When I am accelerating from 45-50 I get a vibration. I just got new tires, replaced a rim, and did a 4 weel alignment. Could this be a sticky valve, a problem with the fule system, or what? I have about 22K on the car, and have always done maintenance on or ahead of schedule. everything is smooth except when I hit 45 MPH and then I feel bump bump bump, I hit 50 and everything is smooth again?

 

Could be a lot of things. Wheel bearing, CV join, Axle, ball joint... If you hit something hard enough to bend a rim, you may have tweaked any number of other parts.

 

Since it is an issue that I only notice during a small window of acceleration, I am now leaning to it being a powertrain issue.

 

what year is your car and is it auto or manual?

 

06 Mt

 

Did the vibration just start?

 

I just started to notice it several weeks ago. After you get new tires, you pay particular attention to how everything feels. After new tires and an alignment on a car with 22K you expect everything to feel perfect.

 

Any of the possible causes I mentioned are capable of producing vibrations only under certain conditions. Vehicle speed and rate of acceleration can most definitely factor into those conditions. Don't be too quick to overlook those items.

Are you getting any shimmy at the steering wheel? Does the vibration vary with vehicle speed? Any noises associated? Does changing gears have any influence?

 

Are there any symptoms beyond a vibration? Car pulling to one side as you accelerate? Does it happen only when accelerating or when braking as well? Does it happen when you turn the wheel, and if so do you get a clicking noise?

 

only between 45-50. Don't feel it when I floor it. Usual driving speed is 4th gear. Get it when going strait. Don't notice it when breaking. Just during the normal acceleration from 45-50.

 

Check your tach. Is it a light vibration & if you accelerate in 4th gear from 45mph does it go away when your tach reaches 2000-2200rpm.

 

Since the tires are new, my first step would be to have the shop re-balance them and then make sure that the two that required the most weight are mounted in the rear. if the vibration persists, the alignment may be out of spec, or you may have some worn/faulty suspension components. Ball joints and tie-rod ends would be the most obvious suspects. Beyond that, maybe an axle, motor mount, or some sort of transmission issue.

 

happens in 3rd and 5th gear as well. just those speed ranges under acceleration only. Had the tires re-ballenced. they were right on spec. allignment was right on spec. I think that it is something in the powertrain.

 

Are you feeling it in the steering wheel? I would say take it somewhere else and try a rebalance of the tires on a good machine (preferably "roadforce" if they have it) - this sounds like a wheel balance issue and some shops just don't know how to balance tires properly because there are a couple different methods depending on the type of rim. Case in point, when I bought my 06 auto TL, I noticed the dealer used the "sticky" weights on the inside base of the rim and the car rode perfectly. I just replaced all 4 tires and I noticed that the shop that did the mounting only put the clip-on weights on the inside lip of the rim. I was sure they were going to vibrate on the highway but I was pleasantly surprised to get all the way to 90mph with no vibration at all. When I had after-market rims on my Maxima, anything other than sticky weights caused major shimmy in the wheel.

A really quick test would be to switch the front with the back wheels and see if that affects the vibration at all - it might move from the steering wheel to the seat or disappear completely.

 

This is an excellent suggestion.

 

still think that it is some kind of sputtering in the drive train. I had it into the tire place 3 times. he moved the tires all around, re-ballenced them, and finaly replaced a rim. This place only does tires. I was working with the owner and watched him do it. this guy has been installing tires on high end cars for 27 years. The ballancer was computerised and looked pretty high tech. Used the "sticky weights" like the TL comes with. It hadd all sorts of blinking lights and flashy screen savers on it.

She (Kobi) also drinks the good stuff, Shell 93

 

I think its an ignition timing issue. I would expect a light vibration accelerating from 45mph in 4th, 5th or 6th if you are under 2000rpm. I would not expect it in 3rd.

 

Hmmm Timing? The TL dosn't have a coil does it? isn't everything elctronicly timed?

 

Distributor-less ignition. The only way the timing could be off is if the timing belt jumped. I which case you would have much bigger issues than just a slight vibration.

 

if the timing belt jumped, I would think that there would be very bad serious signs happening.

 

I am starting to think that it is an issue between 2500-2750 RPM. IDK I am concerned that if I Sea Foam, that I will need to change the plugs

 

22k, well this is no normal problem at all this miles or any.

Could be bad fuel pump maybe, or hopefully you didn't miss-shift your MT TL there and over0rev the engine

I have seen tire shops that have a bad balancer, I have balanced many new tires put on by tire shops.

 

describe the vibration more..

i have a 'side-to-side' vibration arnd 45-55. it feels like my car is shaking left to right, you can even see my exhaust shake left to right. i'm thinking its an axle issue for me

 

wow i have the same problem...got my wheel re-balanced 4 times and the 5th time i got sick so i got brand new tires and hoping it would stop the vibration...it did but only last about a week and now when i drive about 65mph or so..my steering wheel would shake ..and i still can't find the problem....check my aftermarket wheel to see if it bent and it not...i don't know if anyone know please let me know...thanks