shaky shaky

[elica85]

hey, my 4runner shakes only when i accelerate. it just started doing this out of no where. it's a 1998 3.4L, 2WD. things i've done so far:

1. got brake rotors turned (they were badly warped) so thought it was a possibility
2. replaced spark plugs, air filter, put in some fuel injector cleaner
3. finally took it to a mechanic to run some tests and found the O2 upstream sensor to be reading off.

that was the only thing he was able to find after testing the coil overs, inspecting u joints, and got some other readings but everything else was fine. i replaced the O2 sensor and it's running better but it's still shaky and don't want this to become a big problem. i looked up on advance's website where you can click on symptoms you have and it tells you what the problem might be and it says i need a new TPS but when i googled the symptoms for a bad TPS, i don't see anything like mine. tranny fluid's good, oil's good, everything seems good. what the mechanic didn't notice and i forgot to bring up, was when you put it in reverse, it shifts hard. also only a couple of times during the summer, the engine cut off after idling for a while with ac running but was able to start again right away. i'm new at this and googling my way through this so if anyone replies, please explain as if you're explaining to a child, thank you!

 

[koulee]

My guess would be the nuts under you that hold the tranny and driveshaft in place. Get under there and check with a wrench.

 

[elica85]

thanks, i checked and they're good

 

[XJeepguy]

If your stationary and you rev up the engine , is the same shaking there ? Or is it only while your actually moving ?

 

[elica85]

only in drive. since replacing the O2 sensor, i notice it most at 25mph and around 65mph. haven't gone past 65 since i'm a bit nervous now.

 

[elica85]

i don't know if i'm imagining it but it seems to be getter everyday...i guess the new sensor fixed it and it's just taking a while for the comp to catch up?

 

[Ron Helmuth]

front end shaking or the whole body?

Shaking through the steering wheel itself or shaking the vehicle such that the rear view mirror wobbles or you feel it through the accelerator as you give it gas?

Front end shake very common could be as simple as tires out of balance or alignment needed or more complicated suspension parts up front like tie rods and ball joints.

Body shake is typically drive train related-the drive shaft or U joints as you mentioned were checked.

State your location with your "name". Could be a local expert on this very forum would help out just a block down the street from you.

Warped rotors would only cause shaking while braking. You're throwing parts at an undiagnosed problem. Talk it out with many folks before spending your hard earned $$.

 

[elica85]

everything was shaking and yea, the rear view mirror's shaking. i did talk to a lot of people and had them all drive it around, check everything and no one was able to figure out what the problem was. i did the work myself and just had a friend help me with the brakes so i'm not spending a lot. i've been wanting to get the brakes done because the braking was getting ridiculous and the friend said it was a possibility even though the truck's only shaking during acceleration cuz the rotors could be touching other parts if it was warped enough and cause vibration. sounds funny but why not just get it done (for free, minus parts) and see. suspensions are due for replacement but again, it was just shaking during acceleration. the tires are a few months old and had the alignment done when i got them and had the tires balanced twice and it was perfectly fine 'til now. i am trying to avoid spending $ on parts on this undiagnosed problem and that's why i finally took it to a mechanic. he did check the drivetrain. he was able to find just the bad O2 sensor so i replaced it and it seems to be getting better. it's not shaking anymore and almost unnoticeable most of the time 'til i look at the mirror. i am noticing a new symptom though, when slowing down, i can 'feel' it when gear's shifting down. not sure how to describe it, i can just 'feel' it. i'm in georgia so not close to you.

 

[Ron Helmuth]

look to the left side by people's names

Georgia is a big place but we have members there. Edit your sign in under USER CP and put a city and GA. Like I said there could be one of us-ok not me-right down the street. I've had guys come over and test drive my ride and in 2 minutes tell me exactly what they thought it was. And they were right...

Okay if your O2 sensor was bad then your check engine light must have come on yes? If not your O2 sensor probably was not bad.

