Harmonic hum and buzz feel from steering and seat

[DPKetchum]

All it takes is a prompt phone call !

 

[truggle]

vibration

I have just jumped ships to Dodge, I have been a long time Ford owner and wouldn't buy the new 6 litre due to all of the trouble they are having. So I bit the bullet and ordered an '04 3500, quad cab, 4x4, automatic, dually with 4:10 gears. When it came in we drove it around but under 60 mph due to the dealership location. So when I got it on the freeway and up to speed I instantly noticed the subtle vibration. I live about 90 miles from the dealer and I played with the speed all the way home. It was very distinctive from 60 mph to 73, being worst at 68.



I had it only one day and drove it back to the dealer, they have had it a week and a half and of course their first reply was that it was "normal". I will not accept that and now we are playing with driveline angles and installing shims between the leaf springs and the rear end.



I will follow up with the results, this vibration is unacceptable in a vehicle that costs over $40k!!!! My Ford had over 100k mi. and did not have any squeaks, rattles or vibrations and I drove the hell out of it.



Besides the vibration, I am liking it alot, I just want it back home!

 

[DPKetchum]

I think its in the exhaust and not in drive-line. Mine got smoother with mileage and the removal of the factory exhaust. I put a Banks system from turbo back including the turbo elbow. May also be something to do with all the stiff hangers helping to feel it through chassis. I've got 5 k on mine now and its livable. In the beginning it was unbearable. I about did a lip stand. Its a harmonic wrap up. The right speed of wheel,rpm,exhaust blowing down a smothered exhaust system. I would'nt want drive line angles messed with. Thats not where the problem lies. I think the turbo location mixed with the peak torque/horsepower curve etc. Get them to discount another $700 or $800 hundred and offer to install another turbo back exhaust. Took 2. 5 hours to replace. Banks system is 50 state epa legal and has a lifetime warranty. If truck is reved in neutal it can also be felt through the rpm range of around 2000 to 2400hundered worse or should says peeks in the middle somewhere. Was told D. C. very aware and trying to work on a fix. Maybe the size of turbo with location also. Must not be a easy fix because was told they have been working over a year to correct. Mileage and exhaust made biggest differance.

 

[dieselpilot1969]

Anyone in the rockwall texas area, I would like to compare trucks (vibration aspect), i am not sure if I have the same vibration but there is one present!

 

[Rolars]

Re: vibration

Originally posted by truggle

I have just jumped ships to Dodge, I have been a long time Ford owner and wouldn't buy the new 6 litre due to all of the trouble they are having. So I bit the bullet and ordered an '04 3500, quad cab, 4x4, automatic, dually with 4:10 gears. When it came in we drove it around but under 60 mph due to the dealership location. So when I got it on the freeway and up to speed I instantly noticed the subtle vibration. I live about 90 miles from the dealer and I played with the speed all the way home. It was very distinctive from 60 mph to 73, being worst at 68.



I had it only one day and drove it back to the dealer, they have had it a week and a half and of course their first reply was that it was "normal". I will not accept that and now we are playing with driveline angles and installing shims between the leaf springs and the rear end.



I will follow up with the results, this vibration is unacceptable in a vehicle that costs over $40k!!!! My Ford had over 100k mi. and did not have any squeaks, rattles or vibrations and I drove the hell out of it.



Besides the vibration, I am liking it alot, I just want it back home!

I have had my 03 2500 for two months today. The vibration is totally unacceptable. It will be going back to the dealer tomorrow for the second time in 3,600 miles. Both me and my wife have been very disappointed in our choice to buy a Dodge (first one ever in the family tree). The first time the dealer said it was normal and that I was just unfamiliar with driving a diesel... . what an insult. I can't wait to hear what they tell me after tomorrow. I hate to say it, but at least I'm glad it is not just my truck have vibration problems at 2000-2300 RPM's. I'll chime in tomorrow night to tell you the outcome.

 

[dieselpilot1969]

I ma thinking if you can get enough people in an area to (as a group) go and confront a dealship and raise nine kinds of heck this may get them off their butts and listen to what we have to say!:-{} :-{} :-{} :-{} :-{} :-{}

 

[Rolars]

Re: Re: vibration

Well, I took the truck to the dealer this morning and they smiled and said that we will take a ride together to see about 'my vibration problem'. I told him that the vibration gets worse the when the engine is warm. I then put the transmission in drive, with my foot on the brake, the engine would have a knocking sound. When I put it back in park or neutral, the engine idled quietly. The Service writers eye's lit up and he said that it sounds like you have at least one bad injector. They kept my truck all day today and they said they would call the Star center to get the parts in by tomorrow afternoon. The service writer told me that this would account for all the vibration problems. He said we would fix the injector(s) first, then we would take a test ride together to see if there was another problem.



