crazy vibration (my cars gonna fall apart!)

[4g6beat]

Hi everyone.

Now that my engine can get past 4000 rpm (without choking) i have espied a new problem (what a suprise :x ) anyway i always use to get a vibration at 3-3.5 (mainly felt like gearbox but that could be because im sitting next to it) but my engine would choke at 4 so i assumed it was in relation to that and also a bit to do with my crummy clutch.

However now that everything is reving freely i realise that the vibration is still there it rattles realy loudly at 3.5 and then theres a steady vibrating till about 5-5.5 when it gets louder again, at 3.5 my gearknob has a fit and it feels like everythings a bit wobly and strained. I know that the balancer is there to stop vibration at 3-3.5 could i have a broken balace shaft?

anyone had anything similar?

oh yeah when i look at engine running the balancer looks like it's not turning prperly could all this just be the balancer itself that stuffed?

thanks everyone :)

[SpidersWeb]

Spark plugs can cause that, if they're old or mismatched, found that in my car.

Other things to check besides the balancer (which unless moving in the opp. direction doesn't have a big effect anyway) include your engine mounts.

Also I named my Staz Mr Rattles, in each section of the car something rattles. I do get a bit of gearbox vibration in 1->3rd gear, but mint cruise in 4th and 5th.

Also my car really packs a big spaz at 3500rpm when cold. Likes to warm up first.

[Alspos]

Ok, as far as I know a Starion doesn't have a harmonic balancer, just a crankshaft pulley. It is bolted with a bolt in the centre and a pin also locates it. If the engine spins, it spins with it. Is it out of round or buckled? Is that what you mean by it not turning properly?

Personally it sounds like you've dropped the lower balance shaft belt or the shaft is 180 degrees out. You need to take off the plastic front cover off the engine (pain in the butt job) to check the belt is still there. If it is, you need to line up all the timing marks and check the shaft is in the right spot. There's a bolt in the block you take out and stick a screwdriver in to check where it is. Can't remember if it goes in a little and it's ok or goes in a lot and it's ok. Have to look it up.
Check your engine mounts are tight too, just in case vibration has undone them making the whole thing worse.

[4g6beat]

Thanks for your replies

I'll change the spark plugs this arvo bought some yesterday (good timing)
,heheh mr rattles gotta love it :)

Thanks Al. i'll check all the mounts this arvo and see if can get the cover off for a gander. Any tricks to getting it off? i was thinking just remove the outside belts and pull the cover off (still a huge pain in the but to do though :( ). If my mounts are stuffed where can i get replacements anyone got any part numbers and know how much it's gonna cost?

[Alspos]

Tricks, no. It's just a bit of a painful excercise cos some of the bolts are hidden by other things.

One bolt holds the power steering pump bracket on. You have to undo the bracket to get the plastic cover from underneath it. Unless you have bendy in the wrong direction fingers or girlie thin fingers you have to almost completely remove the power steering pump and reservoir to get at all the bolts holding the bracket on to the head.

One bolt is behind the crankshaft pulley, you have to undo the 4 bolts inside the pulley to remove it and get to the bolt behind it.

Just takes a little time.

Also note where the bolts came from on the plastic cover. they are different lengths and need to go back where they came from.

Hope this helps a little.

[4g6beat]

Thanks sounds like this is a job for tommorow when i have time and patience heheh.

girlie fingers eh.... looks like i'll have to get my little sister or one of the neighbourhood kids involved bwahahahahah i'll pay them in zooper doopers or even better not pay them at all :o

[Cookiemonster]

Al is spot on. It's a balance shaft problem... could be a broken belt or they are not aligned properly.