FGII vibration

[ellobo]

This is a mystery to my mechanic and the Ford Dealer.
Bought my 2013 FG Falcon in May 2015.
It drove beautifully. As we moved into winter, one morning for the first 5Km the whole car vibrated like I was on a corrugated dirt road. After 5Km or so it went smooth and was fine for the rest of my trip that day. The same thing happened every cold morning. As the weather warmed up in spring it didn't occur again.
Next winter, the same thing. I concluded that maybe the tyre rubber had gone hard and developed flats while being parked and needed 5Km to warm up and go round. Spring and summer all good again. I decided not to put up with it for a third winter so I replaced all four tyres four weeks ago. Guess what, same vibration except it does not go away until I have driven 20 Km but is only vibrating between 47-63 KPH. However, some days it does not happen at all in the morning and is there for the second trip of the same day. I know it is weird. I just don't know where to go from here. Any ideas? ellobo.

[Jastel]

Square tyres have more to do with the cold temperature and length of time parked than the age of tyre.
Indeed your new "softer" tyres could have made it worse.
You dont say where you live but it is a problem in cold places.

So long as it doesnt do it when at normal temps I wouldnt worry too much.

Cold for me is anything under 20 and I can notice it on my cars.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by ellobo

This is a mystery to my mechanic and the Ford Dealer.
Bought my 2013 FG Falcon in May 2015.
It drove beautifully. As we moved into winter, one morning for the first 5Km the whole car vibrated like I was on a corrugated dirt road. After 5Km or so it went smooth and was fine for the rest of my trip that day. The same thing happened every cold morning. As the weather warmed up in spring it didn't occur again.
Next winter, the same thing. I concluded that maybe the tyre rubber had gone hard and developed flats while being parked and needed 5Km to warm up and go round. Spring and summer all good again. I decided not to put up with it for a third winter so I replaced all four tyres four weeks ago. Guess what, same vibration except it does not go away until I have driven 20 Km but is only vibrating between 47-63 KPH. However, some days it does not happen at all in the morning and is there for the second trip of the same day. I know it is weird. I just don't know where to go from here. Any ideas? ellobo.

As Jastel said Tyres and cold weather...what brand of tyres are they and whereabouts are you situated.

Seems like your Dealer and Mechanic need to get out more

[PooDog]

Is the vibration in time with wheel rotation or more in time with engine revolution ....is it consistent or comes and goes ? Does it alter when cornering ?

[GO FURTHER]

This can happen if you park or reside in areas of snow / frost.

The snow accumulates on the bottom inside of the rim of your wheels (or inbetween wheels with spokes with small gaps between them).

The weight of the frozen water sticking to the wheel is enough to throw out the balance of the wheel, outweighting some of the lead balancing weights.

The vibration stops, once the snow / ice melts and gets spun off the wheels.

Another cause is when you have water inside your tyre, which can freeze in extremely cold weather acheiving the same result.
However, since you have had brand new tyres fitted, I think this is highly unlikely.

[OzJavelin]

Chinese "no-name" brand tyres?

[ellobo]

Thank you all for your replies so far.

The tyres are Nexen brand however it was happening with the original tyres as well.

I am not in a snow area.

The vibration is closer to tailshaft speed than tyre speed however I thought initially that maybe if it was the tyres the combination of the four tyres would increase the tempo to that of the tailshaft.

If I put the car into neutral while it is happening it makes no difference.
It is the fact that it is not always there makes me feel that it is not mechanical however I could be wrong.

Noise does not change on corners and there is no mechanical sound, just the shuddering vibration.

Last Monday morning it was not vibrating for the first trip of about 10Km return. I went out again three hours later on the same round trip and it vibrated for the whole trip.

However as I have said, only at speeds between 47 and 63 K/h.

All other speeds are smooth.

[bangm001]

Have you or the dealer checked the Tail shaft weights?

[FPV414]

Maybe there is a similar problem to what is described above in relation to the tyres, but in the centre bearing rubber of the tailshaft. Shaft may settle in a spot and go out of round until it re-centralises after a bit of warming up. Sounds pretty far fetched but you never know.

[PooDog]

Do you know how well the wheels balanced up when the new tyres were fitted ....how much weight was added ? No dings in the rims ?

[GO FURTHER]

From what you describe, I don't think it is wheel / tyre related.

You've already changed to new tyres, so we can eliminate the problem being tyres. (Extremely unlucky if both old and brand new ones where out of round).

If the wheels where out of round, wrapped, dented, or out of balance, then you would get the vibration / shuddering on every trip at the same speeds you indicated.... It would not go away.

Could be auto transmission related or torque converter though?

If not that, and you feel it is not engine / mechanical related, then I would be taking the car to a suspension specialist to rule out that side of things.

[Hawkeye84]

Originally Posted by GO FURTHER

From what you describe, I don't think it is wheel / tyre related.

You've already changed to new tyres, so we can eliminate the problem being tyres. (Extremely unlucky if both old and brand new ones where out of round).

If the wheels where out of round, wrapped, dented, or out of balance, then you would get the vibration / shuddering on every trip at the same speeds you indicated.... It would not go away.

Could be auto transmission related or torque converter though?

If not that, and you feel it is not engine / mechanical related, then I would be taking the car to a suspension specialist to rule out that side of things.

Sticky throttle body / butterfly?

[Mechan1k]

Originally Posted by FPV414

Maybe there is a similar problem to what is described above in relation to the tyres, but in the centre bearing rubber of the tailshaft. Shaft may settle in a spot and go out of round until it re-centralises after a bit of warming up. Sounds pretty far fetched but you never know.

I suspect this going on the symptoms.

[Fgute]

Transmission or Tailshaft ???