Recent Feedback
1992 Camry Le 4 cyl. 155,000 mi. After driving 10 mi @55 this morning the car started to shudder and make a loud vibrating noise. I stopped to see if I had a flat - everything looked okay. I drove another two miles with no problems, then the whole thing started again. Still no apparent problem after stopping and checking around the car. After the third time in as many miles I turned off the car. It started to do it again after another few miles for the fourth time. The 'noise' seems to come from the back of the car but I'm not sure. The 'rumble sound' slows with the speed of the car. The engine RPM looks okay and sounds okay. What's the probelm -- ABS trying to engage or something? There is no feeling of pulling or drag on the car and on the way home everything ran just fine. This has happened before once for my wife a couple weeks ago. Before I head to the Toyota Dealership (who is often as clueless there as I am about problems) -- what do you think is the trouble?
Optional Information: Year: 1992Make: ToyotaModel: CameryEngine: 2.2 L 4 cyl.
hello..
does the vibration occur only when you are under load? or if you are off the gas completely does it still occur?
does it change if you are making a slight turn?
can you feel the shudder inthe steering wheel? or in the floor of the car?
I was driving steady and level at 55. car is otherwise empty so no extra weight is involved. pulling off the road made no particular change in the feelin/sound. I'd have to say the whole car vibrated - steering wheel, floor. THe shudder is loud almost a buzz that slows as I slow. It does not go away until I come to a complete stop. I tried once to just slow way down then accereate a little but it did not go away that time. Now things seems okay. weird!
ok. there could be several possibilities transmission,wheel bearings,tires, wheels,drive axles etc
i would rule out the brakes and abs if you say there seems to be no drag on the car and you dont notice a vibration when braking or any vibration in the brake pedal.
the first thing to try if this happens when its safe is to put the car in neutral at speed and see if the shudder/vibration change at all..
then if you can duplicate the condition again put the car in neutral and shut the engine off at speed when its safe and see if anything changes.
this will help to determine if its a engine or transmission probelm causing this..
you will need to be able to duplicate the condition so you can demonstrate it to the technician.
1. is the car driven through muddy roads at all? maybe where some mud has packed up into one of the wheels?
2. was any fix a flat ever used in one of the tires?
let me know if you are able to try the above tests and what you find..
Finally, my problem has occured again (no problem for three weeks).
The Problem happened again yesterday on the way to work, three times. Today no problems. Same issue: Driving down the highway then the sound of a vibration/shudder begins and grows louder in about 10 seconds. As I slow down the vibration rate slows with speed and does not stop until I come to a stop. Then it is gone... for several miles. Then it starts again. (3X) I checked the lug nuts and all is tight.
I shifted into neutral and no change in sound. Then I tried turning off the engine, no change. This is on normal blacktop roads. No fix-a-flat in any tires. This phantom is driving me nuts. I still think the sound seems to come from the back area of the car. (???) Can a wheel bearing act like that? I think sometimes I hear a 'clunk' when I back up.
This whole problem seems more apt to happen after the car has sat for at least a day, though these last two observations may not be realated. Any other suggestions?
i have never seen a wheel bearing act like this. i have seen where you eed to drive the car for several miles befor a wheel bearing would act up.
if the sound/vibration didnt change when put in neutral or with the engine off then i would rule out engine/trans.
at this point since this seems to be so intermittent its hard to say.
the lower suspension arms in the rear of your car was comon probelm for noise as well as the rear sway bar bushings but mainly over bumps.
i have seen where the bolts that hold the rear crossmember on rust out and can cause all kinds of vibration noises and sounds.
i would start with a complete check of the front and rear suspension as well checking wheel bearings for play. i would also inspect the tires for uneven wear and also check the balance of all 4 tires.
1. how old are the tires on the car?
2. are there any flat spotting especially in the rear tires?
(sorry this is so long in replyng) This is just so frustrating.
The tires are balanced. The brakes were checked and apparently the bearings are okay. It still only does this thing once in a while. Same pattern. The vibration softly starts out and gets louder. When I slow it slows -- right down to a loud thump.. thump.. thump until the forward motion stops, then it's gone. The only other suggestion I have is whether the boots on the rear struts could be making this noise once in a while. The shocks are the originals (158000 mi now). The brake guy mentioned the rubber boots on the struts were shot. If you have any other thoughts I'd be glad to hear them and I'll get this response on Accept. Thanks.
i dont see how the boots can do this,if the upper strut mounts were worn excessively or rusted i could maybe see that happening,but i would think you would get a noise over bumps and while driving it would be more of a noise and vibration not a thumping type noise.it sounds like it maybe a rear wheel bearing when you describe the thumping and the fact that the noise gets louder the faster you go but,generally once the noise starts it usually stays there.
the last thing to try is when the noise occurs try turning the steering wheel sharply either left or right and see if the noise changes ,if so this could indicate a rear wheel bearing or tire noise.otherwise if it were my car at this point, i would remove the wheel bearings on both rears and inspect them more closely .
Experience: toyota certified master diagnostic technician ase and hybrid certified
Mike c.
Thanks for your effort. As it turns out it was the park brake, as the Toyota mechanic told me upon inspecting the rearwheel that a small pin was bent and as it turned out I could finally recreate the vibration by applying the park brake. The pin would rotate to just the right position and cause all the trouble. So, it only took me four months and now $600+ to get to the bottom of this trouble (not counting the $205 for a new right drive shaft another mechanic was sure was the problem.). At least now I have new rear brake system (it was so much rust we just redid stuff). I accpt your ,effort. answer anyway.