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friedk
06-23-2010, 01:58 PM
Looking for some help diagnosing a new shake while at idle.

I have a 97 OB Wagon with a 95 2.2 engine, 5spd. Recently I began feeling a pronounced shake/shimmy when stoppped at idle. Sometimes the shake is also present when I first start the Engine. However when I am driving down the road I do not feel the shake.

I have had the car for a few months and I began to notice the problem one day while enroute to work. At one stop light it was fine and then at the next one it had begun.

While at a stop slowly reving the engine up usually will not fix the problem which leads me to believe this is not an idle issue. The engine also does not idle any lower than before the problem occured.

Any suggestions? What should I look for? Does anyone have the FSM diagram for the engine/transmission mounts?

Thanks
06-23-2010, 02:44 PM
lol

you've met the coveted boxer rumble i see

http://www.water-powered-engines.com/car-engines/engine-flat-4.gif
friedk
06-23-2010, 02:49 PM
Alright... What is it and what can I do about it?
friedk
06-23-2010, 05:48 PM
I guess that I will add this because I assume that you mean more than just the throaty sound of the rumble. I have two Legacy's. One with a 2.5 and this OB with a 2.2. So I am familiar with the throaty sound and the rumble on start up especially with my 2.5. But this shake is a little different. Any other suggestions?
green97gt
06-23-2010, 07:15 PM
what have you ruled out or at least eyeballed?

plugs?
wires?
ignition etc?

cleaned injectors?(DO IT. ITS FREE!)
cleaned the MAF?

grounding kit?

engine/trans mounts are real easy to rule out. have someone start the car and blip the throttle, watch the motor if the motor moves around to much, you need motor/trans mounts. especially easy if you have another motor to compare to.

checked compression?

the 97 we have had this issue forever, went away when i installed the new motor, ihad tried everything, and just chalked it up to uneven compression.
friedk
06-24-2010, 08:01 AM
I have not had the time to look too far. I was looking for some suggestions before going on a wild goose chase. I did not consider engine componants such as plugs and wires etc.. because the engine runs perfectly going down the road as long as it is not at idle. I will broaden my look.
chuckthefuk
06-24-2010, 10:15 AM
When the car idles at 700 rpm and you tap the gas or hold the gas at lets say 1000 rpm does the vibration stop or continue?
-Chuck
friedk
06-24-2010, 10:21 AM
I do not notice the shake during the rpm increase. However when it shakes at 700rpm it seems to still shake if I hold it at 1000rpm or 1500rpm.
chuckthefuk
06-24-2010, 10:42 AM
And no check engine lights?

-Clean your IACV (Idle Air Control Valve = near your throttle body)
-Clean you MAF
-Check your plugs

-Chuck
friedk
06-24-2010, 10:51 AM
No check engine light and no other problems noted.
chuckthefuk
06-24-2010, 12:59 PM
Give your car a thorough cleaning. Everything listed in this thread is and will be a good idea to check even if there fine.

-Chuck

Oh btw it could be a broken or worn out engine/transmission mount but its kind of rare.
friedk
06-24-2010, 02:19 PM
Alright. I will take a look around. Could this be related to engine or tranny mounts?
jey
06-24-2010, 02:39 PM
Alright. I will take a look around. Could this be related to engine or tranny mounts?


engine/trans mounts are real easy to rule out. have someone start the car and blip the throttle, watch the motor if the motor moves around to much, you need motor/trans mounts. especially easy if you have another motor to compare to.
iampetro
06-24-2010, 11:43 PM
what about a motor mount?
ouch1011
06-25-2010, 02:13 AM
Could be the engine mounts.... ;-)

But seriously, boxer engines are better than most at keeping vibration down, but any 4cyl is going to cause some vibration at idle.

That being said, I had an issue with my engine mounts causing a vibration. But it wasn't because they were broken, it was because something had caused them to be practically rock solid. Think...aftermarket polyurethane mount, but they are stock. And visually looked fine. Installed a set of WRX mounts...MUCH better.
friedk
06-25-2010, 10:15 AM
Anyone have a FSM diagram of the motor mounts?
green97gt
06-25-2010, 10:41 AM
theyre motor mounts...not exactly diagram worthy....

you can download the FSM by following these links.

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=18725 (http://www.sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=18725)

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=5723 (http://www.sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=5723)

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=15486 (http://www.sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=15486)

etc. etc. etc. etc.

what is a motor mount diagram going to tell you? "yep..there they are!"
stu-nami
06-26-2010, 01:22 PM
Nuetral safety switch is something you could check into as well