[BVAMotorsports]

I just got my car aligned today, and on the way home decided to check it out a bit. The car has been driving very smoothly, with a bit of an idle vibration (which I've been told is pretty normal for 16V engines. Anyway, I got on it pretty good, and with it raining, it spun a bit in 2nd and 3rd, no biggie. Well, after that brief bit of fun, now whenever I accelerate the engine, I get a nasty vibration from about 3000 rpm up.
I thought maybe I ripped a side motor mount (I'm running all new rubber mounts, TT front and rear, stock side mounts), but I jacked up my engine with my floor jack to check for movement, and next to none. I put the car in gear with the E-brake on, slowly disengaging the clutch as I watch the engine, and still virtually no movement of the engine whatsoever (tried it in first and reverse). The vibration is related to the engine, because it does it even when it's not in gear, and regardless of road speed.
The car actually runs like a stripped a$$ ape, but this vibration has to get fixed.
I am stumped and hoping that someone else has been through this before. It was running very smooth after idle before this afternoon, can't imagine what happened.
Thanks,

 

[A1Rocco]

Re: Strange Engine Vibration, help needed (beetlevdubn)

How many miles on the engine?
James.

 

[85gti1]

Re: Strange Engine Vibration, help needed (beetlevdubn)

I hope someone answers because My 16v does the same thing. Its worst from 3000 to 4000.

 

[stevelangford]

Re: Strange Engine Vibration, help needed (beetlevdubn)

check the exhaust and exhaust hangers

 

[BVAMotorsports]

Re: Strange Engine Vibration, help needed (stevelangford)

Only about 65K on the engine.
I think I may have figured it out.... check out the following thread in the A2 forum, it appears that I may have the pressure plate/flywheel on wrong.
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zeropost?cmd=reply&id=1376215
I just replaced the clutch a couple of weeks ago, hadn't driven it hardly at all until today, but the problem wasn't there until I got a little crazy with it today.
Any opinions from the A1 world?

 

[BVAMotorsports]

Re: Strange Engine Vibration, help needed (stevelangford)

Exhaust, hangers, lower stress bar, etc. all look totally fine, and as mentioned, there is virtually no movement of the engine.

 

[GDR]

Re: Strange Engine Vibration, help needed (beetlevdubn)

Check your timing. If the flywheel or PP are on wrong your timing mark will be way off. Also the front face of the ring gear is machined on the flywheel. Being a machinist I would assume this face is parallel to the back mounting surface so you can use the front face to check for and run out. If you can't see it thru the timing hole take your starter out and look in there.


[Modified by GDR, 4:46 AM 12-2-2001]

 

[BVAMotorsports]

Re: Strange Engine Vibration, help needed (GDR)

Excellent point, I'll pull the starter and start from there. Isn't it strange though that the vibration didn't start immediately?

 

[jpawl]

Re: Strange Engine Vibration, help needed (beetlevdubn)

I have had a few odd vibrations that were related to rpm only, around 3K to 4K, in both and 8v and a 16V Rabbit. Both cases turned out to be an inner cv joint on the passenger side. In the 16V, I could even feel the vibrations thru the shifter.
Good luck,
Jim

 

[BVAMotorsports]

Re: Strange Engine Vibration, help needed (jpawl)

I just replaced both CV shafts, I would hope that a simple spin out in the rain wouldn't have caused the problem.... actually, nevermind, I already determined that my issue was engine related. I get the vibration whether its in gear or not at 3000 rpm and up.
Thanks for the input.