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Vibration in idle

S

spyder63

Full Member
Joined
Aug 15, 2002
Messages
43
Location
Lubbock, TX.
Does anyone have this problem? After engine is completely warmed up I have a vibration in idle in gear. Anytime I stop it's there. If I increase the engine rpm about 100 rpm it runs smooth. This is a 5.3L engine. I've had several of these engines in the past and none had this problem.
Does anyone know if the idle rpm can be increased by reprograming the computer?

Thanks
 
Vibration or rough idle?

When was last fuel filter change?
Try running Mobil 87 octane.
Try Lucas fuel system/Injector cleaner
 
I've had the same thing for a few weeks. Vibrates every few seconds while at a complete stop. Doesn't vibrate continuously, just for a second or two, then smooth for a few seconds, then vibrates again for a second. It started when the weather got cold. Don't know if the weather has anything to do with it, but it was interesting how they happened at the same time. Let us know if you find a fix or a cause.
(y)
 
The dealer is telling me that they have a damper they can install on the exhaust pipes. One on each exhaust pipe just after they come off the exhaust manifolds, and on the tail pipe behind the muffler. These units are clamped to the pipes and are filled with sand. they are suppose to act as a harmonic balancer for the exhaust system.
If you have someone put their foot on the end of the tail pipe and push down while your in the vehicle holding the steering wheel the vibration will go away. This makes me think the sand filled units might work.
I'm going to put a few more miles on mine before I take it in to get this done. I'm hoping it might go away by itself.

westex
 
Just picked up my new 66 and after the firs 500 miles I noticed the same thing. I agree, if you increase the rpm?s slightly the vibration goes away.
 
Spyder63, I had the exhaust dampners installed on my 04. They work great; no more vibration. You can't even tell they're there. Make sure your dealer takes their time installing them. My service advisor told me they experimented with placement of the dampners to get the optimal effect.
 
I have had my 2003 Avalanche for 6 months. I have had it in 5 times to correct the vibration at idle. The exhaust system has been replaced and weights put on the exhaust. No luck. It still vibrates. It is so annoying. The dealer said he is unable to correct the problem. Has anyone done a "trade buy back"?
 
SDPat,

I got the dampeners installed yesterday. They made a great improvement. They put 1 of them just in front of the muffler, and the other on the tailpipe where it goes over the rear axle. Where did they position the one's on your avalanche?

Thanks,

Spyder63
 
You guys having this done under warranty? Any had this done under warranty AFTER the dealer notices an aftermarket muffler?

I can feel this vibration at idle through the streering wheel, but to be honest, it hasn't bothered me. That is until you mentioned it here :rolleyes:

:)
 
Have had my rig only a few days but have noticed that very slight vibration in gear when in idle too. Mine is minimal enough so that it doesn't so much bother me so long as I know that nothing serious is wrong. If it's only an issue of bagging the pipes, I am in no hurry to run back to the dealer - yet.
 
Mine was done under warranty. The total cost of repairs was around $160.00. I guess this is what the dealer bills to GM.
 
Have an 04 - 4.2 with the vibration at idle, in Drive when the truck is warm. Took it to the dealership. Last week they installed 4 new Exhaust hangers. This removed about 75% of the vibration. At least now it is not an annoyance like earlier. I can probably live with the little that is there now... It still feels like either the engine or the catalytic converter is the root cause of this problem.
Also if I reve the engine just a little above idle, the vibration goes away also.
Good luck,
Ed
 
Hmm, I do not know if I had the same problem as this or not. I had what I would call a rough idle, it would clear up with just a little RPM increase. After I installed Taylor Thundervolts it went away! And another thing that they did, I have a turbo muffler and I can hear the exhust tone in the cab. When driving at hwy. speeds and I would let off of the gas, I would hear a little plut plut plut as the RPM's were coming down. With the Thundervolts this was the first thing that I noticed that was differant. The plutering is gone! I think the better spark is just burning the gas better.

