Vibration at 60+mph - feels like a massage chair!!! need help...

[ToyotaF1]

Hi !!!

I have a 2001 Sport (stock). It started about 2 weeks ago that whenever I go past 60mph, the car starts to vibrate - just like when you sit on one of those massage chairs!!! . The whole car vibrates whenever I'm on the throttle, but when I lift off of it you can barely feel the vibration. It gets really annoying...

I've done and searched all the vibration problems on this site and nothing compares to what I have. Most of the posts say that the vibration only lasts a couple of seconds, mine lasts the WHOLE TRIP...

I tried to rotate my tires as I thought it might be my tires but to no avail. At first I thought it could be my tires but I played with it while I'm on the freeway by putting it on neutral while doing 65mph and it would stop vibrating.

I'm guessing that it might be mechanical but I'm not too sure. I would like to know before I take it to the dealership if you guys have any opinions... I'm totally lost...

Thank you in advance!!!!

 

[Solice]

Usually something like that would be caused by the wheels being out of alignment. That's the most common issue. But you said it goes away when you take your foot off the pedal? I'm not a mechanic by any means but maybe it could be a broken engine mount? That's the only thing I could think of if it only shakes real bad when the engine is under load.

 

[ToyotaF1]

Thank your for the reply!!! I was actually thinking of that too but I don't really know where to start... thanks...

I might take it to the dealership tommorrow and find out what it is. I still have warranty on it and hopefully it's covered. any other suggestions will definitely help... thanks again in advance!!!

 

[coolpop]

If the vibration practically disappears when you take your foot off the gas, you need to have them check the driveline.

 

[Solice]

When your sitting still in Neutral or Park and rev it up high does it shake bad too or is it only when you moving?

 

[ToyotaF1]

When your sitting still in Neutral or Park and rev it up high does it shake bad too or is it only when you moving?

it's only when i'm moving... standing still on neutral or going at slow speeds it's fine... but once 60 hits... it starts vibrating....

If the vibration practically disappears when you take your foot off the gas, you need to have them check the driveline.

that's what i'm afraid of ... that's what my first guess was though...



I'm taking it to the dealer tommorrow... I just hope and pray that whatever it is... it's still covered by warranty....

i'll let you guys know when I get it back....

 

[Spider5]

Check the U-joints of the driveshaft.

 

[bulldog-yota]

Check the U-joints of the driveshaft.

:iagree:

 

[ToyotaF1]

Thank you very much guys/gals...


is this something that I have to grease of something ??? I remember someone mentioning that to me...

 

[bulldog-yota]

You probably have to replace the U-joints if the vibration is bad. It is always a good idea to lube u-joints on the 4wds. If it is a 2wd they are normally sealed.

 

[ToyotaF1]

Sup Guys,

I just got back from the dealer. They said it was most likely the tires. It was either starting to go bad and need new ones or I need an alignment. They said there was nothing mechanicallyl wrong with it ( I hope they're right).

As far as the u-joints are concerned, they said the 01 Sport does not use a U joint but uses a "spider" joint I do have a 2WD btw..

Anyways, I did mention about the motor mount and they said that I would definitely feel it even though it was under 60

I know my tires are almost gone... about 40-50% tread left. I might just switch them with a buddy of mines and see if it's the cause....

Thank you very much for all your replies and I will definitely let you guys know wassup...

Any other thoughts would definitely be appreciated!!!!

 

[ToyotaF1]

Sup Guys / Gals...

I just wanted to post the status of my 01 sport.

I bought new tires for it and the vibration did not go away. I took it back to the dealership since they told me in the beggining that it was tires and nothing else.

Well... Spider 5 and Bulldog was right... it was the U joints and the drive shaft needed to be replaced. They are replacing the whole driveshaft and U-joints/. It was a tough fight trying to get the warranty to work for me( 100,000 mile warranty) but it will be covered so all I pay is 50 bucks

Anyways... thanks again for everyone's input... !!!

 

[mnarcticcat]

WOW! This is amazing, with a simple search I find my fellow Toyota 4Runner owners are experiencing my pain as well.

Here's my story:

I purchased a 1997 4Runner with 169,000 miles on it last October. I've had Tacoma's prior & I love this vehicles!

At around 174,000 miles I'm experiencing the same problems as all of you are stating. I've had this thing in the shop about 5-6 times now & still nothing has been found.

I've done the following:

- Balanced & Rotated the tires (2 times!)
- Changed all of the Gear Lube over to Amsoil Synthetic Gear Lube
- Replaced U-Joints & Balanced the Drive Shaft

Still, nothing has helped. The local shop told me they would just wait until something breaks if there's truly something wrong with it. (I did not like that answer!) This is our family car & we're expecting our first child in April & don't want to be sticking my child in a car that I'm not sure is 100% mechanically sound!

The only thing I've done to this vehicle is installed a Lund Bug Shield, & OME Rear Leveling Springs.

Any.........ANY advice would be "EXTREMELY" appreciated! If I can't get this thing fixed soon I'm getting rid of it! The vehicle is worth around $5500-$6500 still & I've already lost about $400 trying to diagnose this problem. If it was worth more I might be willing to invest more.

Thanks for all of the valuable info all of you guys provide! This is a great forum!

Best Regards,

Eric (MnArcticCat)
- Minnesota

 

[mcintyre]

Me too!

Hey all,

I seem to have the same problem with my '00 4Runner. I just recently developed what can only be called an "engine knock." I live in Germany, and at first I thought I may have just gotten a bad batch of gas on the Autobahn. Unfortunately, it hasn't gone away, and in fact has gotten worse. It only happens when I press the gas, and seems to get worse going uphill, when the engine works harder. I also noticed that it seems to be much worse on very cold mornings. Also, unlike some of the earlier posts, I don't need to get it up to 60-70 mph - it happens as soon as I press the gas. I just purchased all-weather tires and had them balanced a couple months ago, so I know that can't be the problem. I haven't taken it in to the dealer yet, but I wanted to get some ideas on what it might be first. It's a 2WD, so I don't think it would be the U-joints (or would it??)

As with the other posts above, any ideas would be very helpful.