Americas Idle Vibration. Annoying

[mes]

Hey everyone, I searched the forums and still don’t see a solution.

I have a Trialmaster with 3700 miles in SoCal.
When in Drive with the foot on the brake, the engine has a bad vibration. The keys in the ignition rattle, every thing in the door pockets rattle.
Even my wife in the passenger seat notices the vibration.

I took it to Rusnak Pasadena , and they said it was normal. I test drove 2 other Grenadiers to compare. They also had a slight vibration but it was less intense.

I have other 4x4 trucks. Including a 1986 Mercedes 300GD and a Land Cruiser FJ75 Troop Carrrier ( Carburator, Solid Axles, Leaf Springs) and it has way less vibrations.

It’s odd that this new built truck has this weird vibration / shake. I checked all the heat shielding on the bottom as well as for any stuck “rocks” between drivetrain components. Engine cover is tight. I even fully removed it to test it, and still had the vibrations.

The second you put it in Park, it stops. Something happens when its in gear. The Tourque converter must be loading up and causing something to shake.

I love this truck, but it pisses me off that it does this at every stop light. I can live with the annoying drone/ vibration on the highway, but this idle issue is embarrassing.

Tried capturing it on video. Will upload soon.

Anyone else have this issue???

 

[CRH]

Hey everyone, I searched the forums and still don’t see a solution.

I have a Trialmaster with 3700 miles in SoCal.
When in Drive with the foot on the brake, the engine has a bad vibration. The keys in the ignition rattle, every thing in the door pockets rattle.
Even my wife in the passenger seat notices the vibration.

I took it to Rusnak Pasadena , and they said it was normal. I test drove 2 other Grenadiers to compare. They also had a slight vibration but it was less intense.

I have other 4x4 trucks. Including a 1986 Mercedes 300GD and a Land Cruiser FJ75 Troop Carrrier ( Carburator, Solid Axles, Leaf Springs) and it has way less vibrations.

It’s odd that this new built truck has this weird vibration / shake. I checked all the heat shielding on the bottom as well as for any stuck “rocks” between drivetrain components. Engine cover is tight. I even fully removed it to test it, and still had the vibrations.

The second you put it in Park, it stops. Something happens when its in gear. The Tourque converter must be loading up and causing something to shake.

I love this truck, but it pisses me off that it does this at every stop light. I can live with the annoying drone/ vibration on the highway, but this idle issue is embarrassing.

Tried capturing it on video. Will upload soon.

Anyone else have this issue???

Pop in neutral and back to drive when ready to move. Mine does it a bit, feels like the drive is trying to move the vehicle then calms down like clutch has engaged. I put in neutral and handbrake on as was always led to believe foot on brake and especially auto vehicles distorts the discs with heat build up.

 

[Phred]

Yup, the “anxious idle” is what I call it.

 

[Skydance]

Hey everyone, I searched the forums and still don’t see a solution.

I have a Trialmaster with 3700 miles in SoCal.
When in Drive with the foot on the brake, the engine has a bad vibration. The keys in the ignition rattle, every thing in the door pockets rattle.
Even my wife in the passenger seat notices the vibration.

I took it to Rusnak Pasadena , and they said it was normal. I test drove 2 other Grenadiers to compare. They also had a slight vibration but it was less intense.

I have other 4x4 trucks. Including a 1986 Mercedes 300GD and a Land Cruiser FJ75 Troop Carrrier ( Carburator, Solid Axles, Leaf Springs) and it has way less vibrations.

It’s odd that this new built truck has this weird vibration / shake. I checked all the heat shielding on the bottom as well as for any stuck “rocks” between drivetrain components. Engine cover is tight. I even fully removed it to test it, and still had the vibrations.

The second you put it in Park, it stops. Something happens when its in gear. The Tourque converter must be loading up and causing something to shake.

I love this truck, but it pisses me off that it does this at every stop light. I can live with the annoying drone/ vibration on the highway, but this idle issue is embarrassing.

Tried capturing it on video. Will upload soon.

Anyone else have this issue???

Had it on mine, although mine vibrated through the glove box area and noticeably at idle. The problem was the HVAC pipes behind the glove box / central console area were rattling against each other so the dealer padded them out. Since then, no more vibration at idle.

 

[Tinerfeño]

I put in neutral and handbrake on as was always led to believe foot on brake and especially auto vehicles distorts the discs with heat build up.

There is no heat generation if car is stopped.

The initial failure (or minor malfunction) sounds like a turbine problem (torque converter).

 

[Bruce B]

Hey everyone, I searched the forums and still don’t see a solution.

I have a Trialmaster with 3700 miles in SoCal.
When in Drive with the foot on the brake, the engine has a bad vibration. The keys in the ignition rattle, every thing in the door pockets rattle.
Even my wife in the passenger seat notices the vibration.

I took it to Rusnak Pasadena , and they said it was normal. I test drove 2 other Grenadiers to compare. They also had a slight vibration but it was less intense.

I have other 4x4 trucks. Including a 1986 Mercedes 300GD and a Land Cruiser FJ75 Troop Carrrier ( Carburator, Solid Axles, Leaf Springs) and it has way less vibrations.

It’s odd that this new built truck has this weird vibration / shake. I checked all the heat shielding on the bottom as well as for any stuck “rocks” between drivetrain components. Engine cover is tight. I even fully removed it to test it, and still had the vibrations.

The second you put it in Park, it stops. Something happens when its in gear. The Tourque converter must be loading up and causing something to shake.

I love this truck, but it pisses me off that it does this at every stop light. I can live with the annoying drone/ vibration on the highway, but this idle issue is embarrassing.

