strange vibration
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Florida
strange vibration
I just had the dealer install a new prop shaft, prop shaft couplers, drive plate, torque converter, transmission and rear in my 97 vette. Now it has a vibration that gets worse as the RPM's climb. Just cruising around it isn't noticable, but if I hold it in 2nd gear and let the RPM's get to around 3k or more, then it's very noticeable. Any ideas what could cause it? Every part that I bought was new, so it's doubtful that it is a bad part. Is there anything that is 'directional' in regards to the drive-line? Could something of been installed backwards? I just spent about $10k and this is frustrating. Oh, and my MAF pegged itself tonight at 64.82 lb/min. Idle is erratic. Looks like I might need a new MAF.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,353
Likes: 1,125
From: Dyer, IN
I just had the dealer install a new prop shaft, prop shaft couplers, drive plate, torque converter, transmission and rear in my 97 vette. Now it has a vibration that gets worse as the RPM's climb. Just cruising around it isn't noticable, but if I hold it in 2nd gear and let the RPM's get to around 3k or more, then it's very noticeable. Any ideas what could cause it? Every part that I bought was new, so it's doubtful that it is a bad part. Is there anything that is 'directional' in regards to the drive-line? Could something of been installed backwards? I just spent about $10k and this is frustrating. Oh, and my MAF pegged itself tonight at 64.82 lb/min. Idle is erratic. Looks like I might need a new MAF.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Since I bought all of the parts from various vendors, the dealer won't warranty anything. I'll have to pay all labor (again) to reinstall anything defective. The toughest part will be determining where the vibration is coming from and what is causing it.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,353
Likes: 1,125
From: Dyer, IN
Good luck with that.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 39
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From: Florida
I called Yank and RPM, and the general consensus is that it's the prop shaft that wasn't centered properly. I called the dealer to see if they performed the centering procedure and they did not. I'm taking it back in tomorrow morning so that they can do this. Hopefully this resolves the issue.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,902
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From: Oak Hill Virginia
HOWEVER
They installed the parts; so they can and SHOULD guarantee the quality of their work. Make them fix it. If the service writer won't cooperate talk to the service manager. Keep going higher... Tell them that if they can show you that it's a problem with your PART and not their WORK that you'll be happy to pay for it; otherwise it's on them.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 39
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From: Florida
UPDATE: Took the car in this morning and they performed the propshaft centering procedure. Vibration still there. Totally frustrated at this point. I think the next step is to warranty the torque converter.
Last edited by toomanymodz; Nov 15, 2011 at 09:55 AM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 39
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From: Florida
I finally got the car back from the shop after almost two months. They took out the new Yank SC2800 stall and put back in my old torque converter, which is a Yank SS3600. The vibration is gone. I called Yank and he said that it isn't his torque converter that is at fault, rather it is the dynamics of how these corvettes are. So now what do I do with this $900 torque converter that vibrates? This fiasco has cost me $1150 in labor to re-install my old converter. I know that I won't recoup the labor, but at least I thought that Yank would refund me my money. He said that if I ship it back to him that he would cut it open, check the internals, rebalance it and send it back to me free of charge. It would seem that if I was sold a product, and the product caused problems in my car, that I should be able to return the defective item for a full refund. Thoughts/comments?
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Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,843
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From: Howell Michigan
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
I finally got the car back from the shop after almost two months. They took out the new Yank SC2800 stall and put back in my old torque converter, which is a Yank SS3600. The vibration is gone. I called Yank and he said that it isn't his torque converter that is at fault, rather it is the dynamics of how these corvettes are. So now what do I do with this $900 torque converter that vibrates? This fiasco has cost me $1150 in labor to re-install my old converter. I know that I won't recoup the labor, but at least I thought that Yank would refund me my money. He said that if I ship it back to him that he would cut it open, check the internals, rebalance it and send it back to me free of charge. It would seem that if I was sold a product, and the product caused problems in my car, that I should be able to return the defective item for a full refund. Thoughts/comments?
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,722
Likes: 138
From: Florida
St. Jude Donor '09
I finally got the car back from the shop after almost two months. They took out the new Yank SC2800 stall and put back in my old torque converter, which is a Yank SS3600. The vibration is gone. I called Yank and he said that it isn't his torque converter that is at fault, rather it is the dynamics of how these corvettes are. So now what do I do with this $900 torque converter that vibrates? This fiasco has cost me $1150 in labor to re-install my old converter. I know that I won't recoup the labor, but at least I thought that Yank would refund me my money. He said that if I ship it back to him that he would cut it open, check the internals, rebalance it and send it back to me free of charge. It would seem that if I was sold a product, and the product caused problems in my car, that I should be able to return the defective item for a full refund. Thoughts/comments?
I think you may end up being stuck with a $900 useless torque converter. Take the vendor up on their proposed rebalancing procedure and provide you with a written report of what their findings were. Perhaps you can sell the converter after that and recoup some of your money.
