Date:         Thu, 18 Mar 1999 11:26:32 -0800
Reply-To:     John Mates <jmates@ICHIPS.INTEL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Mates <jmates@ICHIPS.INTEL.COM>
Subject:      bad vibrations
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

Dear List Members:

My patient is an '86 Syncro Weekender.  Symptoms:  bad vibrations

        1) Strong vibration at middle RPMs at 50 mph.
           The car shakes so badly that I think that
           ancillary problems may occur.

        2) The vibration happens ONLY under load, but
           it seems especially strong under a light load.
           Otherwise the car drives as smoothly as silk.

        3) With the hatch up, I have noticed that the
           engine vibrates strongly when accelerated
           into the middle RPM range by hand (sitting
           in the garage in neurtral.)

My fixit efforts:

        1) New tires all round. Rotate wheels.  No effect.
           (Rear tires were badly worn.)

        2) New rear wheel bearings, and brakes.  All new
           rear CV joints. (One rear bearing was worn out
           and one rear brake tended to lock on.)  No
           change, but better brakes.

        3) Replaced driveshaft with another used driveshaft.
           No difference.

        4) Replaced front diff with another used front diff.
           No change.

        5) Currently replacing engine mounts, guessing that
           the old ones were worn out.

If #5 (engine mounts) doesn't work my remaining guesses are:

        1) Engine misses at certain RPMs and I need to have
           the engine examined.  Could this shake the car?

        2) Transmission.  Is this RPM dependant shaking under
           load a common symptom of a bad transmission?

Since the engine already seeps slightly at the heads, and since
the remaining possible solutions I am looking at (engine, tranny)
are very expensive, I'm feeling the need for advice ...

I'd really appreciate comments.

John
jmates@ichips.intel.com


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 John Mates, Intel Corp.

 JFT
 5200 NE Elam Young Parkway
 Hillsboro, OR 97124-6497

 jmates@ichips.intel.com
 (503) 264-8023
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