Yesterday while driving to work I had to make an evasive maneuver to avoid being hit by a bus at the intersection, needless to say I accelerated, turned, and braked pretty hard here in LA(Road conditions are bad i.e. cracks bumps, etc). Immediately after reaching the next light, I came to a complete stop and to the car began to vibrate excessively, I put the car in park/neutral and the vibrations went away. No engine light came on. When I got home I inspected the side engine mount for any play but nothing(gave all the bolts some extra tightening), topped off the power steering fluid(just in case), checked engine/transmission fluids, and come up empty handed, the problem persist only when in Drive (D4,D5,D3,D2,D1, trip tonic) and stopped at red light or stop sign.

I can isolate the issue to the event that occurred, I don't believe it's wrapped rotors since the car is stopped. Any suggestions? The car is an 2001 ATUO TYPE S, 180000 miles. I'm always punctual with maintenance. This problem is extremely annoying.

Maybe IACV, vacuum leak? Spark plugs?

 

Does it happen when the cooling fan comes on. Or is this happening regardless of engine temperature?

The main motor mounts are vaccum actuated to help reduce vibrations. It's possible something snapped, they get rusted out on the bottom when they get older.

Due to the fact you explained this all happened after an evasive maneuver. I would think its a vac line that broke or something small.

Do the Rpms look ok when u get the vibration or does it try to fluctuate sometimes?

 

It occurred Regardless of temperature. The problem went away by itself but I began to notice a slight squeaking noise coming from the right side wheel/suspension. When I put weight on the front right side of the car I hear a squeak.

 

K when suspension moves and u hear a high pitched squeak. Usually that's a end link which attaches the sway bar to the control arm. I could also be the sway bar itself squeaking on the bushings mounts that hold it to the frame of the car but that's pretty rare on oem bushings.

Typically if it was the strut or spring the car would have drivability issues.

But since u have vibrations all the time. Maybe something gave out when u made that crazy maneuver and is snapped or almost broken entirely, and is now picking up the vibrations transmitting them into the car.

Think to yourself where the vibrations are most noticeable and then get under the car preferable on a hoist and see if anything is mangled.

I'm guessing you may have visible damage.

Check the sway bar end links, they should be able to slightly pivot with decent hand pressure. If they seem to be binded then that is the squeak. Always replace both at a time. Keep things symmetrical.

If u have ur car on a hoist then u can check everything, suspension play, bushings, tie rods, ball joints.

Hopefully you will find a pinch point where two things are touching and that should be the vibration. But if you are not so lucky then your going to have to be much more thorough. Really inspect the bushings ( they have to be significantly worn to cause a constant vibration tho) and also inspect the motor mounts. Which is hard to do.

If u have a vacume gauge or access to one, see if they hold a vacume. If they don't then they are garbage.
Lastly I would be looking under the hood of the car. Maybe something is loose and is resting against the motor or the side of the car.

You gotta be persistent and keep an open mind. Never look just at one thing.

Good luck boss. May the force be with you. :-)

 

Thanks man. Well I lifted the front of the car and tried to see if there was any play in the suspension by tying to move/wiggle the tire but nothing. nothing was appeared to to be broken, I used a crowbar to leverage any moving parts but nothing. I'm beginning to suspect the lower engine mount or one of the transmission mounts.