I'll be back tomorrow night to tell you the outcome.





'03 2500 Ram, CTD, Atlantic Blue

Houston, Tx

 

[dieselpilot1969]

Outstanding, I would however stay ontop of them. I too had a service manager act like he cared!

 

[DPKetchum]

All I got was D. c. is aware and working on it.

 

[dieselpilot1969]

That's like the automated response system (lol) jerks

 

[DPKetchum]

If you look at my earlier posts I was HOT over this drone/vibration deal. Mine still has it but it will take ALL of us to get through to D. C. that it's really unacceptable.

 

[Rolars]

Re: Re: Re: vibration

Well, I just got home from the dealer and they told me they replaced two injectors. When my wife showed up to pick up the truck, they were test driving the truck. When they got back they told my wife that they feel a vibration in the truck and they wanted to keep it one more day.

I am glad they did that. I would be very HOT right now if I got the truck home and found it to have the same old vibration problem.

I first took the truck in at 500+ miles, and they sent me away. Now at 3600 miles it appears to have more than one issue. That's OK for now... . I just want it TOTALLY FIXED. For two months I have been very disappointed in the quality feel of the truck... . groaning engine, vibrating steering wheel, buzzing dashboard, and shaking pedal.

I just want to be excited about my 32K+ purchase that I made two months ago. Perhaps by tomorrow night I can start the whole experience over again... . this time with success.



I'll keep ya'll informed.

 

[DPKetchum]

Keeping it another day or another week won't do them any good! Be prepared for a DON"T KNOW kinda answer. Engineering DOSEN"T HAVE a answer and the guys at dealer level sure won't. If they do more power to somebody. But I don't think it will.

 

[dieselpilot1969]

Kinda sounds like we need to get a group together and visit a dealership, I will organize this if need be for dallas texas area!

 

[DPKetchum]

COOL. Need a REP to be there. A D. C. rep. In the greater Atlanta area I'd make time to come to one. I too did'nt notice it in mine until after I drove it over 60. Once you get tuned into the NOISE/FEEL its real obvious. Its NOT driveline. Its harmonics.

 

[truggle]

vibration

I have the same vibration, I took it back to the dealer with 150 miles on it and they have had it two weeks! They at least admit there is a problem but cannot fix it. Five Star sent the dealer a short list repairs to try but they were all related to the front drive shaft and none of the repairs worked. The service writer was kind enough to show me the e-mail from 5 star and they do have an engineer working on it and will post the fix to all dealers as soon as they find one. So I am getting mine back in the same sad shape. I am going to do some extensive driveshaft angle research when I get it back. If anything works I will post it.





Kevin



2004 Quad cab, 3500, dually, 4x4, CTD, automatic, 4:11

 

[DPKetchum]

Rev it outa of gear. Vibration/hum/buzz will still be there. Its not in the drive line if you are talking about the 60 to 70 mph and 2000 to 2300 rpm drone. IT DOES it in neutral also.

 

[CATCRACKER]

sat im my truck yesterday and revved up the engine and at 2100 rpms there is the buzz in the steering wheel and pedal. what could this be.



things ruled out :



driveline, transmission, wheels tires etc.



things it could be: improper balance parts in the engine, nature of the beast, poorley designed motor mounts, stiffer frame resonating, turbo, exhaust, fuel pump, harmonic dampner



what else?

 

[DPKetchum]

D. C. told me was TURBO/EXHAUST. Get someone to put a hand or screwdriver handle on turb and rev engine to that 2100/2300 rpm range. The vibration can be felt in THE TURBO. Thats what STAR had tech do and tech said YOU BETCHA thats where I feel it.

 

[Rolars]

Re: Re: Re: Re: vibration

Well, once again I went to the dealer to pick it up and they want to keep it until next week. Two injectors have now been replaced, but the mechanic and service manager both say this vibration is definitely NOT NORMAL. They are going to keep the truck all next week if they have to... they gave me a loaner Durango today, and said keep it until they return my truck... . they have bent over backwards trying to be polite. I have to say that I'm very happy that the dealer is hanging in there with me.

They said that they will call in the Chrysler rep on Monday and let him try to figure it out.



Good people at this dealership:

Northwest Dodge

Hwy 290

Houston, Tx



I'll keep everyone posted next week when I have something to report.