My car was getting a vibration only when I was at FULL THROTTLE... I had made 7 runs at the track and it was fine... then at home while driving I jumped on it & got the viabration...

Took it to Cartek... and Julio had it for three days, and he thinks its one of the following..

Converter

Flex-plate

Transmission

Argggggggggg..... Looks like I'm not going to make the last race of the season on Nov 18th...

 

Change em all.. you got till the 25th!

 

Sorry jpee. Looks like an 11.50 opportunity

 

The converter is brand new... (7 runs on it)

 

Or rubber couplers in the torque tube

 

That or yes, a cracked flex plate like Ellis (and Bruce with the GTO) had last year.
The part itself isn't too costly but it all still has to come apart so it is a somewhat labor intensive deal unfortunately.
If I ever upgrade my converter I'm getting an SFI Approved flex plate whether my stock one is cracked or not.
There is still a chance that you can make the 25th John.

 

Sorry to hear about the vibration but hope you can get it repaired before the last race happens.

 

Which flex plate you talking about, flywheel, tube tube coupler or convertor drive plate.
All 3 are referred to as flex plates.

RPM sells all 3, here's a link
http://www.rpmtransmissions.com/drivetrain-upgrades

About 6 hrs labor start to finish

 

Oh man, there are actually THREE?!
I knew about two of them but I was actually referring to only the one that sits up against the actual converter.

 

John u taking your meds? it maybe u not the car...

 

Can you describe the symptoms?
Mine also has a vibration. I don't feel it when racing. I sure do on the street. Lower rpm, 4th gear around 3000 on the gas, it's bad. Less so in 3rd with load, but it goes past 3000 pretty quick.

I'm curious what they find. I get to take mine apart myself.

Ron

 

Yours sounds very similar to mine.. from 3000 to about 4500 only under HARD ACCELERATION... I assume you are an automatic (A4 or A6)

If you are a manual trans, it cant be the flexplate's... stay tuned to this thread, & I'll update it when I get the diagnosis from Cartek ....(probibly middle of next week)

 

Last year both of my stock one,s were shot, Bad vibration and also a big clunk in it when it changed gears. Robert

 

Thanks John, I'm tuned in! I didn't really even think about the flex plates.........

And yes, C5 A4.

Ron

 

I spoke w/Cartek today, and they are taking it apart.... If it's not the flexplate's etc... they will send the Converter back as its only 3 months old, & has about 7-10 runs on it...

 

Did it do this before you started racing it? Or was it after a few passes? I honestly can't remember. I got the car running Jul 1 and drove and tuned it for a few weeks before heading to the track. The first 3 weeks, I just ran street tires while tuning, then bought the slicks.

Funny thing is, it doesn't get worse, it's stayed the same. I also notice some vibes from 1800-2200 with light load. I made 50 passes this summer.

I guess I can put it up in the air and have a look see through the inspection plugs. rotate the engine and look all around the plates.

At any rate, I still have to take it all apart. Hard to believe a converter could develop a vibration, but still work just fine.

Ron

 

I spoke to Cartek today, & they are going to replace some kind of rubber shim, or something thats in the torque tube ?? Also they are sending my converter back to FTI in Fl. so it looks like my season is done for this yr..

I'll just look forward to March... Also Question... I ran 11.74 in 200' corrected Alt... do you think I can gain much by having my stock intake ported, & changing the stock Rockers to 1.8 ??

Can't afford a FAST @ over $900....

 

I spoke to Cartek today, & they are going to replace some kind of rubber shim, or something thats in the torque tube ?? Also they are sending my converter back to FTI in Fl. so it looks like my season is done for this yr..

I'll just look forward to March... Also a Question... I ran 11.74 in 200' corrected Alt... do you think I can gain much by having my stock intake ported, & changing the stock Rockers to 1.8 ??

Can't afford a FAST @ over $900....

 

If they found damaged rubber torque tube bushings, I would not send the convertor out to be checked

 

FIRST.. the converter is still under warrenty!!


They are sending the converter back because at one time the trans fluid was about 100 deg (was between rounds) and my lane was starting to move... so I wanted to heat the trans fluid to about 130-140 for the run..

I put it in 1st and held the breaks, & stalled it to about 1800 rpm for maybe 20 sec... then back to neutral a blip on the gas, & back to 1st gear and brought the rpm up to 1800 for the second time, now my trans was about 120 deg... we moved about 3-4 car lengths, & I did it one more time held the foot break & brought it to 1600-1800 rpm for about 20 sec....

The temp was now at 130 (what I wanted) ,but when I got out of the car I smelled what smelt like when a person dumps the clutch, but it slips (the burning clutch smell) except I don't have a clutch ..

So I'm thinking it's either the converter (the lock up part) I originally had a problem with it locking up at 4000 rpm on a run...

Cartek fixed it by adjusting the computer... I doubt it was the transmission (HOPE NOT) So while they (Cartek) has it apart, I may as well play it safe and have the converter checked as it already out of the car, & racing is over for this yr...

I also told them (Cartek) to tell FTI to loosen the converter just a "tad" closer to 3000.. but less than 3200 (my reason) is I was able to hook up with NITTO 555 tires 305/35x18" and I like them because I can get a full yr out of one set, & have a brand new set (never mounted) in my garage...

Bottom line I "thought" while its apart and I wont be racing it for 3+ months, I may as well have EVERYTHING CHECKED... even both flex plates...

I Don't want to go to race in March and have a problem the first week or two..!!!

You agree with my train of thought... also while its sitting there in the shop, I was thinking of asking Julio to port the stock intake manifold, & go to 1.8 RR (the poor mans cam)

I'd appreciate any thoughts both pro or con on this whole thing...