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Help me solve my vibration issue!

Gear_yyc

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What I did on my old truck when it developed a vibration was I downloaded a free vibration recorder on my phone. Then I drove the truck at the speed it was most pronounced (in my case, 105km/h). I compared the frequency of the vibration to the various rotating parts on the truck. In my case, the frequency of the vibration aligned with the rotational speed of the driveshaft. Basically, you can determine: Is the vibration before or after the differential? And is the vibration before or after the transmission? That helped narrow it down. In my case, it was clear that my driveshaft was unbalanced.
 
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Yotota

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What I did on my old truck when it developed a vibration was I downloaded a free vibration recorder on my phone. Then I drove the truck at the speed it was most pronounced (in my case, 105km/h). I compared the frequency of the vibration to the various rotating parts on the truck. In my case, the frequency of the vibration aligned with the rotational speed of the driveshaft. Basically, you can determine: Is the vibration before or after the differential? And is the vibration before or after the transmission? That helped narrow it down. In my case, it was clear that my driveshaft was unbalanced.
Yes!

This is what I'm going to try today. I didn't even think of that idea until @MT-Taco shared an app on the previous page.

I think this will definitely tell me if it's a diff/axle/hub issue, or trans/t-case/driveshaft issue.
 

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What I did on my old truck when it developed a vibration was I downloaded a free vibration recorder on my phone. Then I drove the truck at the speed it was most pronounced (in my case, 105km/h). I compared the frequency of the vibration to the various rotating parts on the truck. In my case, the frequency of the vibration aligned with the rotational speed of the driveshaft. Basically, you can determine: Is the vibration before or after the differential? And is the vibration before or after the transmission? That helped narrow it down. In my case, it was clear that my driveshaft was unbalanced.
Did Toyota rebalance it? Or get you a new one?
 
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Yotota

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I calculated the wheel/axle and driveshaft rotational frequencies at certain wheel speeds. Then I did a bunch of vibration data logging with the "Resonance" app on my way home from work.

There was zero correlation between frequency and wheel speed, driveshaft speed, or even engine speed. The amplitude (intensity) of the vibrations were still worse in the 30-35ish mph range.

I'm honestly more confused now, and leaning towards transmission issues.
 
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Gear_yyc

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I calculated the wheel/axle and driveshaft rotational frequencies at certain wheel speeds. Then I did a bunch of vibration data logging with the "Resonance" app on my way home from work.

There was zero correlation between frequency and wheel speed, driveshaft speed, or even engine speed. The amplitude (intensity) of the vibrations were still worse in the 30-35ish mph range.

I'm honestly more confused now, and leaning towards transmission issues.
Can you consistently create this condition? Like it will happen every time you are coasting at 30-35? If you can re-create it easily, ask the service advisor at your dealer to send a tech with you as a passenger so you can demonstrate it. The original tech that test drove it probably didn't experience the condition you're describing.
 
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Yotota

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Can you consistently create this condition? Like it will happen every time you are coasting at 30-35? If you can re-create it easily, ask the service advisor at your dealer to send a tech with you as a passenger so you can demonstrate it. The original tech that test drove it probably didn't experience the condition you're describing.
Yeah, the first Tech was patronizing and immediately dismissive when he drove it with me.

I have an appointment with the QC Supervisor this morning where I plan to drive it to recreate the issue.
 
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Yotota

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Update: so far, the dealership is saying that this is "normal" for Tacomas and they can't do anything about it. It really feels like a transmission shudder, and is the worst between 30-40mph at light to no throttle.
 

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Update: so far, the dealership is saying that this is "normal" for Tacomas and they can't do anything about it. It really feels like a transmission shudder, and is the worst between 30-40mph at light to no throttle.
Definitely not normal. Is there another dealership nearby?
 

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Yotota

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I called Corporate Toyota back and the case is escalated. No matter what happens, I'm not willing to live with the truck as it is. I didn't pay $50k to drive something that feels worse than every $2k beater truck I've ever owned.
 
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I’d like to throw my 2 cents in here, although it may be a long shot. I’ve noticed a vibration/rumble in the engine at low speed, low rpm, and low load. It’s my understanding that 4-cylinder engines do have a little gap in power between one cylinder firing and the next, something you won’t feel with a V6. It goes away, in my case, if you manually change to a lower gear and bump up the rpm but otherwise maintain speed.

While you’re probably experiencing something else, I get the sense this is where some of the low speed vibration complaints come from.
 
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Yotota

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I’d like to throw my 2 cents in here, although it may be a long shot. I’ve noticed a vibration/rumble in the engine at low speed, low rpm, and low load. It’s my understanding that 4-cylinder engines do have a little gap in power between one cylinder firing and the next, something you won’t feel with a V6. It goes away, in my case, if you manually change to a lower gear and bump up the rpm but otherwise maintain speed.

While you’re probably experiencing something else, I get the sense this is where some of the low speed vibration complaints come from.
I agree that these engines can have a "chugging" feel at very low RPMs. I noticed it on my truck too, and switching to 92 octane helped.

My issue persists even when the truck is coasting downhill, and I shift the trans into neutral. I think that eliminates the engine as a cause (in this particular case).
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