Tried capturing it on video. Will upload soon.

Anyone else have this issue???

I am curious, is your Brenadier lifted?
The reason I ask is because I have read that driveshafts are sensitive to lifts. This makes me wonder if the CV joints may be a sensitive to the angle. We used to see lots of CV joint/vibration issues with remanufactured axels. The symptoms were often a vibration in gear either at idle or under a load.

 

[landmannnn]

Solid engine and transmission mounts as befitting the nature of the vehicle.
No spongy mounts allowing the drivetrain to slop around off road.
So yes, some noise, vibration and harshness get through.

 

[Tinerfeño]

This makes me wonder if the CV joints may be a sensitive to the angle. We used to see lots of CV joint/vibration issues with remanufactured axels. The symptoms were often a vibration in gear either at idle or under a load.

I understood this happens when car is stopped. In this case the driveshafts can't be the cause.

 

[Bruce B]

I understood this happens when car is stopped. In this case the driveshafts can't be the cause.

I have seen lots of cases where a worn CV joints may does exactly that. I have also seen instances of CV joints that are at angles outside their designed operating range vibrate at idle when still. The second situation used to be common on some front wheel drive automobiles when they had failing motor mounts for example.
In those cases, we simply replace the damaged mount and the vibration would go away. I have no idea how far a Grenadier has to be lifted to get the driveshaft angle beyond its designed operating range but I just thought it would be interesting to know if the original poster has lifted theirs..

 

[Tinerfeño]

Engine mounts yes, but not drive shafts that are at standstill ...

 

[Bruce B]

Engine mounts yes, but not drive shafts that are at standstill ...

Absolutely, driveshafts at standstill. I owned and operated an automobile repair business for 30 years. I have seen lots of symptoms that seem illogical when you find the source of the issue. A CV joint taken to its limit of range can easily begin binding and it is the binding that transmits the vibration into the chassis.
Again, I may be wrong in this case, I am simply curious as I have read that the driveshaft design is stressed when the suspension is lifted.
I also will note that there is a bit of unusual vibration in the Grenadier's drivetrain. I noticed a little, especially just off of idle when I drove the loaner for the quick 300 miles I had it. It was not as bad as what this poster is describing though so I am wondering what might be different…

 

[drinkmorejava]

My AC makes the whole vehicle shake a little. It's particularly noticeable when stopped on an incline. No idea if normal or if maybe I'm low on refrigerant like half the grenadiers out there.

 

[anand]

If you feel the vibration is more than normal (especially if you have directly compared it to other vehicles), I would recommend going to another dealer

 

[mes]

Hey Everyone, thanks for the comments. My Grenadier is stock height. No Mods at all. Driveshafts, joints, seals are all good.
Seems like it's just normal. Might try another dealership when back in Portland, OR.

Tried to capture it on video.
The water bottle in the door pocket is causing the "compressor" sound. But you can tell the car is causing everything to vibrate.

 

[Bruce B]

It only does that while it is in gear? Wow!!!
That video is a good piece to bring with you when you check in at a dealer by the way. Make sure they have a copy of it.
Let us know what you find… I am really curious.

 

[Skydance]

Hey Everyone, thanks for the comments. My Grenadier is stock height. No Mods at all. Driveshafts, joints, seals are all good.
Seems like it's just normal. Might try another dealership when back in Portland, OR.

Tried to capture it on video.
The water bottle in the door pocket is causing the "compressor" sound. But you can tell the car is causing everything to vibrate.

I can tell you that this is not normal. Little vibration or harshness expected but not this level.

 

[Skydance]

That vibration sounds like from the hvac and heater fan related. Try turning off the fans and see if it makes any difference. But that noise is the air con pipes rattling against each other behind then passenger side centre console.

 

[Zimm]

Mine does that too. I written about it elsewhere. I put it on N when coming to a halt. It feels like the tq converter is locking. It’ll do it all the time uphill, maybe 70% as bad downhill, and for about 10 seconds on flat. Since it probable it’s fluid level related it may be a valve body / solenoid issue or improper fluid levels. On mine it’s accompanied by poor 3-2 and 2-1 downshifts. When I go in I’m going to have them look at the fluid level. This tranny is one of the things I hated about the BMW drivetrain choice . It is by no means a PM friendly tranny and a few years from now when the miles are high theses things going south in third world hinterlands is gonna suck donkey balls.

 

[Zimm]

Solid engine and transmission mounts as befitting the nature of the vehicle.
No spongy mounts allowing the drivetrain to slop around off road.
So yes, some noise, vibration and harshness get through.

In a world of infinite possibilities, you’ve identified the one thing it’s not, for nonexistent reasons.

 

[Braydo]

I have the diesel and a very similar issue. In my case I’m sure there is a relationship with the torque converter. It seems when the vehicle stops and is held by the foot brake the torque converter disengages (very similar feel to neutral) which settles the idle vibration to a level I’d say is normal for a diesel. But there are a few conditions where the torque converter doesn’t disengage - when stopped on a steep slope, anytime with a trailer connected, and when it’s doing a DPF burn. I think the slope and trailer thing is to preserve the gearbox from the possibility of shock loading due to the additional weight if the driver moves to the accelerator before the torque converter fully re-engages.

Anyway, when the torque converter doesn’t disengage the vibration and deep resonance is quite disturbing, and was not present in other Grenadiers I’ve driven. To avoid it when towing I need to move to neutral. I’ll be having the service centre look at it when I bring it in for service - I can’t figure out a simple fix. I think it’s gearbox related.