Butch
 
I heard back from GM Customer Service stating that the vibration at idle is a characteristic and they were sorry that I was unhappy with the vibration that has not been fixed after 5 visits and offered a Smart Pak Offer - 24,000 miles for oil changes. They are requesting to close my file. I declined their offer and will be filing a claim with the Better Business Bureau. Any one else had an offers like this?
 
i am a new member and i also have the dreaded 'vibration in idle' in my 04 AV (1500 miles). my buddy does not have it in his 03 AV. the info on this subject has been very helpful. in my latest conversation with chevy cust service (today!), they would not even admit there is a fix for this issue! pretty irritating! i now will take the printouts from this site about this issue to my dealer and ask him to do this fix. anybody have any more info about this fix that i can take with me?
 
Does anyone know if there is a TSB on this problem? I have an 04 Z66 with the exact same problem.

I just got the cracked passenger mirror fixed under warranty yesterday only after showing the dealership this site and the thread on mirrors cracking. I have a feeling that I will have to do it again for the vibration?
 
as of last week, there is no tsb on this issue. there also is no published gm fix for it. chevy cust service denies any knowledge on this issue (of course they would!). i also took info from this site to my dealer. he now has authorization from his region service rep to add the dampners to my exhaust system. i am presently scheduling getting this done. i am hopeful it will fix my issue. i will keep you infomed. if you have not called chevy cust service, please do so - the more of us that complain the better. please also keep us informed on your progress on this issue via this web site. Thx Mike
 
Update. I just returned from a dealer in hopes of getting rid of the idle vibration. When the mechanic sat in the AV and pressed the brake his first comment was that it was the worst he had felt. The first place they looked was the brake system. What they found was an aluminum tube that connects the booster to the power steering pump was touching the brake booster. They moved it out of the way and it seems it might have been part of the problem but not all of the vibration was gone. I mentioned what I read on this site and asked them to step on the tailpipe as I pushed on the brake. This definatley made a difference. So, it looks like the majority is coming from the exhaust system. Now I have to make an appointment and take it in and leave the AV all day. I'll keep you posted.
 
I too have noticed the vibration at idle when the engine warms up. I have 1400 miles on my Av. I called several dealership service departments. No one except me has complained with this problem they said.I found this website and it is great. I then went to a dealership with the info. I got from you other Av. owners.To make the story short as possible they installed the weights but the placement did not seem too effective.From what I got from this site I relocated them myself and the problem is 99% cured. They installed two weights,one on each side just below the manifold which I moved to the tailpipe, being placed at the top of the bend over the axle.I placed them both at the three o'clock position. I placed them on the same hanger,stacked you might say.The other two weights are just in front of the muffler(towards the engine).Also at the three o'clock position and both on the same side of the muffler as the other two were on the same side of the tailpipe.I hope this helps someone else as it has helped me.
 
I have a 2004 with only 500 miles on it so far and I've got the vibration idle syndrom. I'm in now hurry to return to the dealer to have it fixed. It's a minimal vibration and one of my planned mods is to replace the exhaust.

Jim
 
Mine doesn't have 500 mines on it yet but it has a very slight vibration. Doesn't bother me except it makes my accelerator pedal vibrate when I have my foot on the brake. Never noticed it on my other one. :B:
 
I don't know if this will help at all, but I was having the same problem, lots of vibration at idle. Mine was a rough idle. I ended up putting in new spark plugs and now it's fine. My #1 and #3 spark plugs were fouled. Now it idles great. Any idea why the plugs would foul? Hope it's nothing serious. Hope this might help. Andrew R.
 
I crawled beneath my avalanche to find the part number on the vibration suppressors and one of the bolts holding it in place (pipe clamp bolt) obscures part of the number. However the last four digits are 9232 and it says genuine general motors part on it. Some dealer is giving you the business. He has to know exactly what it is all about. I too found some dealerships to be less than forthcoming with the information. Good luck.
 
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