Rumbling vibration at dead stop
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Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Lexington SC
Rumbling vibration at dead stop
I have 01 A4 that I just recently purchased. I've had it for 5 weeks now and I'm having a reoccurring rumbling vibration noise that only happens when I'm at a dead stop. Usually while waiting at a traffic light. When I start moving again the noise goes away. Yesterday, it happened again. I bumped it up to neutral and the noise went away. So, I'm assuming it's coming from the transmission or somewhere in the drivetrain. By reoccurring, it's happened about 4 or 5 times during 500 miles of driving. Has anyone had the same problem that I'm having? Thanks in advance.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 18,401
Likes: 3
From: Retired but working
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Make sure that both of the springs on the exhaust are in place. I take it is is an A4. Torque may have the pipes just barely touching something under there. I had a spring off and it made a rumbling sound. 
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,843
Likes: 16
From: Howell Michigan
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
Check the exhaust system first. If not that you could have something going on with the propshaft. How many miles on this new to you Corvette?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 50
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From: Lexington SC
I put on a catback exhaust system right after a bought it and the right side over the axle pipe rests up against the side of the transmission. I tried to pull it away but it won't move away enough to clear the transmission. It's one of those NXT Step Performance systems. Hopefully, it's just the exhaust system and not a transmission problem. It has 163,000 miles on it...mostly highway miles. The previous owner had it since it had 6,000 miles on it and took really good care of it. I knew by buying a Vette with this many miles, that I was looking at having some serious problems down the road. I got a pretty good deal on it and am prepared to tackle any problems that arise...to keep my dream of owning a Vette alive. I'll try to look under it this weekend and see what I can do about that pipe. Thanks for the suggestion.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 180
Likes: 1
From: Oshkosh WI
I've had this problem intermittently as well. I searched for it on the forum a few months ago and it seems to be fairly common. I haven't checked my exhaust yet as it doesn't happen all the time and if you raise the RPMs by a couple hundred or so with one foot on the brake, one on the gas, the noise stops. I think if it was something serious it would happen all the time. Let us know what you find out. If I ever have time in the near future, I plan on putting mine up in the air and checking the exhaust.
Tim
Tim
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,431
Likes: 3
From: Iowa City Iowa
I bought my 2000 vert in 2004 and it's done it since day one. I even changed the alt and pully tensioner and that didn't fix it. I also changed exhaust system to a Corsa PC and their X pipe. Guess what- it's STILL there. This is not an uncommon sound/noise in these cars. My recommendation, live with it (turn the radio up if you must
)
)
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,461
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From: Dyer, IN
I bought my 2000 vert in 2004 and it's done it since day one. I even changed the alt and pully tensioner and that didn't fix it. I also changed exhaust system to a Corsa PC and their X pipe. Guess what- it's STILL there. This is not an uncommon sound/noise in these cars. My recommendation, live with it (turn the radio up if you must)
)
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,431
Likes: 3
From: Iowa City Iowa
Lucky131969- here's a news flash for you. There is a GM Service Bulletin for a "drivetrain rumble" at idle and it is to CHANGE the Alt. on cars prior to 2001 to the alt.(found on 2001 and later cars) with the black nose (clutch) type.. The SB also states to change the belt tensioner. This action was also recommended by an very experienced Master GM certified technician on another very popular Corvette forum. So, my recommendation was not pulled out of my dark place, it was given based on GM Service Bulletin information and a recommendation from a very experienced technician. NOW "you know the rest of the story"
Last edited by RSchleder; Feb 10, 2010 at 05:11 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,461
Likes: 1,166
From: Dyer, IN
Lucky131969- here's a news flash for you. There is a GM Service Bulletin for a "drivetrain rumble" at idle and it is to CHANGE the Alt. on cars prior to 2001 to the alt.(found on 2001 and later cars) with the black nose (clutch) type.. The SB also states to change the belt tensioner. This action was also recommended by an very experienced Master GM certified technician on another very popular Corvette forum. So, my recommendation was not pulled out of my dark place, it was given based on GM Service Bulletin information and a recommendation from a very experienced technician. NOW "you know the rest of the story"
So you have some sort of vibration under your car (which obviously still exists...possibly drivetrain..who knows) and a "GM Master certified tech" told you there was a service bulletin for this issue...and at the end of the day....your problem remains after you followed his advice. So much for the "very experienced Master tech"........
How's that for a news flash.......
Racer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 319
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From: Pembroke Pines Florida
It appears to be very common with A4 vettes, it happens to mine once in a while at a stop light, generally I notice it after coming to a harder/quicker stop then just coasting down. I believe that its the torque converter, simply throwing it in neutral and back into drive corrects the problem.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,722
Likes: 138
From: Florida
St. Jude Donor '09
I put on a catback exhaust system right after a bought it and the right side over the axle pipe rests up against the side of the transmission. I tried to pull it away but it won't move away enough to clear the transmission. It's one of those NXT Step Performance systems. Hopefully, it's just the exhaust system and not a transmission problem. It has 163,000 miles on it...mostly highway miles. The previous owner had it since it had 6,000 miles on it and took really good care of it. I knew by buying a Vette with this many miles, that I was looking at having some serious problems down the road. I got a pretty good deal on it and am prepared to tackle any problems that arise...to keep my dream of owning a Vette alive. I'll try to look under it this weekend and see what I can do about that pipe. Thanks for the suggestion.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,774
Likes: 363
From: Midland TX
I have 01 A4 that I just recently purchased. I've had it for 5 weeks now and I'm having a reoccurring rumbling vibration noise that only happens when I'm at a dead stop. Usually while waiting at a traffic light. When I start moving again the noise goes away. Yesterday, it happened again. I bumped it up to neutral and the noise went away. So, I'm assuming it's coming from the transmission or somewhere in the drivetrain. By reoccurring, it's happened about 4 or 5 times during 500 miles of driving. Has anyone had the same problem that I'm having? Thanks in advance.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 6,569
Likes: 2,404
From: Redacted
My 2003 Z06 (manual obviously) has the same rumble when you first start it up and occasionally at stop lights...It started only after I had installed Long Tube headers/Cats/X pipe. After the car warms up, it goes away. Ive looked high and low and I cant find any place where anything is rubbing but Im assuming something with the exhuast is just barely tapping something. Its been doing it now for the better part of 3 years with no damage to anything...Ive learned to live with it but I know many people expect Mercedes levels of refinement from their American sports car. I figure with the amount my car shakes due to the big ole cam, some things are bound to squeak...personally I like it!! Gives the car personality
Racer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach VA
I've been working on this problem with my 2000. The oem balancer was going bad so I replaced it and expected the noise to stop but it didn't. It was reduced, but not gone. I also replaced the tensioner but that didn't help.
I bought a Katech manual tensioner but that made the problem worse. Then I watched while someone put the car in drive and the serpentine belt bounced like crazy coming off the alternator pulley while making the noise. Based on this thread I may try replacing the alternator.
To isolate the pulley system, take the serpentine belt off and start it. You can run it for a couple minutes without the belt, just watch the temp. When I did that on mine, the noise was completely gone.
I bought a Katech manual tensioner but that made the problem worse. Then I watched while someone put the car in drive and the serpentine belt bounced like crazy coming off the alternator pulley while making the noise. Based on this thread I may try replacing the alternator.
To isolate the pulley system, take the serpentine belt off and start it. You can run it for a couple minutes without the belt, just watch the temp. When I did that on mine, the noise was completely gone.