It sounds like you are narrowing it down to the transmission...by your comments about feeling it slow down or whatever. You don't state manual tranny so I presume auto. Fluids okay? Had a recent flush or just a fluid change? May need it. Opinions vary so read up on that.

Keep talking- we'll get it solved.

 

[elica85]

thanks, will update my profile info. yea the engine check light never came on which was weird so i hope it's not malfunctioning. but i was with the mechanic every step of the way and he was nice enough to explain everything. when he was doing the sensor reading, the upstream was reading higher than the downstream. the downstream was where it should be (i can't exactly remember what it was...600'something' at full throttle) so he suggested just the upstream was bad. he knew that i wasn't going to pay for any labor. i didn't know the check engine light should come on until i did research when i came home. it is automatic and the fluid looks good, amount's perfect too. i believe my friend checked the tie rods and ball joints but i should double check...i don't even want to type these words cuz i'm afraid it will come true...but it's almost like a grinding kinda feeling...gulp. but very subtle.

 

[elica85]

update...haven't done anything new but i'm noticing more and more of this "grinding" feeling. that wasn't the right word though...i guess kinda like rubbing. now it's anytime i'm pushing the gas pedal past 40mph. the bumpiness/shakyness is still there at any speed but that's prob the worn shocks. this rubbing feeling...i don't know. really can't afford to take it to another mechanic. and really can't afford to lose my mode of transportation.

 

[downpour11]

do you feel any sort of resistance when you accelerate past 40mph? how are you feeling the rubbing? in the steering? I'm hearing a scraping metal on metal from my front end and I'm pretty sure its just my crap wheels scraping against my calipers or something. But the shudder you have is a different story.

I'd get it looked at again cuz it is getting progressively worse. Am I correct?

I had an old jeep grand cherokee years back and i had the shudder and clunking when accelerating and I looked at it and my rear axle was leaking everywhere... yeah i just sold it to some arab guys off craigslist- they paid me 3500 in all crisp $10 bills lol thats not a type-o...ten dollar bills

 

[elica85]

it's so hard to explain...i guess there is a little resistance with the rubbing. or i'm resisting to go any faster...i feel it in the pedal, the steering, floor board, i see it in the mirror, i hear it when i have something in the cup holder... definitely not hearing any scraping.

 

[downpour11]

yeah I'd get it checked out before something REAL bad happens. It could be your tranny, gears, I don't know, hard for me to say without driving it tho I'm no mechanic, but get it fixed asap!

 

[Ron Helmuth]

sounds exactly like the rear U joint I just had replaced. Verify of course before you just change it out- but symptoms sound identical to what I was experiencing. Part is roughly $55 from Toyota parts zone.

 

[elica85]

so even after having 2 guys inspect the u joints, i took your advice and replaced them. SURPRISE SURPRISE!!! it fixed the problem!!! i can't believe i've been driving around paranoid this whole time when it was the u joints all along! i can't wait to give my knowledgeable friend some hell...well, he didn't take the driveshaft all the way out so can't really blame him. but the mechanic did and didn't see the problem. i was able to feel stiffness without a doubt in the front u joint. replaced both though. thank you all for your help, i'm so glad i joined the forum

 

[Ron Helmuth]

sweet

Nice! I love being right! glad to hear you got it solved and so much more peace of mind now.

appreciate you updating us on what it was that made the fix-this is how we all learn.

 

[elica85]

i want to cry. u joint def needed the replacement and i test drove around the neighborhood last night and it was a smooth ride. went to school this morning and once i got up to around 55mph, started hearing a crazy rumbling drumming sound. even when i let off gas. WTF

 

[brian2sun]

sounds exactly like the rear U joint I just had replaced. Verify of course before you just change it out- but symptoms sound identical to what I was experiencing. Part is roughly $55 from Toyota parts zone.

I 2nd the u-joint as the possible problem.

 

[Ron Helmuth]

yah Brian he did the u joints but now sounds like a different issue.

Let's hear more about this rumbling sound elica. In the back end? any sign the rear axle seals are leaking?