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car is abruptly shaking

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Old Jun 26, 2009 | 10:33 PM
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Default car is abruptly shaking

So i turn on my car, in park, turn on the air conditioning and the car is vibrating too much. Also when I'm driving, and come to a stop light, the shaking gets even worse. Anyone know what's the problem? Couple co-workers think its the motor mount, others think when i turn on the air it could be the coolant, maybe need a reflushing; i dunno. Any related experiences; do tell, and help me solve this issue. [most certain im gonna be responding late to this, gotta start my route again] thanks scionlifers.
Old Jun 26, 2009 | 10:41 PM
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What RPM is it idling at?
Old Jun 26, 2009 | 11:55 PM
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at idle power brake the car while having someone look at the engine, there should be some movement when a load is put on the engine but if there is excessive movement its probably an engine mount, turning on the a/c will increase the engine load therefore increasing the rpm so that could just be enough to cause the shaking
Old Jun 27, 2009 | 12:26 AM
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How many miles? CEL?

Did you recently disconnect your battery? or did the batt. drain out? If so, give the ECM some time to relearn the parameters. Our throttle control system is drive-by-wire and it may need some time to readjust, even with A/C on during idle. ECM also needs to relearn the pwr steering inputs as well. Ofcoarse, this is all speculation. Since you live out in the deserts of Arizona where gravel roads are common, you can check out your air filter and clean your MAF sensor with electrical cleaning solution.

I had similar symptoms. I replace my air filter and cleaned my MAF sensor. No hesitations afterwards.
Old Jun 27, 2009 | 01:30 AM
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My TL does the same thing it never happened in my TC. just let it warm up for about 10 minutes before you go and it wont do it.
Old Jun 27, 2009 | 01:32 AM
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Originally Posted by ack154
What RPM is it idling at?
1600-2000
Old Jun 27, 2009 | 01:42 AM
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Originally Posted by sw09
at idle power brake the car while having someone look at the engine, there should be some movement when a load is put on the engine but if there is excessive movement its probably an engine mount, turning on the a/c will increase the engine load therefore increasing the rpm so that could just be enough to cause the shaking
yeah we did that at one of my stops. they said the engine did move quite a bit. but what woulda caused my engine mount to give up?
Old Jun 27, 2009 | 01:44 AM
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Originally Posted by SCIONOSIS
How many miles? CEL?

Did you recently disconnect your battery? or did the batt. drain out? If so, give the ECM some time to relearn the parameters. Our throttle control system is drive-by-wire and it may need some time to readjust, even with A/C on during idle. ECM also needs to relearn the pwr steering inputs as well. Ofcoarse, this is all speculation. Since you live out in the deserts of Arizona where gravel roads are common, you can check out your air filter and clean your MAF sensor with electrical cleaning solution.

I had similar symptoms. I replace my air filter and cleaned my MAF sensor. No hesitations afterwards.
2007 tc with now 72000 miles. cel b/c i have a fujita intake, but now its been off for awhile. the battery may have drained out too, b/c i have a rockford fosgate p2s, and i used to just turn my car half way on, instead of it running on the alternator. maybe, ya ima have to clean my whole engine bay.
Old Jun 27, 2009 | 02:02 AM
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mine did the same thing now when i turn my ac on no cold air but also no vibration so idk go from there ..... it must be the ac in some way
Old Jun 27, 2009 | 02:22 AM
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Originally Posted by marx_tc602
Originally Posted by sw09
at idle power brake the car while having someone look at the engine, there should be some movement when a load is put on the engine but if there is excessive movement its probably an engine mount, turning on the a/c will increase the engine load therefore increasing the rpm so that could just be enough to cause the shaking
yeah we did that at one of my stops. they said the engine did move quite a bit. but what woulda caused my engine mount to give up?
the engine mount might not have been tightened all the way causing it to loosen or break, it could be corroded to the point that it broke, take it to a shop to get it diagnosed
Old Jun 29, 2009 | 09:37 AM
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Originally Posted by marx_tc602
Originally Posted by ack154
What RPM is it idling at?
1600-2000
wtf?!!? 1600?? am i the only one who thinks this is weird.. my car idles at like 800-900rpms..
Old Jun 29, 2009 | 02:09 PM
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Originally Posted by BlkTC
Originally Posted by marx_tc602
Originally Posted by ack154
What RPM is it idling at?
1600-2000
wtf?!!? 1600?? am i the only one who thinks this is weird.. my car idles at like 800-900rpms..
It really depends on how long the car has been on and how hot/cold it is that day. When I start my car up in the morning, its pretty cold and my car idles at like 2000 RPM for about 10-20 seconds then slow drop down to about 900-1000 RPM. The engine is just warming itself up getting ready for some driving. Its not a big deal.
Old Jun 29, 2009 | 02:15 PM
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Originally Posted by justint
Originally Posted by BlkTC
Originally Posted by marx_tc602
Originally Posted by ack154
What RPM is it idling at?
1600-2000
wtf?!!? 1600?? am i the only one who thinks this is weird.. my car idles at like 800-900rpms..
It really depends on how long the car has been on and how hot/cold it is that day. When I start my car up in the morning, its pretty cold and my car idles at like 2000 RPM for about 10-20 seconds then slow drop down to about 900-1000 RPM. The engine is just warming itself up getting ready for some driving. Its not a big deal.
That's because it's warming up.

If OPs car is idling at 1600-2000 RPM, something is very wrong.
Old Jun 29, 2009 | 05:33 PM
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Ya, when i turn my car on, sits around 1500 but after a bit it is 800-900. The A/C causes vibration in my car but I just live with it.
Old Jun 29, 2009 | 05:38 PM
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Also, what do you consider 'vibrating too much'? I idle at about 580-630, and with the A/C on, I can literally see my steering wheel vibrating, and I think that's fine.
Old Jun 29, 2009 | 05:46 PM
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You guys should check your spark plugs and run some injector cleaner through your gas tanks BIG TIME. It is a 4 banger but my xB is nothing but smooth and at idle it is scary smooth with the intake shaking the most from the air pulsing into the engine.
Old Jun 29, 2009 | 05:52 PM
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I think carbon has stiffer motor mounts, in which case the car will vibrate more. I dont think the car needs a tune up, lol

I have an engine damper and my car vibrates a little bit. Its gotten better than when I first had it, but im guessing its because the damper is looser/broken in a bit.
Old Jun 29, 2009 | 05:56 PM
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Originally Posted by RCZDesigns
I think carbon has stiffer motor mounts, in which case the car will vibrate more. I dont think the car needs a tune up, lol

I have an engine damper and my car vibrates a little bit. Its gotten better than when I first had it, but im guessing its because the damper is looser/broken in a bit.
Yeah I do, but what I was trying to get at, was that his opinion for 'too much vibration' is different than others. I personally like the fact that my car has some shake to it at idle, whereas he might think ANY vibration is bad. All tCs have a slight vibration at idle when the fans/AC kick on and he might think that vibration isn't normal.
Old Jun 29, 2009 | 07:08 PM
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maybe op has polyurethane motor mounts or a torque dampener and he's failed to mention that to us.. lol
Old Jun 29, 2009 | 07:15 PM
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Are we talking "can't see out the rear view mirror" vibration or my fingers are a little blurry on the steering wheel vibration. These engines have balance shafts in them so they should be pretty smooth at most RPMs.



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