Vibrations while your car's engine is running can be maddening. It's often difficult to pinpoint their their origin. For example, suppose one of the engine mounts has broken. The engine might nestle against the side of your vehicle's frame, causing a vibration that seems to rattle the entire car. Likewise, a vibrating drive shaft or suspension can also be difficult to diagnose.
Nearly any component with moving parts can cause vibrations. This makes identifying the source problematic. For this reason, you may need to have your mechanic or a dealership technician diagnose this issue. The downside is that doing so can be expensive, especially if it requires a lot of time. Below, we'll offer a few suggestions that may help you avoid a large diagnostic bill.
Harmonic Balancer
This component is attached to the front of the crankshaft and is responsible for minimizing vibration in the crankshaft and engine. There is a metal ring located in the middle, which is encircled by a rubber insulator. The insulator is encircled by an outer ring. The metal ring in the center can be knocked out of place if the insulator breaks, or otherwise fails. If this occurs, the outer ring can bounce and create a vibration. The noise will grow more pronounced as the rpms increase.
Engine Mounts
Engine mounts are designed to connect your motor to the frame of your car, and thus minimize vibrations. They are built with a piece of rubber that sits between two metal plates. One plate connects to your engine and the other connects to the frame. The rubber provides a small measure of elasticity. When the mounts fail, the surface of the engine touches the frame and causes a vibration.
Flexplate
A flexplate connects the torque converter to the crankshaft. It is also the lever through which the starter turns the engine over. This component helps to balance the engine with counterweights, which are typically welded directly onto the flexplate. On rare occasions, the counterweights can become detached and cause a vibration.
Thus far, we've limited the discussion to problems that can cause vibrations when your engine is running, but your vehicle is at rest. From this point forward, we'll turn our attention to parts that vibrate when your vehicle is in motion.
Tread Wear On Your Tires
Your tires can develop a cupped pattern on either side of the tread. This is usually an indication that the struts or shocks of your suspension system are worn. Cupping can also be caused by your tires being out of balance. When this happens, the tire causes a vibrating sensation because the uneven tread touches the road erratically. As you might expect, this causes the tread wear to worsen, which, in turn, causes a more pronounced vibration.
Drive Shaft U Joint
Your car is equipped with universal joints that are attached to the drive shaft. Each joint is designed with four caps that allow rotation and transfer power from the motor to the differential system. The rotation function is made possible partly by grease, which lubricates the joint. A U joint that fails will cause a steady vibration while your vehicle is in motion.
Axle Bearings
Axle bearings are constructed of steel and are designed to withstand wear and tear. They are responsible for keeping your vehicle's weight supported while your tires move. Normally, the axle bearings should last for the life of the car (usually up to 150,000 miles). They can fail, however. When they do, the weight of your vehicle is thrown off-balance, which may allow metal to touch metal. This causes a vibration. As a side note, this component cannot be repaired; it must be replaced.
If you notice something vibrating when idling or driving, and have difficulty locating the source, inspect the components listed above. By doing so, you can identify the failing part so your mechanic can spend his time repairing or replacing it.
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