Hi everyone - It's been a while since I posted, but until recently, my car's been a good girl. And as usual, this will be a long post since I'm trying to be specific

I have a 2004, standard transmission, 121,700 miles (original clutch), daily driver. In the past year I've only had to replace the alternator and drilled out the key ignition thiingy on the steering wheel when the wheel would lock up (that was a bag of fun....not). Normal oil changes, radiator flushes, recharge the a/c since I have to use that every single day of the year (it's a bit on the warm side over here). No accidents, tires are decent (probably due for a new set in the next few months), no alignment issues. I'm the only driver of this car, as my husband somehow cannot fathom driving a stick shift. This is my baby, so I don't beat on the car, and the roads I driver her on are typical paved highways.

So far, my little ladybug gets me to and from work (about 75 miles roundtrip) in the south TX heat, no problem. But this past weekend when i was running some errands, when I started the car (on errand stop #3), the engine, the entire car vibrated very LOUDLY to the point that it scared me. I immediately turned off the car, opened the hood, no lose belts, nothing looked out of the ordinary. When I restarted it (no problems starting the car), same noise, but I had to get home. Getting her into reverse, then 1st gear was a bit mushy, but I was able to drive her home, vibrating all the way (not as much fun as it sounds as I was scared to death she was going to explode). The tach stayed normal, shifting into the higher gears was okay, temp stayed normal, etc. Get her home (about 2 miles away), switched her off, then restarted this time no noise. The next few days I didn't drive her (the sound was really scary), but I kept restarting the car, no weird noise.

Yesterday morning (Wed), I restarted the car, no weird noise, figured out it was probably a fluke, and had no problem at all driving her the 35 miles to work. At the end of the workday, got back in the car, again had no problem starting her, no weird noise, started driving her home. At about 10 miles in, while in stop and go traffic, the vibrations start. Again, tach stays steady. I pulled over, put her in neutral, and revved the engine. I could see the tacometer rise, but the vibrations of the car were so loud and strong that I could not hear nor feel the car rev. NOW, I really needed to get home, as there are really no decent mechanics anywhere nearby and most local tow companies stoop to legal extortion to tow a car across the county line. Since the car was already running, I opted to see how far I could get her close to home.

Shifting in the lower gears was okay; I was spooked, so I knew I was pushing the rpms higher than usual and I think to me it seemed a bit sluggish. BUT - once I got into 4-5-6 gears, the noise, the vibrations all stopped. No vibrations once I got home and had to slow down. This morning, no vibrations, but I'm using my husband's car until either he comes home from sea or I can figure out what is wrong with the car.

I already checked with the search engine on this forum, but any type of thread regrading vibrations are either with the car already in motion, or tire or steering wheel issues. But the few times I've been brave enough to use this car, the vibrations show up with the car parked and in neutral, or already moving and stopped in traffic. I don't smell any burning, no leaks, nothing.

I'm totally stumped. Could this be something like the cluth going, even if the clutch isn't engaged? This is the original clutch.

Any ideas?

 

Dual mass fly wheel.
Its that simple.

Change the flywheel, disk and release bearing.
Problem solved.

To explain how this problem of yours occurs....
Dual mass means ... two parts... there is an inner and an outer disk of steel. the outer ring of steel is where the starter ring gear is and the clutch face. the inner ring/disk is bolted to the engine crank shaft....
The inner and outer disks of steel that make up the flywheel are seperated by a set of very stiff springs about an inch long.....
The idea is the when the car is under load, rotational backlash and slop is taken up via these springs and does not shock the transmission and engine so much.

Unfortunayely, when the springs fail... the outer and inner disks of steel rotate eccentrically and out of balance causing the exact issue you have.

Change the complete clutch set of parts incl flywheel clutch disk and release bearing in one go URGENTLY before you put too many miles on her.

Regards
Grant B

This needs fixing before u drive any where else, or u will destroy the gearbox input shaft + bearings, and prob crank bearings too.

 

Thanks, Grant. I did a quick search for the DMF, got sticker shocked, then calmed down. I have a decent mechanic near my house, so I'm heading out of work today and stopping by the shop with a printout of this thread. Would all this be considered part of replacing the clutch? I haven't driven the car since coming back from work yesterday. What confuses me is that even with the vibrations, she still shifts okay (outside of a mushy first gear) and when there is no vibrations, there are no shifting issues. And a bigger 'wha?" was that the vibrations first happened with the car parked and in neutral.

All things considered, I hope that I haven't FUBARed my car too much from the drive home after the vibrations started.

Thanks for your help and advice. I'll post the results.

 

The vibrations will likely be more promenant when stationary and revving the engine. the shifting will work ok as you found out.
The only way to explain it properly is to see the parts or do a sketch....
Bu you WILL need all 3 parts i mentioned and specify the whole clutch kit incl flywheel also....

Its likely you will gwt away with no gwarbox damage, but get the repairer to check the movement on the gearbox input shaft and get an assesment on the oil seal and bearing slop.

Regards.

 

Got it. Now I hope my mechanic can do the whole thing.

 

There is a thread that was posted this last couple of weeks that basically covers everything you and your mechanic will need to know.. probably search keywords "dual mass" and find the thread.. with lots of pictures too!

https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...ight=dual+mass

found it...

and the cleaned up version

https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...-04-coupe.html

 

This is another shining example of why this is the best forum on the net.

 

Blaizes Shimmer....
Getting in and out is a doddle,

You have a Left hand drive machine ?

As you crawl out.... plant your left hand on the sill to push yourself up and out when your feet BOTH touch the ground..... much more elegant & you dont fall face down on the tarmac by the road side.

Good Luck :-)

 

You guys are great - Mrmiata, I did see the Transmission or Clutch thread, and have saved it on a zipdrive so I can show thi sto my mechanic - I wasn't 100% sure it was the same issue as those of my car since outside of a sometimes mushy first gear (which could be due to me panicking), I have no issues iwth shifting gears, plus no one noticed a really loud vibration (the car sounds like it's humming and you can literally see the car vibrating). I'm going to drop the car off at the shop on Monday; the mechanic mentioned that he'll check it over, and that it more likely sounds like a 'resonance' issue? Not too sure of the exact wording.
My XFire is still overdue for a new clutch, so I'll probably go overboard and have everything changed.

And Grant, yup, that's how I get out of my little car...took a bit of practice.


And FriendlyFire, you're right about this forum...outside of this potential clutch issue, all of the issues I've had with this car (mostly typical wear and tear), I've been able to find information here and work on my car myself. (and no, my husband doesn't buy me pink tools to work on the car...I have my own professional grade set)

Thanks again, guys - have a great Father's Day for those that are dads!

 

You know, if I got divorced.. and you got divorced.. I'd sure like to meet up and spend a weekend together!

(I've got some leaking valve covers.. and don't you have to let them set overnight?)..

Thanks for the Father's Day wishes.. and best of luck with your Crossie!