power steering fluid was empty.

Would the shaking tear either of those apart to make it do that? Or vice versa, would either of those breaks cause the shaking?


I'm just hoping it won't cost a fortune. It's a bad time. Found a new radiator on ebay for 140 so thats pretty easy to install. Would save me heaps if I can do it myself.

[roguesniper1]

Originally posted by djramey@Apr 29 2004, 07:27 PM
. The shake came when idling slowly or sitting. Kept the car running at home and opened the hood to see the engine shaking .5 - 1 inch in each direction.

. I looked at the fan which seemed to be a bit out of line but I wonder if that had anything to do with it.

You figuered out the problem. I bet, it is the fan. Thats, why the shaking also varies. Depending how hard your fan is working. Typically, on low speed your fan is gonna work hard and that equals more vibration. Get it fixed ASAP.
Also, change your water pump. It is garbage now, because, all that hard work it had to do during the extensive vibration.

YES, engine vibration can cause extensive damages, the number one thing to go, always is water pump. ghead