I am getting some unusual vibration in my '96 civic. If I am idling I will feel it and it tends to go away if I accelerate and drive. The odd thing is that it does not do it all the time. I am thinking it is a metal to metal contact or a hard mount somewhere in the exhaust system because I have just replaced everything from the exhaust manifold through the muffler but I have not found it yet. I would also think the vibration would be more constant. It does not appear to be heat related either just intermittent.

Any ideas that it might not be exhaust related and maybe something else?

KR

 

Did you just replace the exhaust with OEM parts or did you get aftermarket? My Mini Cooper has really loud exhaust (stock), and sometimes when I come to a stop it will make the car or something in the car vibrate quite a bit, but it goes away when i accelerate.

 

What RPM does the car idle. If it is low just raise it a bit.

 

Is it actual vibration, or is it just the sound of some metal-on-metal vibrating? If it is the latter, 90% of the time it will be your exhaust system.

 

Thanks for the insight. I am figuring it has to do with the exhaust. Pretty much all of it was oem since I am too far from a dealer and too short of funds at the time to buy oem with the exception of the exhaust manifold/catalytic converter. That is a two piece dorman unit that is not approved for California. It was only $200 instead of $600 so I figured it was good enough. I replaced the rest of the exhaust at a later time and it was after that when the vibration started (I mostly think). So I am still looking for a meta- to-metal vibration that I can feel through the shifter and hear it...

I guess I will keep looking.
KR

 

do you have a short shifter?

 

could be motor mounts (bushings)

 

nope, pretty much all standard stock stuff. Clean and plain. If I can find one, I'll post a pic. This car is real clean for the miles.

 

I wondered about the motor mounts. When I am in gear and accelerating I can see the shifter moving and I can feel the torque of the motor pulling against the mounts through the shifter. I had an old Chevetter years ago and when the shifter moved it meant the mounts were worn, loose or torn. Under the hood the engine tilts a bit but nothing shifts or moves without returning to the original position. I have had some mechanics say that it s normal but it looks like a lot to me, more than I expected anyway.